Ms Rachel Speight > Mayer Brown International LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

international governments, multilateral financial institutions, infrastructure groups and energy companies turn to Mayer Brown International LLP for substantial, often first-of-its-kind developments spanning the conventional, renewable, energy transition and mining and minerals space. Practice head Rachel Speight is noted for her mining and PPP expertise, demonstrating recent activity on large-scale projects in Africa. Fellow co-head Kirsti Massie largely focuses on the development and procurement aspects of projects headed by sponsors and public bodies and is well regarded for her regulatory acumen – particularly with regards to energy assets. Jonathan Hosie is a go-to figure in the team for project development and disputes work, while oil and gas specialist Richard Nelson, who joined from King & Spalding LLP in May 2024, is lauded for his ability to ‘blend finance, legal and commercial advice into everything he counsels on’. Jonathan Stone is another key name for procurement, construction and engineering advice.

Mayer Brown International LLP’s ‘experienced and knowledgeable team’ benefits from the practice’s strong cross-border abilities. The team handles projects on most continents, including Africa, Asia, and North and South America, with a strong focus on emerging markets. The team is capable of a full range of mining work, including advisory, transactional, and contentious mandates. The team benefits from its strong mining specialists, including the head of the team, Ian Coles, who is well-known in the market and is particularly experienced in representing financial institutions, sponsors and governments on their mining transactions. Rachel Speight is known for her work representing banks and sponsors in cross-border structured and project financings.

The London office of Mayer Brown International LLP has broad exposure to emerging markets through its work on anti-bribery and corruption, sanctions, arbitration, litigation, financing, IP and corporate matters. The firm’s energy group is advising the largest infrastructure group in Bangladesh on a long-term LNG supply deal. Head of the Africa and mining practices Ian Coles, natural resources and infrastructure partner Rachel Speight and finance partner Ashley McDermott are the key practitioners.  Speight recently assisted an FDI on the $100m financing of an equity investment in an integrated logistics project in Uganda. Massimo Amoruso joined from Clifford Chance LLP in March 2024, and handles investments in energy, petrochemicals, infrastructure, and telecoms projects across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.