London Practices — Energy and Project Finance

Orrick's Energy and Project Finance Group has the in-depth energy industry knowledge to advise our clients in a constantly changing sector. The group comprises over 80 lawyers worldwide, including in London, Hong Kong, Milan, Moscow, New York, Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo. A number of our lawyers have advised on projects lauded as "Deals of the Year" in various industry publications such as Project Finance, Asset Finance International and Trade Finance. As a result, clients call on us to handle their most important transactions.

We often advise clients on unusual, complex transactions, as well as projects involving several tiers of debt and quasi-equity financing under different governing laws. We also frequently advise clients whose needs are at the cutting edge of evolving developments in the industries, like the restructuring of the UK electricity supply industry, and in unique, first-time transactions, like financing new generation facilities backed by complex trading arrangements and virtual tolling agreements.

Orrick's renewable energy practice is among the most experienced in the world. We have significant experience in wind projects in the United States, Europe and Asia, as well as in other renewable technologies, such as solar power and biomass projects. We also work on the financing of these projects and have developed novel financing structures to attract needed new equity capital to both the wind and solar power industries.

Energy

Recent engagements handled by Orrick's Energy and Project Finance Group include the representation of:

• Depfa Investment Bank in relation to a €15,000,000 term facility loan to the Encouragement Bank AD for the financing of general corporate proposals.
• Depfa Investment Bank in relation to a €110,000,000 term loan facility to Hrvatske Autoceste d.o.o for the additional financing of the public road construction and maintenance programme from 2005 to 2008.
• Depfa Investment Bank in relation to €24,679,944 term loan facility for Brado Split, a Croatian shipyard.

Infrastructure

Recent infrastructure engagements handled by Orrick include serving as counsel to:

• The African Development Bank, Standard Bank plc and a syndicate of local Nigerian lenders, including United Bank for Africa, First Bank Of Nigeria and Zenith Bank, as senior lenders on the US $450 million Lekki Toll Road project. This scheme is the first project finance real toll road project in sub-Saharan Africa.
• The sponsor on a major European fibre-optic project involving a new lay across the Netherlands, a spur to Antwerp, and a major loop in Germany.
• Four Italian public health care companies in the €400 million project financing of four hospitals.
• A major metropolitan transit authority in connection with a lease to service contract for subway cars.
• A French regional subway operator in a lease in/lease out US financing of railcars.
• The sponsor and concession company of the A4 motorway in Poland.
• Barclays Bank PLC in relation to a credit facility supported by COFACE in relation to the financing of three road tunnels in Croatia.