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Infrastructure

With a focus on infrastructure across asset classes, Orrick lawyers are guiding clients in critical infrastructure modernization around the world.

Private investment in public infrastructure assets will play a crucial role in global economic recovery and growth. Our award-winning Infrastructure lawyers are experienced, creative, practical and commercial and are particularly adept at handling the many complexities that arise in infrastructure projects. Orrick’s practice is unique in its balanced client portfolio that includes both private equity and debt investors and sponsors, as well as governmental procuring authorities. This 360-degree understanding of complex infrastructure transactions enables our lawyers to advise on, and structure, transactions that are commercially viable from the beginning and, as a result, avoid protracted procurements, delays and failed projects.

As a seven-time Project Finance Firm of the Year (Law360) and Band 1 recognized firm for US PPP and Renewables (Chambers), Orrick’s Infrastructure lawyers represent sponsors, lenders, financial insurers and governmental entities in structuring project delivery transactions, including design-build, public-private partnerships (PPP or P3). We are the firm of choice for prominent industry participants because of the innovative ways in which we design legal structures, draft project documents and manage complicated infrastructure transactions throughout the United States, Europe and Africa. 

We handle every stage of an infrastructure project, from bidding and development to achieving financial close, including development, financing, construction, ownership, investment in and operation of infrastructure projects and the acquisition and financing of infrastructure assets. Our approach includes specialization in risk diligence, permitting, real estate, environmental, regulatory, procurement, debt and capital markets, corporate tax and tax-exempt analysis, preliminary development agreements (PDAs) and operation and maintenance and interface matters. We have significant experience in all infrastructure asset classes, including:

  • Transportation and Transit: Airports, ports, toll roads and managed lanes, bridges, tunnels, mass transit and light rail
  • Social Infrastructure: Education (schools, universities and student housing), public facilities (court houses, civic centers, prisons, stadiums and multi-use facilities) and health facilities
  • Utilities: Energy systems, energy as a service (EaaS), water and wastewater
  • Digital Infrastructure: Smart cities, broadband, wireless communications, telecommunications, fiber and related technology
  • Renewable Energy: Solar, onshore and offshore wind, biomass, biofuels, waste-to-energy, geothermal, carbon capture, sustainability and climate change
  • Power: Conventional generation, transmission and distribution
  • Oil and Gas: Upstream, midstream and downstream

We take an interdisciplinary approach to our work, using our accumulated wealth of knowledge and experience to offer full-service counsel on:

  • Project development
  • Project finance
  • Project M&A
  • Construction
  • Operation and maintenance
  • Preliminary development agreements (PDAs)
  • Asset monetization
  • Equity and debt financings of all types, including public bonds (taxable and tax-exempt) and private offerings
  • Refinancing
  • Concessions and other government contracts involving P3s and other structures
  • Bankruptcy and restructuring transactions

  • Strategically Positioned Globally

    Orrick’s Infrastructure lawyers are an internationally recognized, multidisciplinary team who bring broad experience advising investors, operators, EPC contractors, financing parties and government agencies, giving our team a breadth of experience few law firms can match. Our lawyers understand the risks and cultural issues that may arise in global jurisdictions, and we have a strong and established network of local lawyers with whom we regularly work. Our geographic presence includes:

    United States. Clients around the world consider us the go-to advisors on complex infrastructure and P3 transactions in the United States. We have played a key role in nearly every PPP transport project in the United States, and have counseled clients on dozens of PPP projects throughout the U.S. Today we are involved in major U.S. infrastructure projects involving toll roads, airports, ports, rail, midstream assets, and water and waste facilities.

    Europe. Our infrastructure lawyers in Europe serve the comprehensive legal needs of clients in key infrastructure sectors under English, French, German and Italian law. In project finance, we represent lenders and equity participants in high-value toll roads, airports, ports, stadiums, power generation, telecommunications, hotel and resort facilities, medical and education facilities, manufacturing equipment, railway equipment, and aircraft equipment transactions. We also assist public authorities and private enterprises in structuring and conducting procurement and preparing formal tender offers, as well as in all stages of the contracting process, negotiations and post-closing operating phase.

    Africa. Our Paris- and London-based lawyers provide counsel on innovative large-scale projects in Africa involving transport, fossil and renewable energy, ports, telecom, oil and gas and metals and mining. We have particular strength and experience in project development, private equity, M&A, financing, government relations, compliance and sovereign debt restructuring and Africa-related investment. The team advises international financial institutions, commercial and investment banks, investment funds, financial services providers, governments, public entities, utilities and international companies on their investments and projects across Africa.

    Emerging Markets. Our Infrastructure group has developed a strong reputation for delivering M&A, project and financing services for infrastructure projects in all major and emerging markets, including Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We take pride in our substantial practical experience, knowledge and capabilities built from decades of experience offering counsel to clients in many of the world’s most important infrastructure projects.

    • the redevelopment of John F. Kennedy International Airport and associated infrastructure currently in lease negotiations with terminal developers.
    • the US$6 billion design-build procurement of four replacement jail facilities in the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx in connection with the prospective decommissioning of the Rikers Island jail system.
    • the financing of the construction of the A69 motorway concession that will connect the French towns of Toulouse (capital of the department of Haute-Garonne) and Castres (department of Tarn) in Southwest France.
    • a concession project for the modernization, expansion and operation of the Conakry International Airport in Guinea.
    • the Northern Ireland fibre broadband provider awarded the contract to deliver a rural broadband program to bring broadband services to more than 75,000 homes across rural areas of Northern Ireland.
    • the development and financing of a power plant in Togo, with a total value of approximately €125 million.
    • the sale of its 70% non-operated working interest in the Santa Cruz Sur Assets.
    • the development of a hydropower project in Zimbabwe.
    • a large hydro project in the Republic of Georgia.
    • an advance conversion technology waste-to-energy scheme in France.

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