United Kingdom > London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure
Index of tables
Infrastructure
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Leading individuals
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- Conrad Andersen Allen & Overy LLP
- Timothy Arnheim Allen & Overy LLP
- Alan Black Linklaters LLP
- Nicholas Bliss Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
- Edward Braham Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
- Nicholas Buckworth Shearman & Sterling LLP
- Peter Finlay White & Case LLP
- Ian Hodgson SNR Denton
- Kenneth MacRitchie Shearman & Sterling LLP
- Martin McCann Norton Rose LLP
- Charlotte Morgan Linklaters LLP
- John Scriven Allen & Overy LLP
- James Simpson Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
- Tim Steadman Clifford Chance
- Bruce White Linklaters LLP
Allen & Overy LLP is a ‘top performer for infrastructure financings’, with ‘great understanding of the market’ and the ability to ‘instil full confidence in the banks’. Conrad Andersen is ‘an undoubted star’ and ‘tops the list for complex infrastructure financings’. Projects head Anne Baldock and corporate partner Susan Howard are also recommended. In 2010 the firm won roles on some of the most sought-after deals in the market, including advising the funders to the winning consortium on High Speed 1 (HS1).
Ashurst LLP is a ‘cut above the rest’, with clients praising the team’s ‘unequalled approachability’ and ‘user-friendly advice’. Mark Elsey is very prolific, and is heading the team advising Crossrail on its flagship rail project. In addition to transport, the firm is also strong in the energy, funds and defence areas. Finance partner Patrick Boyle is ‘technically excellent’, and John Inglis is an ‘asset on any transaction’.
Clifford Chance’s team includes ‘the big names that you want on a deal’, and demonstrated its ‘top-band project finance’ credentials by advising on three separate bids for the £2.1bn HS1 concession, including advising a consortium comprising Morgan Stanley, 3i Infrastructure and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Projects specialist Jeremy Connick is highlighted as ‘directly tackling the legal issues to achieve bankable financing structures’; and Gavin Teague and Andrew Rolfe are also recommended.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP ‘strikes a good balance between attention to detail and commerciality’, and impresses on volume too, advising on over $21.7bn-worth of infrastructure deals globally in 2010. With particular strength on the corporate and finance side, under global infrastructure and transport co-head Nicholas Bliss, the team advised the lead arrangers on the development of a new facility at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in Bermuda, and also advised the sponsors on the €1.8bn St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport PPP.
Linklaters LLP would ‘definitely be on the list for any large complex project’, thanks to its ‘technical expertise’ and provision of ‘top-end service’. Bruce White ‘remains one the leading infrastructure lawyers in the market’; Stuart Rowson provides ‘strong support to funders, with an effective but direct style’; and Ian Andrews is ‘knowledgeable and experienced’. Roads were an active area in 2010; highlights included advising the consortium on the development of the €600m Moscow-Minsk Motorway project in Russia.
Norton Rose LLP is valued for its ‘high levels of industry expertise’ and ‘more personal service than the Magic Circle’. The ‘commercial’ Martin McCann heads the team, which is ‘second to none for infrastructure in the emerging markets’. The firm advised the African Development Bank, and a syndicate of Nigerian commercial banks, on the £240m financing of the Main One undersea cable. Mark Berry and Chris Brown are also recommended.
White & Case LLP shines on the project finance side. In a major highlight, it advised Nord Stream on the construction and financing of phase one of the proposed developments of two sub-sea gas pipelines – the third-largest project finance transaction globally to close in 2010. Anthony Fine’s team ‘responds very quickly and diligently’, and stands out for its ‘flexible approach’.
Baker & McKenzie LLP provides ‘seamless service that is always courteous, even under extreme pressure’. Mike Wester heads the firm’s global infrastructure and transport group, and acted for Ma’aden on the $11bn development of a bauxite mine, alumina refinery and related infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP is recommended for its ‘focus and commercial acumen’. Transport is a strength, both domestically and internationally, with road and rail providing a steady flow of mandates. The firm advised the Department for Transport on the restructuring of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the sale of HS1. Jason Davies is recommended.
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s London office worked alongside the firm’s Hong Kong team to advise Mongolia Railway Infrastructure on the $3bn development of railway infrastructure in Mongolia. Nabil Khodadad and James Simpson co-head the projects and infrastructure team.
At Herbert Smith LLP, Patrick Mitchell heads a global infrastructure team with a leading reputation for energy and transport-related work. Highlights included advising EDF subsidiary NNB Generation on negotiations with the UK government on its proposals for a funded decommissioning programme, which could cost around £11bn.
Hogan Lovells International LLP provides a ‘tailor-made service’, with Steven Bryan recommended for his ‘excellent industry knowledge’ and Andrew Briggs for his ‘ability to look at the bigger picture’. The firm advised Citi Infrastructure Investors on its $1.5bn acquisition of a majority stake in DP World’s Australian shipping terminal operator businesses.
