David Canales – GC Powerlist
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Central America 2026

Energy and utilities

David Canales

Managing Director, Deputy General Counsel           | New Fortress Energy

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Central America 2026

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David Canales

Managing Director, Deputy General Counsel           | New Fortress Energy

What are the most significant cases, projects, or transactions that you and your legal team have recently been involved in?

Over the past six months, I have led a number of significant transactions, including project development work for the construction of a 300MW power plant in Central America, the execution of a long-term gas sales agreement in excess of $6 billion in the Caribbean, and the negotiation of sale and lease transactions involving gas-powered turbines in the region.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

All organisations inevitably face periods of instability or crisis, and during such times the focus must remain on delivering consistent support: advising and assisting internal clients—across commercial, development, finance, accounting, and operations teams—so they can achieve their objectives and ultimately deliver shareholder value. In essence, even amid uncertainty and disruption, it is critical to remain focused and continue executing the work effectively.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

One niche aspect of my 16-year legal career in the project development sphere in Latin America is that I have been able to negotiate and successfully execute major energy contracts with Latin American governmental institutions, including PEMEX and CFE in Mexico, PREPA in Puerto Rico, Perupetro in Peru, and the Nicaragua government.

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