Mr Ian Coles > Mayer Brown International LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Mayer Brown International LLP is well known in the market for financing and M&A work pertaining to the mining sector and utilises its international network to handle cross-border deals; on the contentious side, the practice advises on litigation, arbitration and restructuring. Practice head Ian Coles has considerable experience in mining projects in Africa and counts banks, financial institutions, sponsors and governments among his clientele. Rachel Speight is experienced in the natural resources and infrastructure sectors and is a name to note for cross-border structured and project financings, while Robert Hamill deals with corporate finance, M&A and joint ventures.

Mayer Brown provides ‘speedy feedback on questions with very profound answers‘ and one client remarks that ‘the projects and corporate teams are all quite familiar with working in emerging markets with a thoughtful and insightful approach‘. The firm frequently advises banks and other financial institutions, sponsors, governments and corporates on arbitration, export finance, project finance, mining and metals, oil and gas, structured trade commodity finance and sustainability-linked loans. Head of the Africa and mining practices Ian Coles, natural resources and infrastructure partner Rachel Speight and finance partner Ashley McDermott are the key figures in the emerging markets group. Coles, who is ‘world-class, always on top of the file, commercial and client-driven‘, advised Meridian Mining on its acquisition, exploration, development and mining activities in Brazil. Head of international arbitration Raid Abu-Manneh has substantial expertise in disputes arising from infrastructure power and energy projects in such countries as Jordan, Qatar, Libya, Kuwait and Egypt. Counsel Danuta de Vries and senior associate Emma Sturt are prominent advisers on project and export financings, real estate finance and asset-based lending.

The projects and infrastructure team at Mayer Brown International LLP has experience in work ranging from cross-border energy projects and electric vehicle charging infrastructure to mining. The team is led by financing practitioner Ian Coles, who has a strong track record in Africa; Rachel Speight, who acts for banks and sponsors on cross-border structured and project financings; energy and regulatory expert Kirsti Massie; and Meredith Campanale, who acts for both lenders and sponsors on a range of projects across the globe. Peter Pears joined from Clifford Chance LLP in January 2022.