Clifford Chance’s stands out for its strong expertise in development bank and multilateral financings, both in the US and overseas. Team head Lori Ann Bean acts out of Washington DC and regularly represents export credit agencies, multilateral development institutions, and other governmental and commercial lenders. Houston-based Alexander Leff focuses on renewable energy and infrastructure matters, with particular strength in project finance, tax, and M&A. Gianluca Bacchiocchi joined the firm in March 2025, further strengthening the team’s capabilities.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team we work with is very knowledgeable on applicable subject matters and attentive to our needs and questions. They treat our needs as a priority. Our team is focused on innovative solutions to our issues as they arise.’
- 'We view them as a true collaborative partner.'
- ‘The team we work with is very knowledgeable on applicable subject matters. We feel like we are receiving sound and competent advice.'
- ‘Peter Hughes is both a subject matter expert on traditional and renewable energy project finance deals.'
- ‘Clifford Chance's Project Finance team has deep demonstrated expertise in the "traditional" as well as "renewable" or "innovative" energy space, and they work both diligently and efficiently with talent available across the globe.’
Key clients
- U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
- Export-Import Bank of the United States
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Inter-American Investment Corporation
- Proparco - the French development bank
- AES Corporation
- KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH
- Aggreko Energy Transition Solutions
- Heelstone Renewable Energy
Work highlights
Advised ExxonMobil on multiple carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) agreements with third-party emitters, including an agreement with Calpine Corporation to transport and permanently store up to 2 million metric tons per annum of carbon dioxide from Calpine's Baytown Energy Center, a cogeneration facility near Houston, Texas.
Advised KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, MUFG Bank, Ltd., DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank, Export Development Canada, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, The Korea Development Bank, Asset Management One Alternative Investments Ltd, and Nippon Life Insurance Company on the US$800 million project financing of a 374MW solar project and 150MW/600MWh battery storage project located in Riverside County, California.
Advising European lenders and a European export credit agency on the financing of a U.S. manufacturing facility critical to the development of a U.S. supply chain for the offshore wind sector.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Lori Ann Bean
Other key lawyers
Alexander Leff; Peter Hughes; Gianluca Bacchiocchi