Frequently sought out for its expertise in debt and equity energy project financing, Akin operates as lenders counsel to commercial banks, investment banks, and private equity outfits and borrower and corporate counsel to global energy producers and developers. Despite deep roots to the traditional power sector, the group is increasingly engaged with a strong body of work in the energy transition space, advising on solar, wind, battery storage and capture capture ventures along with the associated tax credit issues. Helming the practice from Houston, Matt Kapinos is able to cover the entire lifecycle of a project, overseeing the acquisition, financing, development and refinancing piece. Follow co-lead Ike Emehelu is based in New York and is chiefly recognised as a key advisor to lenders and investors engaging with renewable projects, whereas Zachary Wittenberg focuses on energy-related corporate matters from New York. Washington DC’s Shariff Barakat is highlighted for his tax equity financing know-how, whereas Hayden Harms focuses on commercial contract negotiations and agreements from Houston. Battery storage finances have increasingly become a core part of LA attorney Dan Lynch‘s broad practice. New York’s Brad Warner represents sponsors and investors.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Very knowledgeable, responsive, and focused on getting a transaction to closing. Their diligence subject matter experts regarding EPC, offtake, real estate, and regulatory are very knowledgeable.'
  • 'Counsel Brad Warner is sharp and excellent at running a transaction. Partner Ike Emelehu is the practice chair and does a great job.'

Key clients

  • CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
  • CIT and Siemens Financial Services, Inc.
  • Energy Harbor Corp.
  • Excelsior Energy Capital
  • First Ammonia, LLC
  • HSBC
  • MUFG Bank, Ltd.
  • Ørsted
  • Rabobank
  • ReGen III Corp.
  • Rockwood Asset Management
  • Santander
  • Tenaska
  • The Guardian Life Insurance Co.
  • Verde Clean Fuels
  • Vistra
  • Vitol Inc.

Work highlights

  • Represented MUFG Bank, Ltd., as lender in connection with a $250 million facility to finance purchase of receivables to be delivered under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract.
  • Represented Santander, Rabobank and HSBC as lenders in connection with a $140 million revolving credit facility to DSD Renewables to fund the purchase of equipment and pre- construction expenses for energy storage and solar facilities.
  • Represented CIT, a division of First Citizens Bank, and Siemens Financial Services, Inc. innconnection with its approximately $90 million term loan to finance Aypa Power’s Wolf Tank energy storage project, a 173 MW standalone battery storage project located in Webb County, Texas

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Matt Kapinos, Ike Emehelu

Other key lawyers

Dan Lynch, J. Hayden Harms, Brad Warner, Shariff Barakat