The projects team at Clifford Chance, noted for its ‘market knowledge and sector expertise’, has a range of specialists at the helm; notable names include partners Anthony Giustini , Nikolaï Eatwell, co-founder of the Paris renewable energy group Delphine Siino Courtin, co-head of the firm’s power and energy networks sub-group Richard Tomlinson, Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, Daniel Zerbib, David Préat and Gauthier Martin. The practice covers the full scope of projects work across a multitude of industries, predominantly advising domestic and foreign lenders and sponsors on the structuration, implementation and negotiation of complex and high-value projects. The team’s workload is increasing in regard to advising clients on projects which meet ESG principles, as part of the sector's energy transition. Notably, the team is currently advising Biovéa Energie S.A. on the largest biomass power plant in West Africa powered by agricultural waste.

The projects team at Linklaters has strong experience in advising its clients, being well-known and often internationally renowned sponsors and lenders such as the European Investment Bank, on high-value and complex projects across the full-range of industry sectors. Its infrastructure and energy work is particularly impressive and includes advice to lenders on all aspects of the financing of the first floating offshore wind asset in the world, to be financed on a limited-recourse basis. Its consistently high-value projects are regularly cross-jurisdictional in nature. Bertrand Andriani leads the team, which is formed of specialist partners in the sector, Stephen Le Vesconte, François April and Pierre Guillot. Counsel Samuel Bordeleau has expertise in advising clients on the development, acquisition, construction, financing and refinancing of their projects in energy and infrastructure. Darko Adamovic left for Gibson Dunn in July 2023.

François-Guilhem Vaissier co-leads the practice at White & Case LLP, alongside Jean-Luc Champy and Amaury de Feydeau, noted for his ‘precise knowledge of the law and the market’. The team advises reputable sponsors and arrangers on high-value projects across the spectrum of industry sectors. It is particularly active in renewable energy, notably advising on significant offshore windfarms, which is a growing area of focus for the team. Recent standouts included its assistance to the French government on the South Brittany floating offshore windfarm and its oversight of a major hydrocarbon asset in Algeria. In addition to its impressive domestic and European work, the team is well-experienced in handling cross-border matters, namely being Africa-based projects. Transcontinental work, a further key facet of the practice, often involves complex hydropower projects, solar farms and thermal power plants.

The international projects practice at Ashurst LLP is noted for its ‘strong capabilities’ and is equipped to advise across a broad-range of industry sectors, with particular focus on infrastructure, conventional and renewable energy; its complex and high-value workload spans France, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The team itself has a strong reputation for its expertise among its members, in multilateral guarantee products and the structuring, negotiating and documenting of such transactions. Mark Barges, who is described as knowing the finance market ‘inside-out’ co-leads the team alongside Tom Longmuir. Samia Khennous is a name to watch.

Régis Oréal, Eric Fiszelson and Michaël Armandou lead the practice at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, which is experienced in handling a broad array of project finance-related matters, across various disciplines. Its workload consistently involves structuring and development; financing; tendering and procurement; land-related issues; and advising on ESG, public and regulatory principles, on high-value deals. Its expertise is spread across PPPs, renewable energy, new infrastructure, oil and gas, mining, transport and telecoms; its activity is commonly France-based though it also has clear international competence, having recenyly advised on a $672m port project in Colombia.

Amir Jahanguiri , noted for his ‘long-standing expertise’ in the sector, leads the project finance team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. The team ably advises its noteworthy and often international clients, both lenders and sponsors, on high-value projects predominantly in the transport, energy and infrastructure industries. It advises on the drafting of, developments for and financing of such projects and is experienced in doing so in novel and cross-jurisdictional circumstances. It is also equipped to advise on limited recourse matters. Michaël Armandou, former partner in the team, departed to Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in October of 2021. Antoine Bouzanquet was notably appointed partner in January 2022, and is described as ‘an expert in project finance.’

Driss Bererhi, described as a ‘fantastic person to deal with’, leads the project finance team at Allen & Overy LLP, with support from the leader of public law at the firm Romaric Lazerges, head of energy Alexandre Ancel and Adrian Mellor who takes lead on English Law. The offering is well-known for its ability to handle matters for both borrowers and lenders, involving infrastructure, energy and significant transport projects. Key members of the practice also include specialist counsels Amine Bourabiat and Tzvetomira Pacheva.

