US-based Squire Patton Boggs, a full-service global law firm, said it has appointed Shane Wilson as its partner in the Public & Infrastructure Finance Practice Group at the office in Dubai, UAE.  

Wilson has more than a decade’s experience advising clients on banking and finance, particularly project finance transactions across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), said a statement from the firm.

He regularly acts for borrowers and lenders on finance and security matters, including infrastructure financings, property and construction financings, general corporate finance transactions, restructurings, trade financings and other types of secured, non-secured, bilateral and syndicated conventional and Shari’ah-compliant finance transactions, it added.

In the area of project finance, Wilson advises lenders, governments, sponsors and project companies on projects in the energy, utilities, infrastructure and metals sectors in various jurisdictions. He also advises Islamic financiers and sponsors on projects financed in compliance with Shari’ah.

Wilson’s recent work highlights include advising the lenders to an international sponsor consortium on the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company procured solar independent power project (IPP) in Abu Dhabi; advising a Japanese sponsor in connection with the Az Zour North 2 Independent Water and Power Project in Kuwait; and advising a GCC-based sponsor in respect of the development of an IPP in Armenia, it said.

Additionally, he also recently advised a UAE government entity on the structuring and financing of a major infrastructure project and the sponsors of various independent water projects in Oman and across the GCC region.

Thomas Wilson, Dubai office managing partner and co-leader of the firm’s global infrastructure group, said: “We are very pleased to have Wilson on board. Support for our infrastructure clients is a priority, especially here in the Middle East, so that we can continue to provide a market-leading service in the financing, development, acquisition and sale of projects across borders and across sectors, whether in energy, transport, healthcare or housing.”

“Shane brings with him first-rate project finance experience and he is also an excellent and versatile banking lawyer who is equally at home in drafting or negotiating documents for Islamic financing, export credit, government funding, and mezzanine/subordinated funding,” he said.

Speaking on his appointment, Shane said: “The firm’s breadth of experience, depth of expertise, and sheer range of clients in the region is impressive.”

“I look forward to working with my new colleagues to deliver the varied financing that clients need to fulfil their projects and investments,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service