Chris Aird
Norton Rose FulbrightUnder the leadership of renewable energy and energy transition specialist Rob Marsh, Norton Rose Fulbright’s renewables team provides comprehensive support to a diverse client base across all facets of solar and wind projects, covering the entire value chain from development and financing to acquisitions and arbitration proceedings. Charles Whitney is a key figure for complex project renewable energy financings in emerging markets, with a particular focus on Uzbekistan, while Chris Down is renowned for his expertise in advising on the development and financing of numerous wind and solar projects. Stephen Rigby chairs the firm’s corporate and M&A renewables practice, bringing extensive experience in joint ventures, acquisitions, investments, and divestitures across offshore wind, solar, and energy storage projects. Madhavi Gosavi, a specialist in project and structured finance, adds further depth to the team’s capabilities, while Melusi Dlamini, newly promoted to partner, focuses on the development and financing of large-scale renewable energy projects across multiple jurisdictions. In the project finance space, Chris Aird and Ben Carrozzi support with the financing, construction, and development of onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, and hydrogen projects.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'I would specifically mention Charles Whitney and Chris Down, who are engaged in massive energy projects for renewables in Uzbekistan.'
- 'Charles Whitney has a great track-record of advising his clients in Uzbekistan for decades. He stays abreast with recent policy and legislative developments and dedicates significant time to understand and make it happen for the clients entering the market.'
- 'Chris Down is a very dedicated and committed partner who spends lots of his efforts on renewable energy deals in Uzbekistan. He is very reasonable, delicate and diplomatic when negotiating with the government, and he knows how to persuade parties to find compromise in view of ever-changing landscape and geopolitical challenges.'
- 'Stephen Rigby is exceptional. He operates like an extension of our board, and his advice is trusted and respected in our organisation.'
- 'Chris Down is a project lawyer. He is very attentive to details, but at the same time keeps the bigger picture in this mind. What I like about Chris is that he is so intelligent that grasps complicated Uzbek-law issues easily.'
Key clients
- MUFG
- bp
- TotalEnergies
- Shell
- ExxonMobil
- Marubeni
- Lightsource bp
- Brookfield
- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar)
- Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA)
- Greencoat UK Wind plc
- Air Products
- Vestas
- IFC
- Neoen
- JBIC
- Ocean Winds
- CIBC
- Santander
- Société Générale
- CA-CIB
- Quinbrook
- Just Climate
- JERA
- Hermes Infrastructure
- Equinor
- Octopus Energy
- EDF
Work highlights
- Advised Infinity Power in connection with its acquisition of the entire shareholding of Lekela Power (Lekela), an Africa based wind power platform, from a consortium led by Actis and Mainstream funds.
- Advised Moray Offshore Windfarm (West) Limited on the GBP 1.85 billion financing and development of the Moray West offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth, Scotland.
- Advised Masdar on the successful development and financing of two 220MW solar PV projects in the Samarkand and Jizzakh regions of Uzbekistan provided under the Investment Law, in addition to the development and financing of the 450MW Sherabad Solar PV IPP procured by the GOU under the Investment Law.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Melusi Dlamini
Norton Rose FulbrightPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Robert Marsh