The well-regarded Simon Ratledge co-leads the practice at Asafo & Co. alongside Pascal Agboyibor who has a particular specialism in African projects and financings involving energy, infrastructure, mining and agriculture. The team enjoys an evident expertise in working on complex matters overseas, advising key clients including the Democratic Republic of Congo in the development and expansion of significant green energy projects.

The practice at Baker McKenzie has Michael Foundethakis at its helm. It is well-equipped to handle matters cross-jurisdictionally, with projects often reaching other European nations, as well as Africa, for such key clients as the African Export-Import Bank; the team consistently deals with said matters in collaboration with the various international offices within the broader firm. It advises across aspects of often high-value projects, including restructurings and negotiations. Former partner Richard Mogni departed to finance company OCIM in November of 2021.

Specialist in financings, acquisitions, energy and natural resources projects, Barthélemy Faye, heads the project finance practice at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton alongside Andrew Bernstein. There is an impressive African-based financings expertise at all levels of the team; noteworthy work spanning this jurisdiction presently includes its advising Groupe Envol Immobilie on PPP projects relating to a novel healthcare financing, which is a major step for the continent towards vaccine autonomy. As well as healthcare, the team often advises on projects involving energy and oil and gas industry work, regularly in collaboration with the Brussels-based cohort.

The DLA Piper finance team, led by Eric Villateau and Jérôme Pentecoste, continues to impress in the project finance sector, consistently advising lenders and borrowers on noteworthy PPP model projects across a range of industry sectors. Standout recent work involves an infrastructurally significant telecoms project, wherein the practice is advising on the financing of a high-speed broadband network as part of a major urban, social and economic project of national interest in France, the Grand Paris Express. In addition to its presence in France and Europe, the team’s workload expands to the African continent.

Alban Dorin and Olivier Mélédo co-head the practice at Mayer Brown, which demonstrates a particular specialism in handling international project finance work for its clients, whom range from international companies, financial institutions and banks, to governments. The team’s oil and gas, and renewables work is a clear focus, as it works consistently on high-value matters, the standout being its advising The Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on various such work, including significant green hydrogen projects, often in collaboration with the Singapore and London-based teams at the firm. The team leads both have particular expertise in global energy, and Africa-based finance.

Victoria Westcott and Baptiste Gelpi co-lead the team at Reed Smith. It is well-equipped to handle sophisticated cross-border mandates across a range of industry sectors, for its significant clientele in the sector, advising on all aspects of project financing, from construction, to operation and maintenance. Former co-leader of the team and specialist in the field Fernand Arsanios, departed to King & Spalding LLP in September of 2022.

Shearman & Sterling LLP‘s team ably handles matters advising on a broad range of project types of significant value; the Paris team regularly works in collaboration with various international offices within the firm, to advise on complex global projects. It is experienced in acting as grant provider, collaboration partner and general adviser to its key clients, and holds significant expertise in financial restructurings. Infrastructure and energy specialist Lachlan Poustie is at the helm.

Jean-Marc Allix and Marc Fornacciari co-lead the project finance team at Dentons. The team is experienced in advising its clients on significant cross-border projects in relation to climate change, transportation and infrastructure projects and is currently advising on a high-value offshore windfarm project. The practice is notably adept at advising on complex bidding procedures involved in the granting of awards of concession relating to said cases.

The team at Jones Day is co-led by ‘expert in the team’ Sophie Chevallier and Nicolas Brice, both of whom specialise in asset and project finance in particular. It is well-equipped to advise on a broad range of corporate and financing issues, being that the team leads are ably supported by a multitude of experts in various related sectors, being Frédéric Gros , Rémi Fekete, Philippe Delelis, Audrey Bontemps, Alexandre de Verdun and Qian Hu . The group’s project finance work involves predominantly domestic advisory work, in such key industries as solar, waste management and energy, with its PPP and IPP projects also spanning other jurisdictions, namely in Africa.

The multi-disciplinary practice at Norton Rose Fulbright is co-headed by global head of the firm’s energy practice Anne Lapierre  , project finance specialist Arnaud Bélisaire and Simon Cudennec . The team is heavily focused and has an impressive workload in the energy sector, particularly on the African content, and advises on numerous project and financing matters in this regard.

Pinsent Masons LLP‘s project finance practice is headed by specialist Eran Chvika , and is well-known for its work on international project finance work, spanning Europe and Africa predominantly. A key focus of its matters are energy-related, namely nuclear and renewables, but it is also experienced in handling infrastructure cases. Its workload is often advisory, assisting on due diligence, negotiations and related contracts; additionally, the team is equipped to assist its clients in disputes which may arise during the course of the projects.