Jonathan Brufal > Gowling WLG > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Gowling WLG Offices
4 MORE LONDON RIVERSIDE
LONDON
SE1 2AU
England
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Jonathan Brufal
Work Department
Energy and infrastructure finance team.
Position
Partner, Head of International Projects and Co-Head of Africa Group
Career
Trained Trowers & Hamlins; qualified 1996; partner 2012 (on joining the firm). Trowers & Hamlins: associate 1996-97; trainee 1994-96. Norton Rose: associate, London 1997-2006; partner, projects group, London 2006-08; partner, head of infrastructure, Middle East (Abu Dhabi) 2008-11; Wragge & Co: partner in the energy and infrastructure finance team, 2012 – present; Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, partner, 2014. Publications of note: prepared the ‘Recycling PPPs in the Middle East’ bulletin in September 2010; prepared the ‘Spanning the Infrastructure Gulf’ bulletin in May 2010; submitted an article entitled ‘The Rise of Two-Stage Tendering’ for publication in Construction Week 2009.
Memberships
Member of the Society for Construction Law; Law Society of England & Wales; International Project Finance Association (Middle East Council Member: 2008-2011).
Education
Bristol University, LLB Law (2.1) 1993; Legal Practice Course, College of Law, Guildford, 1994; MSc Construction Law and Arbitration, King’s College London, 2001.
Leisure
Chelsea Football Club season ticket holder, golf, skiing.
Lawyer Rankings
London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)
Gowling WLG‘s offering is co-led by a multitude of energy specialists, being ‘results-driven’, corporate-focused Gareth Baker, regulatory experts John Cooper and Birmingham-based Gus Wood, real estate specialist Helen Emmerson, also in Birmingham, Nath Curtis, who has a particular focus on project finance and Jonathan Brufal, who works predominantly on international project development matters from the London and Dubai offices. The team ably handles transactional energy work in these areas, in key M&A and financing matters of high-value, in particular, frequently acting in collaboration with the Dubai team on international work. ‘Leader in the field’ James Stanier is another name to note.
London > Industry focus > Emerging markets
(Leading individuals)Gowling WLG has a thriving projects and infrastructure practice in London that is ‘technically sound, pragmatic and risk aware not risk averse, professional and culturally sensitive‘. Head of international projects Jonathan Brufal is ‘not only willing, but keen, to get into the detail on projects‘. He worked with project finance specialists Andrew Newbery and Imran Mufti to support Saudi construction company Alfanar Company in the development of five Construction Villages procured by the NEOM Company, each with accommodation for up to 10,000 individuals who will ultimately oversee and deliver a new urban area in Tabuk Province. Corporate energy partner Gareth Baker ‘provides pragmatic and sound legal advice, taking time to understand the commercials‘, and impact finance partner Alasdair McKenzie ‘has a clear interest and passion for emerging markets work and his advice is sound and pragmatic‘. Together they advised InfraCo Africa on a $15m loan to to UK-registered next generation utility company Bboxx for its Africa-focused off-grid solar business. Head of natural resources Charles Bond and standout partner for international arbitration Gordon Bell are also active in emerging markets.
London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Water
Gowling WLG advises on water infrastructure projects in the UK and abroad, acting for water companies, local governments and water regulators, handling financing, development and transactional matters. The practice also provides litigation support, representing clients engaged in international litigation. Leading the water practice is Andrew Newbery, who specialises in transactional matters in the water sector, including project financing, while John Cooper heads the firm’s public law team, advising on regulatory issues affecting water projects. Gareth Baker assists investors seeking to acquire infrastructure assets and Jonathan Brufal, who splits time between the firm’s Dubai and London offices, heads the firm’s international projects practice, with particular experience advising on developments in Africa and the Middle East.
United Arab Emirates > Infrastructure and projects (including project finance)
Gowling WLG‘s work in the projects space spans contractual and agreement advice, development and project financing counsel, and procurement guidance, with the group overseeing a range of infrastructure PPPs and renewable energy developments in the MENA region. Practice head Jonathan Brufal is highly experienced with a range of financing models that makes him well placed to act on utility and energy mandates, with clients praising his commercial aptitude and proficiency. Other key figures include associate Scott Geelan, who has quickly built a portfolio of impressive projects work.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading individuals London > Industry focus > Emerging markets
- Water London > Projects, energy and natural resources
- Emerging markets London > Industry focus
- Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) London > Projects, energy and natural resources
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Real estate > Environment
- Investment fund formation and management > Listed funds
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
- Employment > Pensions: dispute resolution
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Water
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Industry focus > Emerging markets
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition: trade, WTO anti-dumping and customs
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Employment > Health and safety
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals
- Real estate > Planning
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Transport > Rail
- Investment fund formation and management > Real estate funds
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £250m)
- Real estate > Property finance
- Real estate > Social housing: finance
- Industry focus > TMT
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport