Ms Becky Diffen > Norton Rose Fulbright > Austin, United States > Lawyer Profile

A ‘very knowledgeable’ team that combines ‘experience and competence coupled with flexibility’ to service a wide-client base, Norton Rose Fulbright handles high-end project finance and development work, demonstrating activity on large scale battery storage ventures, first-of-its-kind tax equity instructions, and multi-billion dollar digital infrastructure and power transmission projects. A strong lead arranger and lender practice is coupled with an increasing sponsor focus, working with both domestic and international infrastructure funds and asset managers. Bridge, toll road, and highway PPPs are intermixed with landmark projects such as the representing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on the procurement of a design-build agreement for JFK Airport, as well as a strong body of utilities-focused work. Washington’s Keith Martin and New York’s Ben Koenigsberg co-lead the energy practice, with both practitioners noted for the breadth of their asset understanding and the former also highlighted for his tax expertise, while New York’s Todd Alexander’s eminent reputation in the energy sector continues to attract an array of instructions from lenders and investors engaging with both traditional and renewable assets. Douglas M. Fried spearheads the firm’s infrastructure offering from New York and is equally well versed acting for the sponsors, developers and procuring body across a range of PPP projects, often working alongside fellow co-leads Douglas B. Buchanan who is similarly proficient across PPPs and splits his time between New York and Vancouver, and Jacob Falk, a Washington DC-based advisor who has helmed major inner-city transport redevelopments over the past twelve months. Also based in Washington DC, Noam Ayali has been the chief advisor to a consortium of arrangers engaged with the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line. Becky Diffen handles renewable energy, storage and transmission projects from the Austin office, while Washington D.’s Hilary Lefko provides long-standing tax equity financing expertise to an array of mandates. Rhodri Evans brings experience to bear beyond just the procurement and financial closing of infrastructure ventures, often counselling through the development and completion stage, and operates out of Seattle. Austin’s Luke Edney showcases prolific activity across the full spectrum of energy matters, with particular expertise on development and procurement work. Deanne Barrow, who acts out of San Francisco, is a key feature on the firm’s energy transition and clean tech mandates.

A market stalwart for renewable energy projects in the US for decades, Norton Rose Fulbright continues to be one of the most prominent names in the field, advising on financings of first-of-their-kind projects and major developments in the full range of renewable and alternative energy production. Tax equity matters are a particular strength; since the market for tax credit sales opened at the turn of 2023, the firm has handled a large share of related matters. Keith Martin, based in Washington DC, advises a large number of wind and solar energy companies in the US and jointly leads the practice group with New York-based project finance expert Ben Koenigsberg. Also in New York, Todd Alexander acts for lenders and developers of energy and infrastructure projects, and tax partner David Burton is well versed in energy sector matters. Becky Diffen in Austin has a particular focus on the acquisition and divestiture of renewable energy assets, while Marissa Leigh Alcala in Washington DC is another renewables-focused partner to note, particularly for their international project experience.

Demonstrating the ability to advise across a wide array of energy assets, Norton Rose Fulbright‘s client roster comprises a host of investment partnerships, global asset managers, infrastructure funds and major industry developers. The practice, which has an impressive record on renewable energy projects, is under the joint leadership of Austin’s Becky Diffen and New York’s Kessar Nashat. Diffen handles M&A, joint venture and project development mandates, particularly with regard to developers navigating sell-side M&A, while Nashat has notable strength working alongside investors and financial sponsors. The Los Angeles-based Elizabeth Sluder brings wider expertise to the fore through her tax equity financing acumen and ability to consider the environmental and regulatory issues that underpin the firm’s diverse portfolio of transactions. Chicago-based Sameer A. Ghaznavi has been the leading figure on major renewable portfolio deals, advising both domestic and international clients, whereas Anastasia Slivker has overseen investments in both projects and companies from the New York office.