Mr David Préat > Clifford Chance > Paris, France > Lawyer Profile

The cross-practice team at Clifford Chance assists clients across the globe with a range of major projects, including wind projects, hydrocarbon pipeline projects and battery power projects. Work relating to clean hydrogen is a notable focus and the team assists stakeholders throughout the clean hydrogen value chain. Anthony Giustini is a key contact at the firm and has a strong focus on project development and financing transactions in the energy transition sector. David Préat is well versed in public law matters. Laurent Schoenstein excels in M&A work such as the acquisition of offshore wind parks. Finance expert Richard Tomlinson is sought out by both sponsors and lenders for assistance with transactional work in the EMEA region. Nikolaï Eatwell, Delphine Siino Courtin, Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, Daniel Zerbib, Gauthier Martin, Marianne Pezant, Emmanuel Mimin, Pierre-Benoît Pabot du Châtelard and Benjamin De Blegiers are further key members of the ‘high-calibre’ cohort.

Clifford Chance‘s project finance group is praised by clients for its ‘in-depth’ knowledge and, is well-placed to assist clients with the financing of high-profile domestic and international projects. The practice is jointly led by a group of eight practitioners, comprising Anthony Giustini, Nikolaï Eatwell, Delphine Siino Courtin, Richard Tomlinson, Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, Daniel Zerbib, David Préat, and Gauthier Martin. Corinne Duvnjak specialises in both development and finance transactions across the renewables space, while Courtin frequently advises lenders on solar projects in Chad, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique. Banking and finance expert Zerbib is well-versed in financing transactions concerning greenfield and brownfield projects, and Martin maintains a French public law focused practice, advising sponsors on biomass power plant and seaport projects.

Clifford Chance is a first port-of-call for largescale and challenging work and notably a top reference for high-profile public procurement, concession and PPP projects. The firm is involved in many of the country’s largest initiatives, notably in the rail, airport and motorway sectors including many Parisian landmark urban rail projects. The energy sector is key strategic area for the team which is advising on many of France’s landmark offshore wind projects. The team’s regulatory expertise is also highly regarded and sought after in relation to several new ambitious initiatives led in the nuclear, hydrogen and e-batteries areas. Leading sponsors, lenders and governmental ministries are clients. The team is co-headed by David Préat and Gauthier Martin. Counsel Jean-Baptiste Merigot de Treigny is another key name.