Best Lawyers in America for Project Finance Law

Michele Allgood has extensive experience in all areas of municipal and public finance in Arkansas including bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, issuer’s counsel, trustee’s counsel, purchaser’s counsel and borrower’s counsel. She represents Arkansas state agencies, municipalities, counties, facility boards and commissions in matters of capital improvement and economic development projects. Michele has experience in taxable, tax exempt, public and private municipa...

Martha Anderson is Managing Partner of Nixon Peabody’s Buffalo, New York, office. She is a finance and corporate lawyer with over 25 years of experience representing financial institutions and businesses of all types in connection with leveraged and project finance transactions and mergers, acquisitions and dispositions. She also has extensive experience in professional sports matters involving NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL teams and their stadiums and arenas. What do you focus on? I help finan...

Bruce Baker co-leads the firm’s Campus Infrastructure & Community Development team. He focuses on the construction aspects of real estate development and financing projects. What do you focus on? Design, development and construction contracts I represent owners, developers and lenders in connection with the structuring and negotiation of EPC, design/build, design and construction contracts for complex projects in all asset classes, ranging from commercial and institutional buildings...

Katie Baynes, a partner in Nixon Peabody’s Public Finance group, focuses her practice on project finance, infrastructure finance and public finance. She represents government authorities, issuers and underwriters in connection with project financings including stadiums and arenas as well as industrial development revenue bonds; college and university bonds; hospital, health care, and senior living bonds; and other exempt facility bonds. What do you focus on? Project Finance I have been ...

Chris Bowles is co-chair of Bradley’s Solar Energy Practice Group. He is an energy and economic development attorney practicing out of Bradley’s Nashville office. Chris regularly advises clients on the development and financing of energy and infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on renewable energy sources, helping them negotiate contracts and manage risk in each stage of a project’s development, including the real estate, tax and regulatory aspects of development and pr...

Lance Brasher is the head of the firm’s North American Energy and Infrastructure Projects Group. He has served for more than 20 years as lead lawyer in complex acquisition, financing and development transactions involving energy and infrastructure facilities in the United States and around the world. Mr. Brasher has advised diversified energy companies, utilities, private investment firms and financial institutions in all phases of solar, wind and other renewable energy projects; gas an...

While fully engaged as Managing Partner of Buckley King, Brent Buckley counsels and represents financial institutions, private equity firms, lenders, businesses and executive management on business issues, complex and structured finance, workouts, asset-based lending, corporate internal investigations, and commercial litigation matters. Brent is nationally recognized for excellence in both corporate law and banking and finance litigation. He is named among the prestigious Legal Who's Who as o...

Barry Carrigan focuses his practice on project finance, infrastructure finance and public finance. Barry represents developers, issuers and lenders on a range of project finance and public finance projects including renewable energy facilities, transit oriented developments, waste to energy projects, charter schools and multi-family housing transactions.Barry has been selected as one of The Bond Buyer’s 2020 Rising Stars, a program which showcases the brightest young minds in the munici...

Rohit Chaudhry is a debt finance partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Rohit’s practice focuses on energy and project finance transactions, sales and acquisitions, as well as project restructurings across the energy spectrum, including independent power, oil & gas, midstream and LNG sectors. Rohit represents private equity funds, developers, lenders and institutional investors on domestic and international transactions. He has led transactions in the U...

Josh DeBottis has a broad base of experience in finance and corporate related areas focusing on the energy industry with a particular emphasis on renewable energy project finance. Josh represents financial institutions in the financing, construction, acquisition and sale of energy and infrastructure assets including solar, wind, coal and natural gas facilities. Prior to joining the firm, Josh practiced in the Charlotte office of Hunton & Williams.

Dan Demmerle is a seasoned Cincinnati business attorney with decades of experience advising corporations, family-owned businesses, and privately held entities across Ohio and Northern Kentucky. His practice spans general business law, real estate transactions, commercial financing, and development matters. Dan is particularly well known for his long-standing work in the hospitality industry, with over 40 years representing hotel owners and operators in management and franchise agreements, acq...

Catherine Dingle (formerly Kronk) is a founding member of MSK. She has extensive experience with a wide range of complex commercial transactions, including commercial finance. Kate has assisted clients in expanding their businesses and acquiring assets throughout Vermont, New York, New England, and Canada. Her practice also includes representing local Vermont companies and regional, Canadian, and other foreign businesses and banks in complex commercial transactions, such as large credit facil...

Brian Greene is a debt finance partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Brian’s practice focuses on the representation of lenders, private equity funds, institutional investors, and multilateral and bilateral agencies in domestic and international project finance, energy and infrastructure projects, particularly in the United States and Latin America.

Chris Grissom practices primarily in the areas of state and local tax planning, LLCs, federal and state tax disputes, and state and local tax and non-tax incentives. Through his tax controversy, planning and incentives work, he deals with a wide variety of industries, including pulp and paper, software technology, automotive, finance, telecommunications, and textile manufacturers. In his tax practice, Chris regularly counsels many of the Fortune 500 on Alabama tax matters. He also conducts mu...

