Aled Davies heads Milbank’s project, energy and infrastructure finance team, as well as the banking and finance practice, acting for Japanese financial institutions and development finance institutions on significant project finance mandates. Andrew Pendleton also counts a number of ECAs among his clients. The group is active across the power production and transmission, minerals and transportation sectors and particularly prominent in the oil and gas industry, where it is involved in both upstream oil and gas exploration and LNG projects. Justen Fleming brings particular expertise in the LNG sector and is involved in a number of LNG project financings. The team also counts battery chain projects as a particular area of recent growth, with an increasing number of mandates from international clients.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Excellent service and strong sector knowledge and experience.’

  • ‘Justen Fleming was great to work with. He has strong commercial awareness and the ability to walk you through complex legal structures.’

  • ‘The Tokyo projects and energy practice is headed by  Aled Davies, who is a legendary lawyer in the Tokyo market. In addition to their legal expertise, what makes this team unique is strong negotiation capabilities. The team always guides and leads its clients to a successful negotiation outcome.’

  • ‘Aled Davies is a legendary partner in the market against whom every peer benchmarks themselves. He stands out from peers in every aspect.'

  • 'What makes Milbank unique compared to others is that the firm takes care about developing and nurturing junior lawyers. They work closely to each other, sharing top-tier legal knowledge and complementing each other. This working style is quite unique compared to other firms.’

Key clients

  • Japan Bank for International Cooperation
  • The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ
  • Nippon Export and Investment Insurance
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
  • Total S.A
  • Export-Import Bank of China (“CEXIM”)
  • Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
  • BNPP (BNP Paribas)
  • Société Générale
  • AfDB
  • BPI France
  • EDC (Export Development Canada)
  • EIB (European Investment Bank)
  • Export-Import Bank of China
  • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
  • Korea Eximbank
  • Equinor
  • Yinson Boronia Production B.V.
  • Sumitomo Corporation
  • Marubeni Corporation

Work highlights

  • Advised a lender group of ECAs and international financial institutions on financing the development of a high voltage direct current subsea transmission system in the United Arab Emirates issued by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC.
  • Representing the sponsors, including Total, Exxon Mobil and Santos, and certain companies representing the State of Papua New Guinea in the financing of the development of an LNG plant and associated infrastructure for the production of gas and condensate.
  • Advising the lenders and agents in connection with the post-restructuring phase of the project financing for the $8.8bn Ambatovy nickel and cobalt mine in Madagascar.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates: Gaiben
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Next Generation Partners: Gaiben
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Aled Davies

Other key lawyers

Andrew Pendleton, Justen Fleming, Anthony Scott