Chris Taufatofua > Milbank > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Milbank is noteworthy for its breadth of capabilities in the power space, with a strong reputation for its abilities advising its clients, including renowned banks, on matters involving transitional energy, including battery-related projects; green ammonia projects; green hydrogen matters, as well as on the full scope of renewable, power and gas-to-power work. Its workload in these areas is often multijurisdictional in nature. John Dewar, who ‘exhibits outstanding leadership’, heads up the offering. Battery specialist Matthew Brown joined from Latham & Watkins in May 2022. Climate and sustainability expert Chris Taufatofua is a key name to note, as is Munib Hussain who was promoted to partnership in January 2023.

Milbank‘s London office ‘has an impressive ability to lead transaction mandates in an efficient and collaborative manner, with clients and the deal as the priority‘. Clients appreciate that the team ‘strongly collaborates with local counsel in emerging markets to provide seamless integrated services‘. Active across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, the firm is frequently involved in the development of mega-projects, and handles high-value project bond transactions, ESG-related financings, and matters related to energy transition. Lead partner John Dewar ‘has an impressive ability to marry strategic priorities of clients and the deal to the nitty gritty of the detail‘, and newly promoted partner Munib Hussain is ‘a superb legal technician who is excellent on Islamic finance transactions‘. Together, they acted for underwriting banks including JP Morgan and HSBC, on a first-of-kind $11.5bn GMTN programme and an innovative $1.5bn sukuk issuance. Emerging partner talents Şeyda Duman and Chris Taufatofua also play key roles in the practice. Taufatofua recently advised OnCorp on the structuring and negotiation of project documents in a bid to develop an LNG import and regasification terminal at the port of Suape, Pernambuco, Brazil.

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.