Harry Hamlin has over 20 years of experience advising numerous financial institutions, business entities, REITs and individual clients in all aspects of commercial transactions including complex lending and contractual matters as well as the conveyance, purchase, development and leasing of real property. He also counsels clients on municipal finance, tax exempt, tax credit and 1031 transactions. His expertise in securing liquor permits from the Alcohol Beverage Control division is invaluable ...

Bill Hines is managing partner of Jones Walker and a member of the Corporate Practice Group. Passionate about economic and cultural development in New Orleans, across Louisiana, and throughout the Gulf South, Bill has been a legal, business, and civic leader for more than 35 years. Since 2006, he has led Jones Walker through a period of significant growth. During this time, the firm’s client base has expanded to include leading regional, national, and international corporations, banks a...

Karl Kobayashi concentrates his practice in the area of commercial real estate with an emphasis on sales, acquisitions, leasing, financing and development. He also practices in the area of entitlements (land use and zoning law) and has represented clients in contested case and other regulatory proceedings before agencies such as the State of Hawai`i Land Use Commission, the Hawai`i Community Development Authority (Kaka`ako), the City and County of Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals, the Maui Pl...

Charles Landry is a partner and member of Fishman Haygood’s Business Section. Charles concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate development, real estate finance, land use and zoning. He has represented numerous parties in a wide range of real estate transactions, which include residential developments (including Traditional Neighborhood Developments), office buildings, shopping malls and centers, hotels and medical facilities, golf course communities, and industrial developm...

Alex B. Leath is a partner in the firm’s Economic Development Practice Group and the Tax Practice Group. Since 1990, Alex has been involved in a significant number of the major economic development projects in the Southeast. As a result, he is one of the most trusted economic development attorneys in the region. Leading companies regularly seek him out for counsel on their relocation and site-selection matters, knowing his broad experience will serve them well. Alex has extensive experi...

Growing up working for his family’s flag and banner company, Arnie’s business education started at a young age. Today, he is a member of Bernstein Shur’s Succession Planning practice group, and provides counsel to small and mid-sized companies in business matters of all types, from formation issues and real estate deals to mergers and acquisitions. He’s particularly well-versed in financing, and works with both profit and nonprofit clients on a range of complex transac...

Molly Jeffcoat Moody is a transactional attorney with practice emphases in commercial transactions and complex financing. Her work includes significant representation of borrowers and lenders in commercial loans (C&I, real estate, bonds, interest rate swaps) and developers in the development, construction, and operations of complex real estate projects (apartment complexes, manufacturing facilities, shopping centers). Molly has considerable experience with loan syndications and participat...

John's practice exercises his extensive experience in the deployment and recovery of debt and equity capital and in commercial law. His practice includes business formations, acquisitions and dispositions, distressed asset investing, private equity transactions, mezzanine lending, commercial lending, creditor's rights, loan workouts and recoveries, lender liability, securitizations, the Uniform Commercial Code, and commercial law generally. John’s practice spans a wide range of differen...

Vicki Nakahara is a Partner in the firm's Honolulu office and is a member of the Transactional practice group. She concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial real estate transactions, financing and lending, and corporate transactions. Ms. Nakahara began her legal career working as an associate at Lane Powell PC in their Portland, Oregon office. Representative Matters Commercial Real Estate Prepared and negotiated documentation of the sales of real property on behalf of sellers and b...

Arleen Nand represents commercial, cooperative, development and investment banks, as well as hedge funds, private equity firms, and corporations in cross-border and domestic financings. Arleen has structured, drafted, and negotiated more than $40 billion of investment grade, leveraged finance and commercial paper transactions. Arleen has served as lead counsel on numerous financings, including cross-border credit facilities, securitizations, syndicated loan transactions, credit-linked notes, ...

Lawrence Okinaga is a partner in the firm's Honolulu office and a member of its Transactional practice group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate, financial institutions, real estate, and administrative law. Mr. Okinaga has developed this deep experience in representing corporations, partnerships and individuals, for more than 38 years. He regularly advises clients on business matters and supervises the firm's litigators in clients' disputes. He is listed in Chambers USA: A...

Chris Pace is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He advises on project finance and economic development law, state and local government law, economic development incentives, and gaming law. Chris’ clients include county and municipal governmental bodies as well as new and expanding business concerns, examples of which include a large steel company investing more than $1 billion in a new facility, and a regional beverage supplier investing millions of dollars to expand its existi...

Louie Quinn, Jr. is a partner and member of Fishman Haygood's Business Section. He has more than 40 years of experience and concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate development [housing, office, retail, mixed-use, and industrial]; real estate finance; affordable housing, student housing, multi-family housing and condominiums; commercial leasing [Landlord and Tenant]; business and commercial transactions, partnership syndications, public-private partnerships, and public finance tr...

Mr. Schneider is Co-Chair of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group and is a member of firm's Management Committee. He has extensive experience in the area of sophisticated commercial real estate transactions in Louisiana and elsewhere. He has been involved in many of the major commercial real estate transactions and gaming developments in the region. Mr. Schneider joined Stone Pigman in 1984.

