Norton Rose Fulbright wins Project & Infrastructure Finance Law Firm of the Year at IFN Awards

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has been named Project & Infrastructure Finance Law Firm of the Year at the annual Islamic Finance News (IFN) Awards 2021.

The IFN Law Awards recognise law firms for their exceptional work during the course of the year. The winners of the awards are selected by an independent award board comprising senior industry practitioners, each nomination was evaluated based on a matrix of qualitative criteria, beyond the size of the firm of transaction and including the impact and influence of each transactions, the complexity of the problems being solved and the consistency in the quality of the work produced.

Mohammed Paracha, Norton Rose Fulbright Head of Middle East and Head of Islamic Finance, Middle East and Africa, comments:

“This recognition is a true testament to our projects and infrastructure teams and reflect the breadth and extensive cross-border work the firm advises in both the Middle East and, working alongside our colleagues from Norton Rose Fulbright’s other regions, globally.”
Norton Rose Fulbright was recognised for its work in advising on the following matters:

• DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority)
  Advised as international and UAE legal advisers to the Senior Lenders and Equity Bridge Lenders in respect of the development and financing (both conventional and Islamic) related aspects of the 900MW photovoltaic fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. Lead partners: Paul Mansouri, Robin Balmer and Joanne Emerson Taqi.
• MENA water desalination – Jubail 3A
  Advising BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Limited (as Offshore Security Trustee) on the English law finance documents in relation to the $650 million financing of development of the Jubail 3A Independent Water Project plant to be developed by ACWA Power in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Lead partner: Farmida Bi.
• Umm al Quwain
  Advising the lenders, Standard Chartered Bank, Korean Development Bank, MUFG, to the consortium comprising ACWA Power and Mubadala in respect of the Umm Al Quwain 150 MIGD IWP, the first IWP project of its type procured by the Federal Electricity and Water Authority. Lead partner: Paul Mansouri and Joanne Emerson Taqi.
• Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works Umm Al Hayman Wastewater Project
  Advised the Partnership Technical Bureau (PTB) and the Ministry for Public Works of Kuwait (MPW) on the Umm Al Hayman Wastewater Project (Project) for over 9 years to bring this project to financial close. Lead partners: Joanne Emerson Taqi and Paul Mansouri.
• Fujairah FT3 Independent Power Project (IPP)
  Advised the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Mizuho Bank Ltd, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Limited, BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV and Standard Chartered Bank on the US$941 million financing of the Fujairah F3 Independent Power Producer (IPP) project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Lead partners: Julien Bocobza, Robin Balmer and Chris Down.
• Jeddah airport independent sewage treatment plant (ISTP)
  Advised the National Commercial Bank (NCB) as senior lender to a consortium comprising The Power and Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu (Marafiq), AlAmwal AlKhaleejiah AlThaniya and Veolia Middle East on the shariah-compliant financing and project documentation for the Jeddah airport independent sewage treatment plant (ISTP). Lead partners: Paul Mansouri, Robin Balmer and Joanne Emerson Taqi.
• Wave 1 of the Schools Infrastructure Development
  Advised senior and equity bridge lenders on Wave 1 of the Schools Infrastructure Development Public Private Partnership Programme. The project is designed to expand the existing education facilities in the Kingdom and respond to the increasing demand for education services and is a crucial part of the wider initiative to achieve the Vision 2030. Lead partners: Robin Balmer, Paul Mansouri and Joanne Emerson Taqi.
  
  

These award wins build on the firm’s success from 2020 where it was named as IFN’s banking & finance law firm of the year and was recognised for two deals of the year (Hybrid Deal of the Year, Syndicated Deal of the Year). Other recent accolades for the wider Middle East practice include “Crisis Management Team of the Year” and “Diversity Initiative of the Year” at Law.com’s annual Middle East Legal Awards.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s global Islamic finance lawyers have a wealth of knowledge across a range of Shariah-compliant structures, including market-leading experience in Sukuk transactions, Murabaha, Istisna’a, Ijara and Musharakah financings and Takaful deals.