Vinson & Elkins LLP
Special Counsel, Global Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance
England - London • Projects, energy and natural resources
Milbank
A tour-de-force in the energy market with projects experience in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, Milbank excels at advising lenders and sponsors on large-scale, complex financings, with extensive experience advising on first-of-its-kind funding structures across the full array of assets, particularly traditional energy enterprises. Wider work includes a significant aiport expansion in Greece, financing subsea electricity transmission networks across Europe and Asia, as well as overseeing the document drafting and negotiations for a new LNG import terminal in Brazil. Team head and market veteran John Dewar is a frequent port-of-call for financial institutions and export credit agencies for power, oil and gas and mining projects, with significant experience in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Chris Taufatofua has an active presence across a wide-array of mandates, working with stellar sponsor-side clients. Munib Hussain – who was recently promoted to partner – is also recognised for his project finance expertise, particularly in relation to petrochemical . Energy transition specialist Matthew Brown joined from Latham & Watkins in May 2022, alongside special counsel Rachel Croft. Kilian De Cintré is a well-regarded up and coming solicitor within the group, playing a support role on a number of key oil and gas infrastructure mandates.
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 infrastructure deal challenges, coordinate disparate parties and counsels and achieve precedent setting deal completions. Strongly collaborate with local counsel 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 deal with the nitty gritty of the detail. A calm, firm presence in the frequent maelstrom of client mandates. Munib Hussain is a superb legal technician and a valuable addition to the Milbank partnership. Excellent on Islamic finance transactions.'
‘Matthew Brown delivers all the qualities of what a modern law firm partner should be - creative, dynamic, and able to focus on the big picture of getting the deal done , while paying attention to the detail and taking a balanced risk-based approach. He is also proactive and works tirelessly to keep all advisers and clients process-oriented to avoid unnecessary deal lag and ensure efficiency.’
- 'Milbank showcases strong and in-depth knowledge of the field.’
Key clients
- JP Morgan
- Standard Chartered bank
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
- Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
- Nippon Export and Investment Insurance,
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation and International Finance Corporation
- Societe Generale
- Norinchukin Bank
- Green Investment Group (Macquarie Capital)
- World Bank-PPIAF
- West African Power Pool
- OnCorp
- New Fortress Energy
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- Overseas Private Investment Corporation
- International Finance Corporation
- Gas Natural Açu
- Export-Import Bank of Korea
- Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia
- Total S.A.
- Rio Energia
- EIG
- BPIFrance
- Apollo Investment Management
- OMERS
- Carlyle
- Sovereign Fund of Egypt
- Blackrock
- EBRD
- EIB
- H2 Green Steel
- MIGA
- Deutsche Gas
Work highlights
- Advised Athens International Airport S.A. (“AIA”), as issuer of over €1.1 billion bond loans made available to it for the management and operation of Athens International Airport.
- 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.
- Acted for 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. Advice covered all aspects of the project financing, including the senior debt and equity bridge debt documentation, the project and construction documentation and hedging documentation.
Lawyers
Rising stars
Leading Individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
John Dewar