Mr. Sher is a business lawyer whose practice is concentrated in commercial real estate and business and finance law. He also practices in the areas of: commercial litigation, creditors' rights, workouts and foreclosures, commercial bankruptcy, disaster recovery, arbitration and mediation, secured finance and asset based lending. Along with his practice, Mr. Sher is actively involved with many professional and trade organizations, including the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, where he...

Jennifer West Signs is a partner in Balch & Bingham LLP's Gulfport, Mississippi, office and practices primarily in the area of commercial real estate acquisitions, development, and financing as well as general real estate law. She is an authorized signatory with the firm's Mississippi agency with First American Title Insurance Company and has extensive experience in negotiating and issuing complex land title policies for both lenders and owners in multi-million dollar transactions. Ms. Si...

Ms. Talley is Co-Chair of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group. Her practice includes all aspects of real estate development, financing, leasing, purchase and sales. Ms. Talley has been involved in many of the major commercial real estate developments in Louisiana. She joined Stone Pigman in 1981.

For more than 25 years, Dan Utt has helped real estate owners, developers, investors, landlords, tenants and lenders navigate the issues and considerations associated with real estate and general business law matters. Dan has significant experience with a broad range of real estate transactions, including the following: Residential, retail, commercial, and mixed-use developments Office, commercial and industrial building projects Acquisition, development and loan transactions for senior livin...

Woody Vaughan is a partner in Holland & Knight's Atlanta office, where his practice focuses on public finance transactions, economic development projects and multifamily housing finance. Mr. Vaughan leads the firm's Georgia Public Finance Initiative and has substantial experience in tax-exempt finance for state and local governments; multifamily housing facilities; stadiums; and governmental and nonprofit healthcare, educational and other facilities. He routinely serves as bond counsel an...

Gregg R. Vermeys focuses his practice on real estate matters, including acquisitions, development, financing, leasing and sales. Since 2005, Mr. Vermeys has served as lead counsel on acquisitions and sales transactions having an aggregate value well in excess of one billion dollars.

Mr. Whittaker is Chair of the firm's Business Section. He represents clients in a wide variety of transactions, including buying, selling and merging companies; private placements of securities; venture capital and private equity transactions; joint ventures; roll-ups, spin-offs and split-ups; and all phases of real estate acquisitions, development and financing. Mr. Whittaker joined Stone Pigman in 1984.

M. Binford (Ben) Williams, Jr., has over thirty years of experience in large, complex commercial transactions. Ben's practice is fast-paced and, on a regular basis, includes nuanced structures, innovative financing alternatives with his lender and borrower clients alike, and acquisitions and mergers of businesses . His work includes significant representation of lenders in commercial loans (C&I, real estate, bonds, interest rate swaps), developers in the development, construction, and ope...

Jon Yamamura is a Partner in the firm's Honolulu office and is the Chair of the Transactional Practice Group. He concentrates his practice on real estate, mergers and acquisitions, buying and selling businesses and business interests, and business planning and reorganization. Mr. Yamamura also works on a wide range of complex corporate and finance projects and cases. In addition, having served over two years as a foreign attorney on staff at the Anderson Mori law firm in Tokyo, Japan, he has ...

Edward (Ed) Zaelke is the global co-head of the Energy & Project Finance Practice. He focuses his practice on project finance and private equity in renewable energy transactional matters. With more than 30 years of experience, he advises clients on all elements of alternative energy development and finance, including equity and debt financing, merger and acquisition transactions, equipment purchase and sale agreements, power purchase agreements, siting and other real property issues, gove...

Adam Birnbaum is a corporate associate in the Miami office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Adam’s practice includes project financings and development, general corporate governance, leveraged financings, subscription credit facilities, acquisition financings and restructuring financings. Adam has experience representing private equity sponsors, portfolio companies and corporate borrowers in domestic and international transactions.

Eric Brenner is an associate in Nixon Peabody’s Project Finance and Public Finance group, serving a wide variety of clients, including financial institutions, issuers, underwriters, and borrowers on taxable and tax-exempt public finance transactions. My focus I strive to serve my clients with efficient and forward looking strategies in all facets of public finance and project finance with a constant focus on overarching client objectives and needs. I represent a wide variety of clients ...

Adam Heasley advises lenders, borrowers, and sponsors in a wide variety of debt financing transactions with a focus on acquisition credit facilities, asset-based lending, and special situations investing. Adam helps clients entering into acquisition, cash flow, and asset-based credit facilities meet their transaction goals and achieve timely deal execution. In addition to negotiating transaction documents, he has extensive experience in structuring bespoke intercreditor arrangements and guidi...

Amir Heyat is an associate in the Securities and Capital Markets practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm's Washington, DC office. Mr. Heyat concentrates his practice on representing issuers and underwriters on a range of debt and equity capital markets, structured finance and liability management transactions. He has advised on a range of large-scale international securities offerings and debt restructurings by sovereign, corporate and multilateral organization issuers, including E...