At Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, the ‘very hands-on’ energy and projects team is highly regarded for advising on complex, integrated infrastructure and power transactions and projects. Renewable energy mandates form the backbone of the practice, which is led by the ‘solution-driven’ Brigette Baillie, who stands out for her ‘exceptionally deep legal and commercial knowledge in energy and project finance’. The ‘extremely efficient’ Carey-Anne Jennings focuses on public-private partnerships and limited recourse project finance transactions. Biddy Faber has an excellent track record in handling project finance mandates, and Nathan Mallinson acts on PPP and concession agreements. Busisiwe Sibeko, Ross Lomax and Sarah Burman also stand out for their contributions. Patrick Hirsch was a new arrival in August 2024.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Brigette Baillie has excellent negotiation skills and an uncanny ability in guiding the client.’
‘Brigette Baillie is an outstanding project finance lawyer, with an exceptional market understanding, deep legal and contractual experience, amazing negotiation skills and - cherry on the cake - is fun to work with !’
‘The team is adaptable to clients' needs. This is an important skill when working on dynamic, challenging infrastructure projects.’
'A dedicated team.'
‘The team has experience on most major energy projects in the country and are very familiar with current market practices.’
‘Brigette Baillie has exceptional market knowledge.'
‘Brigette and Biddy remain the “go to” for innovation and complex deals.'
'Brigette Bailie and Carey-Anne Jennings make an exceptional team and their strengths complement each other.'
'The ability of the HSF team to highlight and address areas of concern for lenders in negotiations with eloquence and depth of reasoning is unparalleled.'
'Carey-Anne Jenning's meticulous attention to detail and interpersonal and diplomacy skills smooths over the most difficult transactions.'

Key clients

Air Liquide S.A.
EDF Renewables Pty Ltd
G7 Renewable Energies Pty Ltd
Rand Merchant Bank
Scatec ASA
Egis, IC İÇTAŞ İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret, African Infrastructure Investment Fund and STOA
Engie Afrique
Facility for Investments in Renewable Small Transactions (RF) (Pty) Ltd
Illovo Sugar Africa (Pty) Ltd
Mulilo Renewable Project Developments (Pty) Ltd
Sedibelo Platinum Mines Ltd
Seriti Green (Pty) Ltd
International Finance Corporation

Work highlights

Advised IFC and RMB on the financing of Scatec’s 50MW solar PV project at Selebi Phikwe in Botswana.
Advised Africa Rainbow Energy & Power, as equity funder and shareholder, on the financing of the equity investments in the SOLA sponsored PPA with ARM.
Advising Seriti Green on its renewable energy project and PPA for Seriti Power.