The international law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP further expands its Middle East practice with the addition of project finance partner Dominic Harvey and five new associates.
Harvey has been based in the Middle East since 2005 and formerly served as Head of Project Finance for the region at Norton Rose. He focuses on advising public and private clients in the utilities, energy, metals, and infrastructure sectors across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. He advises on both Islamic and conventional finance transactions, and he brings deep experience working with Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) on large, multi-sourced project financing deals. He has advised on a number of innovative and award-winning deals throughout the Middle East and is recognized by the current edition of Chambers Global 2011 as a leader in Middle East Projects and Energy and Corporate and Commercial work and for Corporate and Finance work in Bahrain.
“Dominic is an outstanding addition to our regional and international Finance practice and we are thrilled to have him on board,” said Ayman Khaleq, managing partner of V&E’s Middle East offices. “The MENA region projects market has seen steadily increasing activity and this is a particular area of focus for our firm. We are committed to providing the best possible offering to clients, and Dominic is a highly regarded lawyer who brings incredible depth of experience in complex conventional and Islamic finance transactions. He is an excellent addition to the V&E team.”
“It was time for a new challenge and with its market-leading practice covering innovative and diverse projects across the energy and infrastructure sectors, V&E soon became the obvious choice.” Harvey commented. “The ambition of the firm and its commitment to the region, with quality long-term players across the board, coupled with particularly impressive platforms in Saudi Arabia and China and unrivalled experience on the ground in Iraq, made for a compelling story. I think we have tremendous opportunities ahead.”
In addition to Harvey, Vinson & Elkins has also hired five new project and finance associates in the Middle East in recent months as the firm looks to further enhance this part of its practice. Gail Bassett, Christina Kersey, James Morson, and Brett Thornton have joined in Abu Dhabi, while Shane Wilson has been added in Dubai.
- Gail Bassett focuses on conventional and Islamic project finance transactions in the infrastructure, metals, and petrochemical sectors across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Prior to joining V&E, she was an associate at Norton Rose, where she trained and worked in both London and Abu Dhabi.
- Christina Kersey advises on energy and infrastructure project development and finance matters and has been involved with several innovative and complex projects in the UAE, including large-scale renewable and alternative energy developments. Prior to joining V&E, she was an associate in the Abu Dhabi office of Allen & Overy.
- James Morson has substantial experience advising on projects transactions in the energy, utilities, infrastructure, and transport sectors across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia and has been involved with a number of award-winning deals. Prior to joining V&E, Morson was a senior associate at Norton Rose, where he spent time in the Abu Dhabi, London, Singapore, and Tokyo offices.
- Brett Thornton focuses on the development of large-scale energy and infrastructure projects with particular experience in the oil and gas and mining sectors. Prior to joining V&E, he was an associate at Herbert Smith, where he spent time in their Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Dammam offices.
- Shane Wilson represents clients in connection with conventional and Islamic financing matters, with particular experience in the energy, utilities, metals, and infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining V&E, Wilson was an associate at Norton Rose, where he trained and worked in both London and Dubai. He has also spent time on secondment with the project finance team of an international bank and at a leading global oil and gas corporation.
Firm Chairman Mark Kelly noted, “The new additions in the UAE underscore Vinson & Elkins’ continued dedication to the MENA region and to offering clients worldwide a first-rate project development and finance team. We have been involved in some very exciting projects in the Middle East recently, including the Sinopec / Aramco joint venture for the US$10 billion Yanbu project in Saudi Arabia and the US$17 billion Basrah South Gas project in Iraq. Further expanding our team on the ground will allow us to stay at the forefront, continuing to advise on market-leading mandates like these.”
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