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Austin Himes

Associate

Washington, D.C.

Austin advises energy and infrastructure clients on the development, financing, offtake and M&A for significant projects in the power and renewables sector. 

He represents sponsors, developers, lenders and investors in connection with equity investments, refinancing transactions, and joint ventures.

Austin also has experience working on agreements concerning the construction of renewable energy projects, including photovoltaic module supply agreements, turbine supply and service agreements, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) agreements, battery energy storage system (BESS) supply agreements, and subcontracts of various scopes.

Prior to joining Orrick, Austin worked as a research assistant for the Assistant Dean for Energy Law at the George Washington University Law School, a law clerk for the Department of Justice, a financial analyst for large U.S. government acquisitions, and as a project manager for a California-based fintech startup.

  • Austin's pro bono and volunteer work focuses on environmental justice and equity. 

    • Advise international fair-trade non-profit organization regarding agroforestry carbon credit partnership with an international bank.
    • Advise Native American non-profit organization regarding clean technology partnership to incentivize economic development on Native Lands.
    • Legal support for an early-childhood education non-profit organization located in Harlem, New York City.
    • Advise non-profit organization specializing in equitable development and impact financing to help other non-profit organizations go solar. 

  • Offtake Agreements

    • A global technology corporation in the creation of novel short-term and long-term form carbon offset and removal purchase agreements across the world.
    • A global technology corporation in the creation of virtual and physical renewable energy power purchase agreement forms for their US, EU, Australian and Japanese markets.
    • A global coffee corporation in the expansion and management of their US portfolio of renewable energy virtual power purchase agreements.
    • A project developer and sponsor in the sale of renewable energy credits from a solar and wind energy portfolio in the United States.

    Project Development and Financing

    • A project developer and sponsor in the debt and tax equity financing of a $600M+ solar energy portfolio in Hawaii.
    • A project developer and sponsor to manage a $150M revolving construction credit facility for a solar energy portfolio across the United States.
    • A project developer and sponsor in the tax equity financing of a $30M solar energy portfolio across the United States.

    Mergers & Acquisitions

    • An investment group in the cross-border acquisition of the equity interests in the $1B Carlsbad desalination plant.
    • A leading European infrastructure equity firm in forming a joint venture to develop 1GW of solar and storage in the United States.
    • A clean energy battery technology startup in an equity financing and strategic partnership agreement with a regional energy developer.