Find Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Project Finance Law
Practice Area Overview
Project finance is a commonly used funding solution for large-scale, long-term, capital-intensive projects. The assets financed are often used in industries such as energy (including power generation and transmission and oil and gas processing and transportation), mining, telecommunications, transportation, heavy industry, and social infrastructure.
Financing for these projects comes from both equity investors (sponsors) and debt financiers, who lend principally against the cash flows projected to be generated by the project. Lenders focus on the structuring and merits of the project rather than the assets or credit standing of the sponsors. Although the loans will be non-recourse or limited-recourse to sponsors, sponsors are usually required to provide some support for the project by way of limited guarantees and other commercial commitments.
Project finance lawyers can be engaged at various stages of a project’s development – from structuring, contracting and financing through to construction and operation – and therefore must provide legal services from a wide range of practices, including corporate, securities, commercial contracts, financial services, tax, real estate, construction, aboriginal, environmental, and regulatory compliance.
International project finance also requires cooperation and partnership with both industry and government in the host country of the project. Experience with cross-border issues (in both the private and public spheres) and knowledge of the legal systems and business practices of the project’s host country will be useful to counsel to both sponsors and lenders.
Because project finance focuses heavily on the risk profile of the project, project finance lawyers also should have a good understanding of the relevant industry, construction, operation, commercial, legal, geographic, political, and regulatory risks of the project. Familiarity with project finance structures and processes, credit and security documentation, due diligence, and an understanding of how project risks are customarily allocated and mitigated all contribute to the effectiveness of project finance counsel.
Alison Babbitt is an English- and Ontario-qualified project finance lawyer focussed on mining, renewables and clean technology sectors. Having previously worked in our London and Bahrain offices, and now located in Canada, she has significant experience advising on both domestic and multi-jurisdictional international projects. Ms. Babbitt has played an integral role advising clients on transactions across a number of industry sectors (mining, renewables, clean technology, infrastructure, P3, ...
Merie-Anne Beavis is a partner in Gowlings' Toronto office, practising in the Energy, Infrastructure and Mining Groups. Merie-Anne's experience includes acting for public and private sector participants in public-private partnerships as well as lenders in a variety of projects. Her project finance experience includes acting for sponsors, lenders and governments in mine financings and in the electricity industry.
Aaron Fransen is a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, and Projects & Infrastructure Groups. His practice focuses on M&A and the project finance of infrastructure and energy projects in the bond and bank markets. Aaron’s diverse clientele includes banks, securities dealers, technology companies, resource companies, media and telecom companies, government entities and private equity firms. Aaron is recognized as a leading lawyer by national and inter...
Geoffrey Gilbert practises in the areas of infrastructure, mining and project finance. He also provides ongoing general corporate and commercial law advice. Mr. Gilbert is repeatedly recommended in mining, infrastructure, project finance and corporate commercial law by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. He is the chair of our national infrastructure practice. Mr. Gilbert has a history of involvement in all aspects of mining and mineral resource development. He regularly assists our clients on ...
Brian Kelsall’s practice is focused on project finance and infrastructure development, banking and corporate finance and public private partnerships in Canada, the United States and emerging markets. Regularly advising lenders, developers, contractors and procuring authorities, Brian has acted for clients across the infrastructure, telecom, energy, oil and gas, and mining sectors. He has advised the winning consortium on numerous P3 projects, including the US 36 Express Lanes/Bus Rapid ...
Jason Kroft is a partner in Toronto office of Miller Thomson. Jason is co-leader of our National Structured Finance and Securitization practice and is co-chair of our ESG and Carbon Finance group. Jason is also an active member of the National Financial Services Practice and the Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets groups. Jason’s practice covers a broad range of advisory and transactional matters in the corporate-commercial law area, with a focus on corporate and specialty finance ma...
Marc Lefler practices in the area of banking and finance law. With a focus on corporate and commercial lending transactions, either syndicated or bilateral, Marc also assists with project finance transactions, corporate finance and public private partnerships. A significant portion of Marc’s practice has been in Canadian infrastructure development and finance. He regularly advises lenders, developers and contractors on all aspects of infrastructure projects. Marc summered and articled w...
Jennifer Legge is Head of the Banking & Finance Group. She is also a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Restructuring & Insolvency Groups, as well as a member of the Management Committee in the Toronto office. Jennifer advises her clients on a diverse range of corporate and business law matters, having over 25 years’ experience in structuring, negotiating, documenting and administering a wide variety of financing arrangements, including senior, mezzanine and subordinat...
Justin Parappally is a partner in the Banking & Finance Group. He has expertise in acquisition financing, leveraged buyout transactions, take-private financings, gold streaming transactions, mining debt finance, forward gold sales, debtor-in-possession financing, and asset-based lending transactions. Justin acts for financial institutions, non-bank lenders and borrowers in domestic, cross-border, and international banking and lending transactions. He acts for private equity funds in conne...
Dana Porter is a partner in the Real Estate Group. He also practices in the Projects & Infrastructure, Financial Products & Services and Restructuring & Insolvency Groups, and is a former member of the Management Committee in the Toronto office. Dana’s practice includes most aspects of commercial real estate, with an emphasis on acquisition and financing of income properties, structured and project finance, public-private partnerships and other public sector transactions. He...
Neil Shapiro is a partner in the Real Estate Group. His practice focuses on commercial real estate, construction, infrastructure projects, public-private partnerships, commercial leasing, and real property financing. His real estate practice includes all aspects involving the purchase, sale, financing, leasing, and development of all asset classes, including retail and commercial, industrial and office, multi-residential, and hospitality. Neil also has extensive expertise in the construction ...
One of Canada’s most highly regarded lending lawyers, John Torrey has a practice focused exclusively on lending transactions. With experience in all areas of lending, John has particular expertise in project and acquisition financings and in all aspects of mine finance. John acts on behalf of both borrowers and lenders and has extensive experience with a broad range of financings in a broad range of industries. The mine finance practice of John and his colleagues is amongst the most act...
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