Christopher is an ESG Legal Director based in our Dubai office.
Chris works directly with the global ESG leadership team, across all practice groups, sectors, and with all our international offices, helping develop and enhance our ESG capabilities as well as identifying and supporting our client’s with ESG issues and strategies.
Prior to joining Eversheds Sutherland he worked at a leading ESG consultancy practice, prior to which he worked for over a decade as a projects lawyer at leading international law firms including, Clifford Chance and Linklaters. Throughout Chris’s legal career he advised governments, corporates, and financial institutions on the development of renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure projects. Most recently, Chris advised the Red Sea Development Company on its fully sustainable city-wide utility programme, including solar PV and the world's largest energy storage system.
Chris has also worked at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the World Health Organisation. He holds a BA Hons in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Birmingham (2005). In 2021 he completed the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leaderships’ course on “Business Sustainability Management”, and in 2022 he completed the Yale School of Management’s course on “Sustainability Management: Risk, Profit and Purpose”.
Chris’s experience includes advising:
- Three Eight Six on the investment, development and operation of numerous renewable energy assets throughout the Middle East
- The Red Sea Development Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of PIF), on the procurement of six different utilities (including 18 separate plants and associated transmission networks), this entirely renewable city includes the world's largest energy storage system, potable water, treated sewage effluent, solar and wind power, district cooling, solid waste and sewage treatment facilities. The foregoing are being procured on a BOT basis under a single multi-utility concession agreement
- Qiddiya Investment Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of PIF), on the procurement of six different utilities (including seven separate plants and associated transmission networks), including treated water, treated sewage effluent, solar power, district cooling, materials recovery and sewage treatment facilities. The foregoing are being procured on a BOT basis under a single multi-utility concession agreement
- Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) in relation to its US$54bn transaction with its majority shareholder, Abu Dhabi Power Corporation (ADPower)
- ACWA Power on its US$1.2bn landmark IPO and US$10.9bn listing on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul). The IPO is the largest IPO in Saudi Arabia since Saudi Aramco's IPO in 2019
- the lenders in respect of the world's largest solar park the 1,500MW Al Dhafra PV IPP located in Abu Dhabi, UAE - Winner of Solar Deal of the Year, IJ Global Awards 2020
- the sponsors in connection with their successful bid for the 200MW AYG-1 solar project in Armenia
- the commercial lenders, ECAs and DIFs supporting a bidding consortium with their bid for the two 500MW solar projects in Oman
- Saudi Water Conversion Corporation and the Saudi Water Partnership Company on the sale of a 60% stake in the Ras AlKair project company
- the sponsors in connection with their successful bid and subsequent development and financing for the Tanajib IWSPP procured by Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia
- a bidder on DEWA's 120MIGD Hassyan seawater reverse osmosis IPP (bidder withdrew just prior to bid)
- the Government of the Republic of Zambia in relation to the development of the Lufubu hydropower project
- Rent-to-Own Zambia on their equity and debt restructuring
- Engie on their bid together with Marubeni in relation to DEWA’s 800MW Solar PV project
- Petro Rabigh Petrochemicals Company (Petro Rabigh) on multiple development projects, including:
- the granting of a concession to a third party to build, own, and operate a liquid nitrogen storage tank on the Petro Rabigh site
- the development by Saudi Aramco of a polyols complex on the Petro Rabigh site
- the construction of a third-party data center
- DP World on its joint venture and concession with the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority for the development of Sokhna Economic Zone, Egypt, projected to cover 95 km², create 400,000 jobs and provide homes for 500,000 people
- a private investment company on its US$430m investment into a petroleum coke calcining plant in Oman
- the consortium (including Siemens AG) and project company (Electrogas Malta) in connection with the structuring, implementation, and project financing of Delimara 4 LNG-to-Power project, involving the development and construction of an LNG regasification and IPP power generation facility in Malta. Winner of European Power Deal of the Year, IJ Global Awards 2015, and shortlisted for Project Finance Deal of the Year at the 2018 IFLR Europe Awards
- the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company in connection with various ongoing extensive infrastructure development projects across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and in respect of certain regulatory matters relating to the wastewater sector
- Gasol PLC on the acquisition of a 12% participating interest in an offshore oil and gas reserve located in Côte d'Ivoire
- the project sponsors and the issuer on the €1.2bn project bond refinancing of the RI Expressway in Slovakia - the R1 Expressway was the first public-private partnership project in the country
- the commercial lenders in connection with the proposed £110m project financing of a portfolio of onshore wind farms in the United Kingdom
- JBIC and the commercial banks supporting the bid by Sumitomo Corporation and Qatar Electricity and Water Company for the Mirfa IWPP project in the UAE
Over his career, Chris has presented at various public and client conferences and events. Most recently, Chris delivered presentations on the rise of ESG and the its business imperative at Dubai Arbitration Week and also to the Society of Construction Law, and the Chartered Institute of Builders.
- Named in the Legal 500’s Green Guide 2023
- Solar Deal of the Year, IJ Global Awards 2020 for the Al Dhafra PV IPP
- Shortlisted for Project Finance Deal of the Year at the 2018 IFLR Europe Awards for the Delimara 4 LNG-to-Power project
- European Power Deal of the Year, and IJ Global Awards 2015 for the Delimara 4 LNG-to-Power project.
Chris is a member of the ESG global leadership team
- “Sustainability Management: Risk, Profit and Purpose”, Yale School of Management (2022)
- “Business Sustainability Management”, Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership (2021)
- Legal Practice Course, College of Law, London (2008)
- Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP Law School, London (2007)
- Political Science and International Relations, The University of Birmingham (2005)
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