Two prominent London lawyers who practice in the areas of project finance and infrastructure have joined Vinson & Elkins as partners.
Nabil L. Khodadad and Andrew Nealon, formerly with Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, will work in V&E’s London office, where Khodadad will become the global co-head of the firm’s Project Finance practice.
“Nabil and Andrew will continue the expansion of our energy practice to provide top-notch project finance and infrastructure counsel to our clients worldwide,” said T. Mark Kelly, V&E’s Chairman. “Their deep understanding of the energy industry will be a great addition to our team and will allow us to compete even more effectively for large-scale project finance work.”
Khodadad was most recently the co-head of Dewey &LeBoeuf’s Project Finance and Infrastructure practice. Based in London for more than 20 years, he has extensive experience in project finance and privatizations representing borrowers and lenders on large-scale project finance projects. He has advised on oil and gas, pipeline, petrochemical, mining and metals, power, and other projects in more than 35 countries.
Khodadad’s practice is focused on large, complex projects in emerging markets, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, Southeast Europe, and Africa. Khodadad has been ranked as a leading project finance lawyer by Chambers UK from 2007 to 2012. A frequent author on project finance and mining topics, Khodadad received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. He is dual qualified to practice in England and the United States.
“I have worked with lawyers from Vinson & Elkins and the firm has a great international reputation in energy, project finance, and infrastructure, as well as terrific international capabilities,” Khodadad said. “I look forward to contributing to the continued growth of those practices.”
V&E has a diverse, worldwide project development and finance practice, with particular depth of experience in power generation, oil and gas, and other energy-related projects. V&E’s project development and finance lawyers have participated in a broad array of power and non-power projects throughout the world, including projects involving refineries, petrochemical plants, oil, natural gas and products pipelines, LNG, and LPG facilities, mining and metals, telecommunications, roads, water systems, and other infrastructure.
Nealon practices primarily in the energy and infrastructure sectors with an emphasis on project development and EPC matters. He has worked on transactions involving oil, gas, and petrochemicals; power; infrastructure and other matters. Ranked by Chambers UK in 2011 and 2012 as a Projects lawyer to watch, Nealon received his LL.B from Monash University and is dual qualified in England and Australia. He began his career as a project engineer at General Motors’ subsidiary in Australia.
“I welcome the opportunity to raise the firm’s project finance profile even further, particularly in Russia, the CIS, and Turkey,” stated Nealon. “I was particularly attracted to the culture at V&E and its global reputation for strong client service.”
V&E participates regularly on behalf of a wide range of project developers and suppliers in all phases of the development process, from initial project contract preparation and negotiation through siting and permitting, financing, construction, and operation. The firm’s lawyers are intimately familiar with the issues involved in the entire range of contracts necessary for a successful project, including EPC, output sales, fuel and other input purchases, operation and maintenance, site acquisition, government support, and financing.
“Nabil and Andrew have an exceptional reputation in the world of project finance,” said Jay Cuclis, who serves as head of the Corporate Department at V&E. “We are delighted that they have joined our London office as they will help us grow our project finance and infrastructure practices as well as enhance our mining practice.”
V&E’s London office managing partner Alex Msimang stated, “Nabil and Andrew will be invaluable resources to our project finance and energy clients as they address new challenges and opportunities, especially across Eastern Europe, Russia, the CIS and Africa.”
