White & Case LLP has a broad finance practice in London that has built up a formidable track record in emerging markets work, not least complex trade finance transactions. Its work in high-end structured trade and commodity finance is heavily geared towards the energy sector, and it frequently acts for bank creditors, traders, exporters, sovereigns and state-owned entities, as well as prominent DFIs. Debt finance partners Christopher Czarnocki and James Hardy lead the group. Their work includes extensive advice to major corporate players in the downstream oil sector, as well as reserve-based lending and other upstream oil & gas financing transactions. Newly promoted counsel Catherine West is 'very knowledgeable and able to get things done'. The practice also draws heavily on the firm's strong  structured finance and commodity derivatives expertise to complement its upstream financing activities.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Catherine West is very knowledgeable - she is always able to suggest options to get things done.’

Key clients

  • A.P. Møller Holding A/S
  • Afreximbank
  • Africa Finance Corporation
  • AGP Glass Worldwide Operations GmbH
  • Deutsche Bank
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  • Ghana National Petroleum Corporation
  • Helios Investment Partners
  • International Holding Company
  • Kernel Holding S.A.
  • Milavous Group
  • Ministry of Finance (Ghana), Ministry of Energy (Ghana)
  • Ministry of Finance Ukraine
  • Moove Africa B.V.
  • Petrobras
  • Proman AG
  • Puma Energy
  • Société Générale

Work highlights

  • Representation of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine in connection with a UK Export Finance-backed £26.3 million equivalent sovereign buyer credit loan with which the country's government will begin rebuilding six bridges and reopen important supply routes around the capital Kyiv.
  • Representation of Helios Investment Partners in connection with a new financing from ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development to fund fixed infrastructure in connection with a liquified natural gas terminal in Tema, Ghana.
  • Representation of Morgan Stanley, and the lenders on the financing of the acquisition of the Norte Capixaba field for US$544 million by the Seacrest Group.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Christopher Czarnocki, James Hardy

Other key lawyers

Catherine West