Milbank's London office 'has an impressive ability to lead transaction mandates in an efficient and collaborative manner, with clients and the deal as the priority'. Clients appreciate that the team 'strongly collaborates with local counsel in emerging markets to provide seamless integrated services'. Active across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, the firm is frequently involved in the development of mega-projects, and handles high-value project bond transactions, ESG-related financings, and matters related to energy transition. Lead partner John Dewar 'has an impressive ability to marry strategic priorities of clients and the deal to the nitty gritty of the detail', and newly promoted partner Munib Hussain is 'a superb legal technician who is excellent on Islamic finance transactions'. Together, they acted for underwriting banks including JP Morgan and HSBC, on a first-of-kind $11.5bn GMTN programme and an innovative $1.5bn sukuk issuance. Emerging partner talents Şeyda Duman and Chris Taufatofua also play key roles in the practice. Taufatofua recently advised OnCorp on the structuring and negotiation of project documents in a bid to develop an LNG import and regasification terminal at the port of Suape, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The Milbank team have an impressive ability to lead transaction mandates in an efficient and collaborative manner, with clients and the deal as the priority. A solutions-driven ethos means they have been able to navigate emerging market challenges, coordinate disparate partiesand achieve precedent setting deal completions.'
'They strongly collaborate with local counsel in emerging markets to provide seamless integrated services to clients.’
‘John Dewar is a leading partner in the Middle East on complex energy projects and FDI transactions. John has an impressive ability to marry strategic priorities of clients and the deal to the nitty gritty of the detail. A calm, firm presence in the frequent maelstrom of client mandates.'
'Munib Hussain - superb legal technician and a valuable addition to the Milbank partnership. Excellent on Islamic finance transactions.'

Key clients

BlackRock
Apollo Global Management
KKR
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
U.S. Development Finance Corporation
International Finance Corporation
Gas Natural Açu
Total S.A.
New Fortress Energy
Japan Bank for International Cooperation
Nippon Export and Investment Insurance
BPIFrance
KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH
Standard Chartered Bank
Export Finance Australia
African Development Bank
ABSA
EIB
EDC
Akbank T.A.S.
CHEXIM
Nebras Power
UK Export Finance
K-EXIM
K-SURE
Euler Hermes
EKN
Abu Dhabi Pension Fund
Nippon Export and Investment Insurance

Work highlights

Advised the Underwriting Banks on a first of a kind US$11.5bn GMTN Programme (including a Formosa tranche) and an innovative first of a kind US$1.5bn sukuk issuance which utilised a proportion of the shares owned by GreenSaif Pipelines SARL (a Blackrock entity) in Aramco Gas Pipelines Company LLC (owned 51% by Saudi Aramco and 49% by GreenSaif Pipelines) as the assets in a wakala-murabaha sukuk issuance.
Advised a lender group of export credit agencies and international financial institutions in financing a high voltage direct current (“HVDC”) subsea transmission system in the United Arab Emirates issued by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (“ADNOC”) and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC.
Advised the agency lenders, commercial banks, equity bridge lenders, facility and security agents and trustees and hedge providers in the project financing of the greenfield 505MW Amunet onshore wind farm project located in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt.

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.