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP specialises in project finance, with energy and natural resources the dominant focus. Cathy Marsh and team head Phillip Fletcher are advising the lenders on the development of the $5bn Ambatovy nickel mine in Madagascar.
Shearman & Sterling LLP continues to advise Alcoa on its joint venture with Ma’aden to develop and finance the $10.8bn Ras Al Zawr Smelter. Co-head of global project finance Nicholas Buckworth is the main contact, and Tim Pick is also very active.
Slaughter and May leads the way in energy-related M&A, advising on over €9.9bn-worth of deals in 2010, but is also involved in some high-profile projects. It continues to act for Lend Lease on the delivery of the infrastructure for the entire 2012 Olympic Park.
The mainstay of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP’s practice is project finance, with a weighting towards the energy and mining sectors. Jamie Logie recently advised on the English law aspects of the financing of the $823m Boleo mining project in Mexico.
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s team is led by Adam Dann, who is ‘technically very sound and easy to deal with’. The firm continues to advise Ascent on its UK Military Flight Training System, including the procurement of £1bn-worth of training contracts.
DLA Piper UK LLP’s ‘hallmark is responsiveness, thoroughness, and a clear understanding of how it can help the client achieve its commercial and financial objectives’. Kathy Sharp advised Telereal Trillium on the £650m restructuring of its key facilities management service provider arrangements.
Pinsent Masons LLP’s Simon Mumford is highlighted as ‘unflappable and solution focused’, and Catherine Workman is ‘pragmatic and able to use her great sector experience to best effect’. The firm is advising Thames Water Utilities and United Utilities Water on £8bn-worth of capital works programmes for the next AMP period.
SNR Denton’s practice attracts praise for its transport capability, with roads being a major strength. The firm advised the lenders to Amey Ventures on the £2.8bn Birmingham Highways Maintenance PFI. Matthew Hanslip Ward is recommended, and co-heads the energy, transport and infrastructure team.
Simmons & Simmons’ team is led by Juliet Reingold, and includes Richard Dyton, who is singled out as a ‘strong commercial lawyer with a strong understanding of risk’. The firm acted for the Ministry of Defence on the aborted £12bn Defence Training Review.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP’s London team works alongside the firm’s extensive Middle East network, specialising in advising governments and sponsors on major infrastructure projects. The firm is advising Bahrain Airport Company on the expansion and redevelopment of the airport.
At Eversheds LLP, group head Michael Grimes is ‘approachable, applies common sense and shows good judgement’, and is praised for his knowledge of the waste industry. Among the firm’s recent projects, it advised Staffordshire County Council on the £1bn waste PFI with Veolia Environmental Services.
Fulbright & Jaworski International LLP acted for International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Asian Development Bank on the restructuring of their respective debt financing in Karachi Electric Supply Company, worth a combined $275m.
Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP is acting for Birmingham City Council on the £650m redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Railway Station. Neil Upton heads the team, which includes rail specialist Andrew Herring.
Hunton & Williams is winning an impressive flow of instructions from Eastern Europe, with Jonathan Simpson, a new arrival from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP, particularly active in that quarter. The firm is representing the government of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina on the development of its €3.5bn motorway project.
At McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP, Andrew Watson is advising Moreas on the £1.42bn Korinthos-Tripoli-Kalamata motorway project in Greece. Gas pipeline work is also a strong area.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP won an instruction to advise Telenor and VimpelCom on the formation of a NYSE-listed emerging market mobile operator. Alexander Janes heads the practice.
Wragge & Co LLP is ‘very responsive’, and has ‘excellent specialist knowledge’ and ‘good strength in depth’. The firm advised Amey on the £2.7bn Birmingham Highways PFI. David Fennell heads the team, which includes the ‘outstanding’ Michael Whitehouse.
Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s government and infrastructure team, led by Robbie Owen, excels on the planning and procurement sides. The firm is advising Treasury Holdings on proposals to extend the Northern Line to serve its development at Battersea Power Station.
Burges Salmon LLP maintains its sterling record for defence and nuclear matters. Mark Paterson has advised the Minstry of Defence on the recently delayed £6bn Search and Rescue Helicopter Services PFI since 2006.
Dundas & Wilson LLP acted for Scotia Gas Networks on the negotiation of the project funding and construction documentation for the Didcot Biomethane Project. Keith Armstrong heads the team.
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP advised across a wide range of oil and gas, power and renewables projects in 2010. National Grid is a trophy client, and has awarded the firm several instructions relating to pipeline projects.
K&L Gates is noted for its ‘knowledge of the market combined with a good depth of skills’. Highlights included advising the IFC in India on the development of a new university and associated infrastructure.
McGrigors LLP has solid experience in BSF schemes, transport matters and energy projects.
Specialist emerging market firm Trinity International LLP has an excellent record in roads, ports and airport projects. It recently advised the IFC and the African Development Bank on debt funding provided to the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund.