A ‘very strong team that covers almost any issue’, Clifford Chance LLP continues to be a dominant force in the infrastructure market, with a strong bench of advisers that have extensive experience in multi-source financings, cross-border projects, and operational and development issues on large-scale projects. The group is active on some of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK, including overseeing Network Rail’s telecommunications rollout. An impressive stream of international mandates has seen the team advise bank lenders on African projects such as major road constructions in Kenya and maritime infrastructure developments in Nigeria, while a number of financial institutions regularly turn to the firm for projects in the Middle East. Group head Michael Pearson is ‘very well positioned in the market’ and has handled a number of significant PPP projects in Europe, with mandates including transport, healthcare and military projects. Clare Burgess‘ practice is largely concentrated on project financing and portfolio financings, while Praveen Jagadish   – who was promoted to partner last year – focuses on the financing and development of greenfield projects, regularly within the renewables and nuclear energy sectors. Both Alain Dodds and Caireen McCluskey have had impressive runs supporting a broad range of the group’s matters, garnering strong experience in PPP and PFI projects. The firm hired oil & gas specialist Craig Nethercott from Latham & Watkins in autumn 2023.

Project financing for renewable and energy transition projects remains a cornerstone of global giant DLA Piper's infrastructure offering, acting on market leading deals involving wind and solar in regions such as the Nordics and Eastern Europe, whilst also demonstrating considerable expertise acting on mega projects in the Middle East concerning developments such as battery storage and industry scale green hydrogen builds. In Africa, complex renewable energy work is also evident, as well as  work on large-scale oil refineries and cross-border pipeline constructions. In the UK, the firm boasts a prominent position as a key adviser to the government. The team is led by three practitioners: Howard Bassford, who focuses on planning and regulatory work, Martin Nelson-Jones, who is active on M&A, and Lillian Mackenzie, who specialises in social infrastructure. Rubayet Choudhury provides trusted counsel to lenders and investors on financing emerging asset classes – most significantly digital infrastructure – and has worked on some of the most significant PPPs in the European market and further afield. Nacim Bounouara is also recognised for his industry expertise, and regularly advises governments and sponsors on developing and financing a wide range of projects, with notable work in the Middle East and North Africa. Iain Elder, who joined from Shearman & Sterling LLP in March 2022, bolstered the group’s depth of knowledge and coverage, and is particularly noted for his energy transition work, including large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia projects.

Hogan Lovells International LLP has seen a huge uptick in digital infrastructure work, acting for a number of early player funds who are increasingly active in an ever-changing and developing infrastructure market. Leveraging its global bench, the firm has been active on EV, telecommunication network and battery storage mandates across Europe and Africa, advising on the financing, developing, structuring and regulatory issues of the projects. Beyond this work, the team are routinely engaged across a multitude of traditional and renewable energy matters, including financing a significant gas turbine power plant in Uzbekistan, as well as handling unique, ‘first of its kind’ mandates. Philip Robb has extensive experience in both primary and secondary market financings and sits at the head of the firm’s global infrastructure, energy, resources & projects (IERP) practice. Andrew Gallagher is a key player in some of the  firm’s most important client relations and mandates, and is highly regarded for his social infrastructure, transport, and energy transition expertise, possessing a wealth of experience in project financing. Scott Tindal continues to attract instructions from governments, sponsors and bidding consortia for his extensive industry knowledge, working on the financing and development of both greenfield and brownfield endeavours, while Jeremy Brittenden is recommended for his ability to counsel on next generation technology and emerging asset types. Arun Velusami also comes recommended for his work on a number of complex PPP projects that are regularly concentrated in Africa. Alex Harrison left the practice in July 2022 to join Akin.

Linklaters LLP remains one of the pre-eminent forces in the infrastructure market, possessing a deep bench of partners to advise on the whole financing and development piece of large-scale, cross border deals. Large multinationals regularly rely on the firm’s project finance team on significant fibre rollouts, while bodies such as the UK government turn to the team for advice on drafting critical funding frameworks such as a novel Regulated Asset Base (RAB) funding model for new nuclear projects. Richard Ginks and Daniel Tyrer co-lead the team, with the former singled out for his work with sponsors and lenders engaged with large fossil fuel developments, and the latter a revered specialist across oil and gas fianncing and regulatory work. Richard Coar uses his experience and expertise at the helm of the firm’s energy department to advise on the financing and development of a range of asset types, including digital infrastructure and alternative energy builds, while newly promoted partner Maryam Adamji is well-reputed for her energy transition and energy regulation acumen. Both John Pickett  and Ian Andrews retired from the practice in 2022.

Steered by the highly experienced renewable energy and energy transition specialist Rob Marsh, Norton Rose Fulbright ‘s infrastructure practice has had an impressive year, pulling in a large volume of work acting for both public and private bodies on a series of complex and significant cross-border mandates. With emerging markets seeing more investment than ever before, the group has helmed high-profile deals for a mix of leading players in Africa, including the governments of Angola and Nigeria. Exemplifying the firm’s skillset in this region is Madhavi Gosavi, who has had near-unparalleled exposure to the continent. In the UK, the firm has been deeply involved in the UK’s Project Cavalry, which involves the financing, development and delivery of eight projects relating to police, schools and judicial courts extension and build programmes. Martin McCann‘s eminent reputation continues to generate a considerable amount of work for the practice, while Andrew Buisson leverages construction experience to act on  PFI/PPP projects. Daniel Metcalfe has deep financing knowledge and acts on a number of renewables and digital infrastructure mandates across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Jessica Melville advises lenders, sponsors and governments on a wide array of assets and has been a key supporting presence on the practice's most consequential instructions.

,Boasting a client list featuring a host of leading infrastructure fund managers, lenders and sponsors, White & Case LLP provides financing, development and regulatory advice to large-scale international projects, with the ability to leverage the firm's wealth of resources across the globe. The group has been responsible for project financing a number of PPPs over the past year in countries such as Turkey and Indonesia, and advises on the full gamut of asset types - most notably water, satellites, hydrogen and fibre optic networks over the past year. Michael Watson fronts the department and is principally noted for his work in the Middle East, working with majors in the region like Saudi Aramco as they engage in partnerships and joint ventures with investment managers such as Blackrock and Hassana. Caroline Miller Smith offers a broad practice that includes both greenfield and brownfield financing, and is well-regarded for her energy transition expertise as well as her knowledge of ports, rail and water infrastructure. Kamran Ahmad covers a wide array of multi-sourced financings and project bonds, offering a pan-European and global service to a range of international clients.

Trusted by a plethora of national NHS trusts for advice regarding large-scale healthcare projects and extensions,  Addleshaw Goddard has a strong understanding of complex financing structures and possesses the ability to navigate novel funding models. The firm has been particularly active in wide-spanning water infrastructure developments, leveraging its deep bench of advisers across the UK to oversee the financial, regulatory and contractual issues encompassing drinking water delivery apparatus construction across Hampshire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester, with group head and Leeds-based Richard Goodfellow spearheading projects as part of a substantial portfolio of renewable and utility mandates. Matthew Newing has been a leading figure in the firm’s PFI and PPP sector work, working with consortiums on successful financing bids and funding partnership endeavours, whilst also guiding NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust companies on the repayment of debt financing and procedures to secure new funding packages. David Hartley is active in the secondary PFI/PPP market, advising asset owners and managers on transactions and refinancings. Rachel Scott joined from Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP in 2022.

Active on mandates ranging from digital infrastructure financings to utility developments and civil engineering matters, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner continues to be a major player in the market, with a strong bench of practitioners providing counsel to a wealth of domestic and international clients. The group has an impressive track record advising on funding deals to accelerate programme rolls outs, as well as complex refinancings of PFI projects. Practice head Mark Richards shows prolific activity across the board, especially in new transport deals. Barry Gross leads data centre mandates globally, and is well-positioned to lend experienced knowledge and expertise to a number of sponsors and lenders, while Christian Drage is chiefly recognised for his work on urban regeneration projects, with significant familiarity with the regulatory and delivery piece. Further individuals to note are Alexander Hadrill, who is a go-to in the team for debt-related transactions, and Hansy Shore, who has strong cross-border experience and acts for a range of clients including governmental bodies.

Fielding a team of ‘experts in their field’ providing ‘helpful and delimitative’ advice, Burges Salmon LLP is active on a high volume of transport-related mandates which form the cornerstone of its practice. Entrenched knowledge of the sector results in the firm regularly guiding clients through emerging technologies such as large-scale EV charging infrastructure mandates and electric and bi-mode train procurements. Beyond this, the group oversees impressive mandates relating to the development of lithium refineries in Europe and UK power matters including nuclear and wind projects. Team head Stuart McMillan is sought out by numerous established corporates and sponsors on finance and development deals, while Ian Salter is recognised for his proficiency in nuclear matters and environmental and low-carbon considerations. Lloyd James specialises in renewables, working with a stellar list of contractors and developers, while Keith Beattie is reputed for his defence and security work. Chris Simms is also recommended for his wide-spanning rail knowledge.

Dentons demonstrates strong competence across the financing and delivery of various infrastructure projects, with experience across the healthcare, education and leisure sectors as well as renewable and conventional power assets. Project finance remains a key plank of the team’s offering, working with a number of investors, SPVs, developers and financial institutions on a variety of funding structures, with team head Euan Wilson recognised as a leading figure in the practice for this work. Both Mark Cheney and Dominic Spacie have broad international practices, acting on the financing of oil, wind, gas and solar and battery developments across the globe, whilst also possessing regulatory expertise to provide advice throughout the whole project cycle. Matthew Hanslip-Ward and Gareth Tenner also come recommended, particularly for their rail expertise.

Capitalising on a wealth of expertise from a huge international footprint that includes teams in the US, South America and Asia, Mayer Brown International LLP ‘s London infrastructure team is involved in big-ticket mandates including  sizeable renewable energy and key infrastructure builds. Its international mandates span established and emerging markets, including a considerable volume of engagement with the African continent. An offering in Singapore has opened doors to markets such as South Korea, where the London team has advised on mining projects, while in Africa the firm's mandates include roles advising government and public utility bodies in countries such as Mauritiana, Ghana and Uganda on mineral, ammonia and hydrogen ventures. Rachel Speight leads the group and works with an array of sponsors and financial institutions on complex project financings, while fellow co-head Ian Coles is renowned for his mining expertise and strong understanding of the African market. Third team head Kirsti Massie is the practice's go-to for renewables and energy transition matters, as well as traditional power developments. Other practitioners to highlight include Jonathan Stone who is able to advise on the whole project development and financing piece; Emma Sturt, who leverages an engineering background to provide clients with tailored advice; Danuta De Vries  for her export finance and asset-based lending practice; and Ronan Mellon, who joined from DLA Piper in August 2022, bringing expertise in project bonds and infrastructure financing via capital markets.

A tour-de-force in the energy market with projects experience in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, Milbank excels at advising lenders and sponsors on large-scale, complex financings, with extensive experience advising on first-of-its-kind funding structures across the full array of assets, particularly traditional energy enterprises. Wider work includes a significant aiport expansion in Greece, financing subsea electricity transmission networks across Europe and Asia, as well as overseeing the document drafting and negotiations for a new LNG import terminal in Brazil. Team head and market veteran John Dewar is a frequent port-of-call for financial institutions and export credit agencies for power, oil and gas and mining projects, with significant experience in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Chris Taufatofua has an active presence across a wide-array of mandates, working with stellar sponsor-side clients.  Munib Hussain – who was recently promoted to partner – is also recognised for his project finance expertise, particularly in relation to petrochemical . Energy transition specialist Matthew Brown joined from Latham & Watkins in May 2022, alongside special counsel Rachel Croft. Kilian De Cintré is a well-regarded up and coming solicitor within the group, playing a support role on a number of key oil and gas infrastructure mandates.

 

Active on large and high profile international work with the quality and capability to undertake novel, complex mandates, Slaughter and May‘s infrastructure team continues to make a strong impression on the market with a wide coverage of asset types. Although Michael Corbett helms the infrastructure practice, his focus on M&A allows Azadeh Nassiri to lead a large number of financing and development matters, with a strong and well-rounded understanding of the project financing piece and working on substantial energy builds, including one of the world’s largest vertically-integrated green hydrogen projects in Namibia. Steven Galbraith leverages over 30 years of experience to competently guide financial institutions, private equity enterprises and governments on a range of infrastructure developments, most notably oil and gas, while Richard Todd lends considerable critical regulatory knowledge to a range of projects. Samay Shah is also recommended.

In the wake of an impressive run which has seen the firm bolster its ranks through the addition of Matthew Hardwick and Daniel Giemajner from Norton Rose Fulbright and Alex Harrison from Hogan Lovells International LLP, Akin is geared up to act on a wide range of financing initiatives for large scale energy and transport projects nationally and globally. The team are a good port-of-call for independent infrastructure fund managers, banks and construction companies seeking advice on capital investment, design, and construction plans, as well as counsel regarding novel funding methods such as the government’s regulated asset base model. Hardwick, who leads the team, helms the firm’s most complex cross-border mandates, while also being noted for his proficiency handling the restructuring of finances. Giemajner has expanded the team’s understanding of the renewable and alternative energy sectors, with noteworthy activity in onshore windfarm, mineral extraction, and biofuel projects, while Harrison has close connections to large regulatory and governing energy bodies.

‘A great team that is 100% dedicated to its clients', Baker Botts (UK) LLP has diversified its breadth of focus over the past 12 months, with its mandates spanning digital infrastructure as well as defence and security work.  Practice head Mark Rowley regularly advises on oil and gas projects in the gulf and North Africa, while Shashank Krishna takes the lead on a number of project financing and development instructions in other regions, with notable expertise in energy transition and renewables work. Nick Collins works on debt capital markets and Islamic financing matters across EMEA and Asia, while Edward Hills leverages his experience in the engineering and construction industry to advise on variety of agreements for largescale projects.

A leading player in the tech space with a considerable international reach, Bird & Bird LLP provides clients with a full service that spans ESG, digitalisation and regulatory issues. Key areas of expertise include major defence work, airport developments, hospital expansions, power stations and transport links procurement. Stuart Cairns co-heads the International Projects and Procurement Group, and has been active on a wide range of projects including local authority procurements, education developments, and street lighting and intelligent transport system schemes. Roger Bickerstaff has expertise in commercial and EU procurement law issues, while Elizabeth Reid is noted for her work with defence- clients and experience working on submarine developments. Mark Leach handles the data piece on major infrastructure projects of all types. Henna Malik works across a range of projects matters for both public and private sector clients.

Acting for governments, sponsors and lenders and possessing a wealth of expertise in oil and gas mandates, Bracewell (UK) LLP has a wide international reach, working on largescale infrastructure and energy developments across Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The firm regards itself as a go-to for first-of-its-kind financing matters, as evidenced by some of its financing work on windfarm projects and mandates in Saudi Arabia.  The team also has expertise in water, battery storage and waste treatment matters. Jason Fox helms the practice, and has considerable experience in reserve-based lending financings and oil and gas matters, while Oliver Irwin 's practice covers cross-border multi-source project financings. Tom Jamieson , who specialsies in financing energy transition and low carbon ventures, and Gordon Stewart, who is highly proficient in holdco debt financing work, are also recommended. Nina Howell left to join King & Spalding LLP in March 2022.

