Norton Rose Fulbright advises across the full life cycle of mining projects. With its ‘strong knowledge of the mining industry’, the team strives to be at the forefront of developments within the mining industry, with strength in matters relating to non-traditional sources of funding, critical minerals, and the energy transition. The team is led by Martin McCann, who specialises in debt financing. Raj Karia has a wealth of experience advising companies and investment banks on M&A, equity capital markets, joint ventures, and restructuring transactions. Daniel Metcalfe is knowledgeable in advising lenders and borrowers on complex cross-border finance transactions in emerging markets. The ’intelligent, diligent and efficient’ Felicity Brown advises on project finance and alternative finance transactions with a particular focus on offtake transactions and private capital into mining.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘One of the best for worldly advice. Market leaders.’

  • 'Martin McCann is the best lawyer in the industry, and it's often a race to appoint him. He has an amazing wealth of experience and has truly acted on all sides, so he can see what the other side is thinking. He is also very much a trusted adviser in the industry.'

  • ‘Excellent bandwidth and significant experience across numerous and varied transactions.’

  • ‘Daniel Metcalfe is a stand-out lawyer of the highest calibre. His pragmatic and sensible approach paves the way for smooth and efficient transaction management and ultimately is instrumental in successful deal closings.’

  • ‘Felicity Brown is the best project finance lawyer I have worked with. She is very intelligent, diligent and efficient with a great commercial understanding.’

  • ‘Strong knowledge of the mining industry and significant experience in project and corporate debt financing.’

  • ‘Daniel Metcalfe is highly experienced in debt and project financing, plus mining expertise. Very balanced in his approach. Daniel is proactive in his approach and always delivers promptly. He also has the ability to explain complex legal matters in a simplified way.’

  • ‘Good coverage across multiple jurisdictions and work really well as a team across the UK, SA, and Canada. Well-liked by borrowers and very responsive.’

Key clients

  • Anglo American
  • AngloGold Ashanti
  • Appian Capital Advisory
  • Barrick Gold
  • Brazilian Nickel
  • Centamin plc
  • Eramet Group
  • Eurasian Resources Group (ERG)
  • First Quantum Minerals
  • Horizonte Minerals
  • ING
  • KfW
  • La Mancha Capital Advisory
  • Natixis
  • Nedbank
  • RK Mine Finance
  • Shalina Resources
  • Societe Generale
  • Taurus Mining Finance
  • Trafigura

Work highlights

  • Representing Euro Manganese Inc. (EM) in relation to its development of the Chvaletice manganese project in Czechia, where EM’s subsidiary, MANGAN Chvaletice s.r.o. will re-process a significant manganese deposit contained in tailings from a decommissioned mine.
  • Advising Lenders (Société Générale and Nedbank) in relation to the senior project financing of Ivanhoe’s Platreef palladium-rhodium-nickel-platinum-copper-gold project in Limpopo Province, South Africa, in an amount of up to US$150 million.
  • Advised long-standing client Appian Capital Advisory LLP on the agreement to sell its Atlantic Nickel and Mineraçao Vale Verde mines to ACG Acquisition Company Limited, a SPAC listed on the London Stock Exchange.

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.
Next Generation Partners
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.

Martin McCann

Other key lawyers

Raj Karia, Daniel Metcalfe, Jon Perry, Felicity Brown