At White & Case LLP, clients appreciate 'the exceptional combination of competence, expertise, responsiveness and friendliness which provides for an outstanding client experience'. The firm is active in emerging markets across the globe in work streams as diverse as project finance, bond issuance, corporate transactions and sovereign-related advisory work. 'Particularly important is their deep bench of EMEA experienced US counsel', among them US-qualified debt specialists Melissa Butler and Ian Clark, who work closely with English debt finance experts James Hardy and Stuart Matty. Clark handled a major liability management transaction for the the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. Project development and finance partner Mark Castillo-Bernaus, international finance partner Jason Kerr. Banking partner Christopher Czarnocki, energy partner Philip Stopford and head of the Africa group Mukund Dhar are also heavily involved in emerging market transactions. Senior associate Judith Olloh is highly recommended for energy, infrastructure and project finance. EMEA Head of Project Development and Finance Michael Watson worked with Butler and a strong team of associates to assist Sweihan PV Power Company with the refinancing of the Noor Abu Dhabi solar PV plant through $700m in green bonds. Mining and metals partner Rebecca Campbell is 'commercially and technically brilliant'.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘It is the exceptional combination of competence, expertise, responsiveness and friendliness which provides for an outstanding client experience.’
'Judith Olloh is my go-to person. She has a great personality, is knowledgeable and possess the qualities I look for in a legal counsel. The team are the best at what they do. Our discussions and feedbacks are seamless with unprecedented levels of professionalism and attention to details. Their biggest super-powers for me will be understanding the customer, people, collaboration and attention to details.'
‘A high-calibre, resourceful and powerful global player which leads the efforts on many directions to reform and transform emerging economies. The firm can draw from its various offices and teams to provide the best service to public authorities, particularly, in the sphere of securities market and eurobonds program, international investment disputes, energy and power industry sector, privatization, infrastructure, transportation and natural resources.’
‘Kamilla Azamat coordinates the work of different teams for different workstreams. Being an Uzbek with experience over a decade gives her incredible leverage and earns the reputation of a key advisor for the Government on whose expertise it may rely.'
'Melissa Butler pioneered a debut issuance of sovereign eurobonds and opened the international securities market for Uzbek issuers.’
'Technically excellent as well as being very commercially aware. Particularly important is their deep bench of EMEA experienced US counsel who understand the particular sensitivities of US based financial institutions - this is particularly important for sanctions risk.'
'Rebecca Campbell is a stand-out partner, who is both commercially and technically brilliant. She always goes the extra mile in understanding the needs of the client. Judith Olloh is knowledgeable, hard-working and attentive. She makes it a priority to understand all aspects of a transaction and is a pleasure to work with.'
‘Ingrid York is not only a staple of the Structured Finance industry in the EEMEA, she is also someone that cares, who know to manage her team and federate key internal resources when necessary, as well as externally with clients and key institutions and stakeholders.’
'Very deep knowledge of sovereign markets which helps to come up with the optimal recommendations in all the situations.'
'We have a very lengthy positive experience working both with Ian Clark on bonds and James Hardy on loans. Olga Fedosova, who is covering both areas was of tremendous help for us in the recent years and proved to be a very responsive and result-oriented partner.'
'The team is very knowledgeable about Sub-Saharan Africa and the issues that arise in Emerging Markets.'
‘Allan Taylor - an excellent partner with local knowledge and practical solutions.’

Key clients

Afreximbank
Africa Finance Corporation
African Development Bank
Bank of Industry
Bank Leumi
Citigroup
Credit Suisse
Deutsche Bank
Eskom
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Gemcorp Capital
Ghana National Petroleum Corporation
Helios Investment Partners
Ipoteka Bank
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
JP Morgan Chase
Lenders to Chevron and NNPC – Project Panther
Malvyn Group
Mauritius Commercial Bank
Metinvest
Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Energy Ghana
Ministry of Finance Equatorial Guinea
Ministry of Finance Ukraine
Morgan Stanley
NAIC and OCP
Oi S.A.
Petrobras
Puma Energy International
Republic of Ghana
Republic of Nigeria
Republic of Suriname
Republic of Zambia
Seplat Energy Plc
Standard Chartered Bank
Sweihan PV Power Company
Trafigura
Ukravtodor
Ukrenergo

Work highlights

Advised the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on a wide range of emergency loan financing facilities provided by Ukraine's bilateral and multilateral partners to support Ukraine’s budgetary needs since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Representation of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on a comprehensive liability management transaction that, among other things, defers for two years Ukraine's contractual obligation to make payments under approximately US$25 billion of its international bonds, GDP-linked warrants and sovereign-guaranteed debt obligations.
Advised Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigerian energy company listed on the Nigerian Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, on the US$1.283 billion to US$1.583 billion acquisition of the entire offshore shallow water business of Exxon Mobil Corporation in Nigeria.

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