Orrick Expands in Italy with Energy & Infrastructure Finance Team

• Craig Byrne and Frederic Demeulenaere, both English-law qualified, join Orrick as partners in Milan, with a focus on complex financings for the energy & infrastructure sector and other innovative financing transactions.
• The duo represents a broad range of debt funders, including leading global financial institutions and investment banks, as well as borrowers and sponsors. They have extensive experience in project bonds, joint ventures, acquisition finance, leveraged finance, private placement and direct lending and structured equity transactions.
• Craig, who is Chambers Band 1-ranked for debt capital markets, and Fred have recently completed a string of transactions in infrastructure and are currently advising on a number of circular economy and energy transition transactions across Europe and globally.
• They follow the addition of a seven-lawyer team in Italy led by Fabio Fauceglia, focused on M&A for the energy sector. Earlier this month, the firm hired energy and infrastructure projects advisor Adam Moncrieff in Singapore.

“We are thrilled to add Craig and Fred as we continue to focus on building out a top-quality platform in Italy that aligns with our global strengths, particularly at the convergence of finance and infrastructure,” said Attilio Mazzilli, head of the firm’s Italian offices and lead partner for cross-border client development.

"Orrick is well-known as a leader in finance, with 10 Chambers Band 1-ranked teams across the U.S., and in energy and infrastructure, having worked on some of the most innovative transactions in the world," said Craig. "We are incredibly excited to collaborate with our new colleagues and to help build in Italy, Europe more broadly and globally."

Craig’s and Fred’s recent experience includes the landmark Italian Brebemi (A35) toll road financing, the Italian A3 toll road project bonds and the Italian A21 toll road financing. They also advised on the financing and refinancing of Azzurra Aeroporti (the Côte d’Azur airports) as well as ICOP on its financing for its acquisition of U.S. geotechnical engineering group Atlantic Geoconstruction.

“I’m excited to join the team at Orrick and further enhance Orrick’s platform in Italy, working together with Craig and our teams across Europe, Asia and the U.S. to support companies and lenders on their most innovative projects and financings,” said Fred.

Orrick is the No. 2 M&A Legal Advisor for P3s globally (Inframation, 2024) and ranks No. 2 for Energy Transition globally (Inspiratia, 2024). The firm was recognized by IJ Global for advising on Europe’s Energy Transition Deal of the Year & Airport Deal of the Year in 2024 and as Legal Adviser of the Year for Europe in 2023.