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Practice:
- Energy & Infrastructure Sector
- Renewable Energy
- Infrastructure
- Energy
- Japan
Minako Wakabayashi Partner
Tokyo
Minako has significant experience advising international and domestic sponsors and developers on complex and innovative projects. She was called upon by the Japanese government in structuring the renewable Feed-in-Tariff scheme in Japan and prepared the government’s model contracts for specific contracts (power purchase contract/interconnection contract), which are a key component of the Feed-in-Tariff scheme in Japan. Recently, she has also been handling numerous corporate PPA projects.
She was appointed as Auditor of the Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA) in May 2022.
Minako practiced at Orrick’s New York office in 2004-2005. She also worked as a public prosecutor in Japan for four years and served as a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Supervising Committee for Public Bidding (Tokyo-to Nyusatsu Kanshi Iinkai) for eight years. She is serving as Audit of Veritas In Silico Inc since March 2022.
Practice:
- Energy & Infrastructure Sector
- Energy
- Infrastructure
- Renewable Energy
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Tax
Mark Weitzel Partner
San Francisco
Mark has a finance, tax and corporate background, and focuses on structuring complex equity and debt investments, and negotiating investment, shareholder and joint venture agreements. He has a particular focus on tax and cash equity financing of renewable energy projects, including in the solar and wind space.
Mark is a recognized leader in the field. He is the former co-chair of Orrick’s Energy & Infrastructure practice, and has been named by Chambers as one of “America’s leading energy lawyers”, described by clients as “a standout.” He is also highlighted in The Legal 500 USA as a leading individual in the areas of energy: renewable/alternative and is highlighted in the conventional power category. Euromoney has recognized Mark as one of the “world’s leading project finance lawyers” and one of the “world’s leading energy and natural resource lawyers.” He has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for project finance law, by The Legal 500 as a leading project finance lawyer, and has been a Law360 Energy MVP. Mark is a frequent speaker on energy project and infrastructure investments.
Practice:
- Energy & Infrastructure Sector
- Energy
- Infrastructure
- Power
- Oil & Gas
- Renewable Energy
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Solar Energy
- Wind Energy
- Latin America
Blake Winburne Partner
Houston
Blake is recognized both nationally and globally by Chambers (Chambers USA and Chambers Global 2008-2024), including in Band 1 for Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional, Projects. Chambers sources report that he has "strong commercial acumen, executive presence and excellent, long-standing stature." Blake is also recognized in the "Hall of Fame" for Energy Transactions: Electric Power by Legal 500 and has been named one of the "world’s leading energy and natural resources lawyers" by Euromoney (2009-2020).
Blake advises clients on energy sector mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and joint ventures, and on the development, structuring, and financing of large-scale energy projects in the United States and internationally. He regularly represents multinational energy companies, large private equity funds, project developers and sponsors, borrowers and debt issuers, investment banks, and other capital providers and investors in the energy industry.
Blake has significant experience in the electric power sector, including fossil fuel-fired, simple and combined-cycle and co-generation facilities, as well as wind, solar (central station and distributed), landfill gas, biomass and other renewable energy projects. He also represents clients in transactions involving oil, natural-gas and refined-products pipelines, gathering and processing systems and storage facilities (tank farms and underground), exploration and production investment platforms and operations, electric power and natural gas transmission and local distribution systems and alternative fuels production and marketing arrangements.
Practice:
- Energy & Infrastructure Sector
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Energy
- Infrastructure
- Renewable Energy
- Offshore Wind
- Wind Energy
- Solar Energy
- Power
- UK
Albert Yu Partner
London
Albert represents a wide range of clients, working with project sponsors, lenders, export credit agencies and funds on market-leading energy and infrastructure projects in Europe and Asia.
Prior to joining Orrick, Albert was a Managing Associate at a Magic Circle firm. Albert has also worked in-house for a large global mining company.
Paul Zarnowiecki Partner, Energy & Infrastructure, Renewable Energy
Washington, D.C.
Practice:
- Energy & Infrastructure Sector
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Renewable Energy
- Banking & Finance
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Energy
- Infrastructure
Paul Zarnowiecki Partner
Washington, D.C.
Transactions on which Paul has advised include the development, financing, acquisition and divestiture of renewable and conventional power projects and other infrastructure assets in a broad range of commercial and corporate transactions. He has served as lead counsel on some of the most innovative and complex U.S. renewable energy transactions in recent years in both the wind and solar energy sectors.
He is recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Global, where clients describe him as "highly committed to ensuring clients get excellent service" and "very commercially minded."