Ben Shorten > Shearman & Sterling LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Shearman & Sterling LLP leverages its global network to assist with cross-border deals and provide a 24/7 service to clients. Key areas of focus for the practice include project finance and development, leveraged finance and M&A. The team has recently undergone a number of changes; Ben Shorten relocated from Singapore in June 2021 and now heads the team; Rahul Chatterji joined from Milbank and Matthew Skinner joined from Jones Day. Sanja Udovicic is recommended for high-profile energy, natural resource and infrastructure transactions and has considerable experience in emerging markets, such as Africa and the Middle East. Julia Derrick joined from Ashurst in July 2021, bringing with her expertise in oil and gas-related corporate and commercial transactions. Former practice head Iain Elder left for DLA Piper, and Tim Sheddick and Anthony Lepere left for White & Case LLP, and Corrs Chambers Westgarth respectively; Nicholas Buckworth retired.

Shearman & Sterling LLP‘s capital markets practice is viewed by one client as ‘the leading team in the Middle East, and their knowledge, proactivity, engagement and holistic approach to transactions set them apart from the competition‘. The firm advises across the spectrum of emerging markets work including project finance and development, leveraged finance and M&A, and is frequently active in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and numerous other emerging markets. Ben Shorten, who returned to London from Singapore in 2021, leads the project development and finance practice, following the retirement of Nick Buckworth. He has extensive experience advising on megaprojects in the Middle East. He acted for NEOM Company in Project Helios, a $6.5bn project to create a world-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia production facility in Saudi Arabia. Key partner Sanja Udovicic led a team advising IFC and KfW IPEX on the $1.2bn financing of the Acu LNG to Power Project in Brazil. Of counsel  John Inglis supports sponsors and financial institutions in the development and financing of a range of energy and natural resources projects. Capital markets partner Pawel Szaja handles both debt and equity transactions, including ADNOC’s $1.64bn combined offering of existing shares and equity-linked bonds.  Iain Elder moved to DLA Piper.

Shearman & Sterling LLP provides solutions to sponsors, lenders, government entities and infrastructure funds among other clients in the power sector. The team works on power project financings and development across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and other emerging markets. The practice is headed by Ben Shorten who is experienced in advising multilateral development banks, export credit agencies and Islamic financiers. Sanja Udovicic handles complex natural resource and infrastructure transactions while John Inglis represents sponsors and financial institutions. Associate Trinh Chubbock focuses on M&A transactions and project development across the upstream, mid-stream and downstream energy sectors.

Shearman & Sterling LLP has lawyers who are skilled in the energy and infrastructure sectors including oil and gas, mining and metals, transportation, nuclear energy and renewables. The team regularly advises active sponsors and financial institutions in the market such as Masdar, The Dow Chemical Company, China Telecom Corporation and China Development Bank. Bill McCormack has particular expertise in hydro, wind and solar projects and co-heads the practice with Ben Shorten. David Clinch covers project development and project finance, while Jean-Louis Neves Mandelli has experience in supporting sponsors and lenders on development and financing.