Paul Carrington spearheads the agile team at Clifford Chance LLP, which consistently acts on the UK’s leading rail projects. It has a particular emphasis on financing and infrastructure work. As well as working on major UK-based rail transactions, it also regularly advises on significant deals involving both UK and cross-border elements. It works on behalf of and with rail infrastructure bodies, manufacturers, and rail operators. Michael Pearson advises on key rail infrastructure projects in the UK and internationally. Ranbir Hunjan is an important contact in the firm’s asset finance group, and has considerable knowledge of the rail industry. Dominic Watts has extensive experience across the rail sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Breadth of skills, ability to bring in specialist resource where needed - with all such resources well briefed on the project/ the issues requiring support. Good collaboration with client team but also other bidders - constructive engagement.'

  • 'Excellent grasp of complex issues across the programme and efficient work to create suitable solutions.’

  • ‘Michael Pearson - excellent grasp of the complex project and associated issues. Ability to tackle the most strategic issues whilst maintaining tight grasp on important details.'

  • ‘The coverage of all sectors within the asset finance world coupled with the depth of the overall practice makes Clifford Chance in my mind a stand-out choice.'

  • ‘Apart from the impression Ranbir Hunjan never sleeps, I always find his combination of commercial nous and acute legal knowledge makes transactions painless.’

Key clients

  • NETWORK RAIL
  • ROCK RAIL
  • AVIVA
  • HITACHI
  • SMBC
  • ING
  • NATWEST
  • EQT INFRASTRUCTURE
  • EQUITIX

Work highlights

  • Advised Rock Rail and Infracapital on the financing of a new fleet of 18 train sets of electric rolling stock for the Leipzig Central German S-Bahn Network 2025+.
  • Advising Qiddiya Investment Company on the development, implementation, and operation of a new metro project to serve the SAR 10bn Qiddiya giga-project in Saudi Arabia.
  • Advised the lenders and CESCE on the €1bn project financing for the construction, design, maintenance, and transfer of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan "Purple Line" light railway transit system in Israel, developed by a consortium of CAF and Shapir.

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.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Paul Carrington

Other key lawyers

Dominic Watts, Michael Pearson, Ranbir Hunjan