Gowling WLG is a leading player on infrastructure mandates, advising across the entire lifecycle of  projects, from financing, to project development, procurement, as well as guiding clients through ESG and net zero goals. The team regularly advises on politically sensitive projects and works on matters at the cutting edge of the UK defence and security space. Stephen Kenny and Andrew Newbery co-head the practice, with the former recognised for his work on PPP/PFI matters and serving as a key contact for the Ministry of Defence. Newbery's financing expertise sees him regularly advise on large utility and energy projects. Dominic Richardson's experience includes transport and rail developments, while Elizabeth Williams regularly works alongside Kenny on Ministry of Defence projects. Alexandra Poynter is noted for her supporting role on a wide spectrum of practice mandates. Imran Mufti  joined the group from Hogan Lovells International LLP in July 2022, bringing expertise in capital market transactions, project finance, and knowledge of the Middle Eastern market.

Sharpe Pritchard LLP's multi-disciplinary team excels at public sector projects, working on the initial delivery through to the end-to-end procurement, as well as drafting and negotiating documents and handling financial close. Active areas of work for the group have included utilities work, waste management expansion and developments, and a range of conventional and renewables work - including largescale nuclear projects.  The group is steered by the highly experienced Nicola Sumner. Roseanne Serrelli lends procurement experience and expertise to an array of government bodies, active across transport, energy and social infrastructure, while Steve Gummer is noted for his regulatory expertise and is a go-to for water issues. Juli Lau and Allan Owen were both promoted to partner in April 2023, with the former regularly advising on local government matters and the latter on water and rail mandates.

Browne Jacobson LLP specialises in UK regeneration projects relating to inner-city developments, housing builds, and leisure facilities, working for a variety of government bodies and public authorities. Strong energy and environmental work is evidenced by  waste management and material recycling PFI/PPPs, waste-to-energy development work, and  district heating ventures. Joint team heads Craig Elder  and Stephen Matthew work closely with governmental and local bodies and have a broad practice that encompasses social infrastructure, defence and waste work. Peter Ware  is also a stand-out practitioner for public procurement work.

Osborne Clarke LLP handles a steady stream of social infrastructure and healthcare mandates, showing notable experience of student accommodation builds  and largescale hospital redevelopments. Ministry of Defence work and a number of education-focused PFI instructions round out a good spread of work over recent months. Chris Wade helms the practice, which also includes Andrew Normington and Alistair Curzon  , who regularly advise sponsors and financial institutions.

A 'strong, partner led team' possessing an 'excellent understanding of the key legal and commercial issues across all of the major infrastructure sectors', Stephenson Harwood handles a considerable number of PFI and PPP projects, working closely with contractors, lenders and public sector bodies on  financing arrangements and the development of new, critical projects. Team head Jonathan Cripps has expertise in energy, transport and accommodation-related mandates, and is a go-to for asset-management issues. Rebecca Carter  works on a portfolio of mandates including both private and public sector work.  Phil Harris is a very active member of the team, providing counsel on many of the firm's key development mandates.  Navpreet Atwal's arrival from Boodle Hatfield LLP has further strengthened the group's capabilities and bench.

A key point of differentiation for the infrastructure group at Trowers & Hamlins LLP is its impressive and deep portfolio of PFI / PPP work, with the firm working with a host of national and regional public sponsors and public sector commissioners. While the firm has an international reach – with mandates in the Middle East and Asia – the team's most significant instructions are  development, expansion and relocation projects in UK cities, such as Birmingham and London.  Paul McDermott has been a key driver of the firm's expanding work in life sciences, medical research and sports, with a particular interest in emerging technologies. Scott Dorling is active on leisure PPPs and other social infrastructure projects, while Amardeep Gill handles the group’s matters based in Birmingham. Assad Maqbool is noted for public sector education work, while Lucy Doran is actively involved in NHS work, as well as being engaged in a plethora of housing regeneration schemes.