While project finance is at the heart of Simmons & Simmons’ emerging markets capabilities, the firm is also proficient in transactions in the TMT and digital infrastructure and asset management sectors. Joint co-heads Iain Duncan and John Sayers lead the department. Duncan leads the energy, natural resources and infrastructure team and has a track record in advising on transactions in the mining sector. Sayers is a specialist in fund finance, trade & export finance and commodity finance matters. Other practitioners of note are Stuart Dutson who is well-equipped to handle international disputes and Sara Barin who joined from Freshfields in February 2025 and is skilled at project development and finance, with a particular emphasis on mandates in Türkiye.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Simmons and Simmons is a one-stop shop business law firm, with any kind of competence that a potential client may seek.’
‘Andrew Petry is the partner in charge with us, a partner with huge experience and with a client-friendly approach.’
‘Great working team, very willing and available. Excellent technical team. Quick response to queries and requirements. No matter the time difference.’
‘Throughout our collaboration, I was consistently impressed by their professionalism, efficiency, and client-centric approach. Their combination of technical capability, client focus, and innovation makes them a highly effective and collaborative team to work with; I would not hesitate to recommend them for future engagements.’
‘Sara Barin is an exceptional professional whose presence immediately elevates any team. She consistently approaches matters not only with a strong legal foundation but also with a keen commercial acumen and pragmatic mindset. Sara is proactive, dynamic, and always driving matters forward while remaining approachable and collaborative.’
‘The team takes initiative and has a fast response time.’
Key clients
- Mantoverde SA (a subsidiary of Orion Resource Partners)
- Stone City Energy
- Petrofac Limited
- Mantos Copper S.A
- Mainstream Renewable Power (“Mainstream”)
- Orion Resource Partners
- Terrafame
- Umm Al Houl Power Q.P.S.C. (“UHP”)
- Eternis Fine Chemicals Limited
- Alro S.A.
- Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD (“BEH”)
- Avrasya Tüneli İşletme İnşaat ve Yatirim A.Ş. ("ATAŞ")
Work highlights
Advised leading European energy operator ČEZ Group on a small modular reactor (SMR) deal with Rolls-Royce to deploy up to 3GW of electricity in the Czech Republic using Rolls-Royce SMR power plants.
Advised Saudi Telecoms Company (stc) on their strategic partnership to build a data cable project linking the East and the West.
Advised Stone City Energy, EDF, Nebras and Siemens Energy on the €1.3bn development and financing of a 1.56GW CCGT plant in Uzbekistan which includes two shari’ah compliant funding tranches and the funding by four DFI’s and two ECAs.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Iain Duncan; John Sayers
Other key lawyers
Stuart Dutson; Sara Barin; Andrew Petry