Norton Rose Fulbright named Law Firm of the Year for project finance

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has been awarded law firm of the year by Project Finance International magazine (PFI). The firm also advised on seven projects that received deal of the year accolades across a number of sectors and regions.

PFI is a leading publication for global energy and infrastructure finance news, data and analysis. It notes that Norton Rose Fulbright has had a “big year” as it completed combinations with firms in Canada, the US and Australia.

Law360 has also named Norton Rose Fulbright’s projects team one of its “Practice Groups of the Year” for the fourth consecutive year. The annual feature from this leading legal news site recognizes “the law firms behind the litigation wins and major deals that resonated throughout the legal industry in the past year.”

Simon Currie, global head of energy, comments:

“Our global team has grown significantly this year.  The PFI awards are amongst the most prestigious for the projects industry. I believe it is the diversity of our offering which has helped us win the award for 2017. In addition, seven projects we have supported have won deal of the year awards which demonstrates our position at the forefront of the market.”

Nick Merritt, global head of infrastructure, mining and commodities, comments:

“The regional and sector spread of the deals that have been recognised showcase the breadth of our practice and our ability to advise on the world’s leading transactions, no matter where they take place. We look forward to continuing into 2018, which is set to be a busy year.”  

Award winning transactions:

Global Multilateral Deal of the Year: Egypt Solar
Advised a consortium of lenders, led by International Finance Corporation (IFC), on the US$ 653 million financing of 13 solar power projects in Egypt. The projects will form part of the Benban Solar Park, which, once complete, will be the largest solar installation in the world. Lead partner: Andrew Hart.

Americas Power Deal of the Year: AES Southland
Advised a consortium of lenders on an approximately US$2.3bn financing for the 1,394 MW Southland repowering project in Southern California sponsored by the AES Corporation. Lead partner: Rohit Chaudhry.

Americas P3 Deal of the Year: Fort McMurray West
Advised the Alberta Electric System Operator on the development and implementation of P3 contracts relating to the design, build, ownership, operation and maintenance of a 500 kV, 500 km, C$1.65bn transmission line, including on matters relating to an innovative and unique debt funding competition for project debt of approximately C$1.4bn – the largest public-private financing ever completed in Canada. Lead partners: David Eeles, Don Davies, Rick Borden, Jennifer Kennedy.

Asia-Pacific Petchem Deal of the Year: Pengerang Terminal 2
Advised a consortium of nine lenders on a US$1.25bn financing for the development of a 1.65 million cubic metre oil storage terminal to support a large integrated refinery complex in Johor, Malaysia sponsored by PETRONAS, Vopak and Dialog. Lead partner: Stephen Begley.

Asia-pacific PPP Deal of the Year: Grafton Prison
Acted for John Holland, D&C Contractor, as part of the successful Northern Pathways consortium’s bid for the New Grafton Correctional Centre PPP, a new 1,700 bed facility located in northern NSW. Lead partner: James Morgan-Payler.

Middle East and Africa Power Deal of the Year: Sweihan
Advised Marubeni Corporation and JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd in relation to the US$ 900 million financing for the Sweihan IPP (independent power project) in Abu Dhabi. Lead partner: Charles Whitney, Chris Down, Peter Hall.

Middle East and Africa Renewables Deal of the Year: DEWA Solar
Advising the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority on its 800MW solar PV multi-phase project, the third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. DEWA will develop the project alongside partners Masdar and EDF. Lead Partner: Paul Mansouri.

For further information please contact:

Meeta Campanaro, Senior PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0)20 7444 3097; Mob: +44 (0)7595 886 276
meeta.campanaro@nortonrosefulbright.com

Notes for editors:

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm providing the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

Recognized for its industry focus, Norton Rose Fulbright is strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare. Through its global risk advisory group, the firm leverages its industry experience with its knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses.

Norton Rose Fulbright operates in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, aiming to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of its offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices.