El-Aref International Law Office has extensive experience in project development and finance, oil & gas and power transactions including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, privatizations, finance and project finance, tax, competition, regulatory, confidentiality, commercial, corporate, land use, fuel supply, operation and maintenance and insurance. El-Aref International Law Office advises on the development, operation, and financing of a range of projects in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan region.
We act primarily for suppliers, project developers, governments, contractors, and operators. Financing techniques used on these transactions include limited recourse financing, capital markets issues, and lease structures, with facilities from commercial lenders, export credit agencies, and multi-lateral institutions. Our experience in addressing the complex regulatory, contracting, and risk management issues raised by power includes assignments in support and development of power businesses.
El-Aref International Law Office has a long history of working for the energy sector and is a recognized name in the business. We are well positioned to meet clients’ needs wherever they operate; El-Aref International Law Office acted as counsel in many transactions for U.S U.K. , Asian, European and other multinational Companies in the Middle East and Africa.
Our Firm’s international energy practice has a major presence in renewable areas such as wind, solar, with experience in traditional oil and gas industries, electric and gas utilities, and natural gas pipelines.
Our lawyers have extensive experience acting for sponsors and lenders in relation to the development, financing and privatization of energy infrastructure. Our global capabilities include Project development, Project financing, Project support agreements, Mergers and acquisitions, negotiating and finalizing Political Risk Insurance and Partial Risk Guarantees and Partial Credit Guarantees.
Our clients include independent power producers, financial institutions and energy consumers, project developers, equipment manufacturers, construction companies, industrial companies, and private equity funds.
The lawyers of our renewable energy practice represent clients in all aspects of the development and financing of renewable energy projects. Our global capabilities include Project development, Project financing, Project support agreements, and Mergers and acquisitions.
We can advise clients on every aspect of a project, such as regulation, financing, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures.
Major Clients: STX Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., B.B. Energy, Vestas AG, ABB, TCQ Power Ltd., Hyundai Heavy Industries Ltd.
Some of our most recent transactions:
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Advising Client with lenders (including the International Finance Corporation) in respect of Senior Loan (Loan A) and as lead arranger for the financing of the 128MW Greenfield, heavy fuel oil fired power plant in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Mandate Letter and Term sheet.
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Advised Repsol in the exploration & Production agreement with the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and advised on project financing and corporate structure with the consortium.
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Advised Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in the consortium for the Project relating to the Installation and Commissioning of High Voltage Gas Insulated Switchgear and High Voltage Air Insulated Switchgear (220kV) Substations in Lebanon with the Ministry of Energy and Water in Lebanon and with Electricite du Liban.
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Represented STX Heavy Industries in several power generation projects in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, in Equipment supply contracts, joint development agreements, EPC Contracts in Iraq, and contractors in Jordan and Lebanon for 900 MW power plant at the value of 1.2 billion USD, 400 MW combined cycle and 60 MW power plant.
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The Firm advised on Joint Development Agreement with Wartsila on plans to develop and invest in HFO power plant with generation capacity of 100 MW in Iraq. The Project required an investment by Sponsor, and export credit agency, which will cover a substantial portion of the project costs.
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Advised the Saint-Gobain group on export control, economic sanctions and embargoes with Chadbourne & Parke LLP.
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Advised TCQ Power Ltd. on the Power Purchase Agreement and O&M Agreements in coordination with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, for large independent power project in Sierra Leone for a 128 MW combined cycle Power Plant and a a grid development and management agreement to refurbish, recondition, construct and establish Transmission Grid.
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Advised Vestas AG on 84 MW Wind Farm Power Plant project generating renewable energy for the national electricity grid of Lebanon.
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Representation of sponsors in connection with the financing, ownership, operation, maintenance and commissioning of 80 MW Hydro power plant in South Sudan. The Firm advised sponsors on the Build-Operate and Transfer, on water rights, and power purchase agreement.
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Advised on project finance with Finnvera the Export credit agency in Finland for financing of long-term loans and guarantees for an EPC Contractor related to 100 MW greenfield power plant project. Advised on the guarantee against political or commercial risks associated with the financing.
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El-Aref acted as counsel of Islamic Development Bank Group, advised on Murabaha transactions and Wakala, advised ISDB on L/C financing and documentary credit transactions.