Practice Expertise

  • Energy and Infrastructure
  • Biomass
  • Banking and Finance
  • Energy

Areas of Practice

  • Banking and Finance
  • Biomass
  • Energy
  • Energy and Infrastructure
  • Energy M&A
  • Energy Transition
  • Hydro
  • International Renewable Energy and Clean ...
  • Landfill Gas
  • Oil, Gas and LNG
  • Oil, Gas, LNG and Petrochemical
  • Power and Energy Capital Markets
  • Power and Utilities Capital Markets
  • Private Equity
  • Project Development and Finance
  • Project Finance and Development
  • Renewable Energy
  • Renewable Energy and Clean Power
  • Solar
  • Sustainability and Corporate Clean Power
  • Wind
  • View More

Profile

Ellis concentrates his practice on development, finance, M&A and other complex business transactions involving energy and infrastructure projects around the world.

Ellis advises financial institutions, investors, sponsors, developers, governmental institutions and other key stakeholders in independent power projects (IPPs), renewable energy and clean power projects, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, and public-private partnership (P3) infrastructure projects that promote development and diversification of global energy resources, contribute to enhancement and privatization of critical infrastructure in developing countries and emerging markets, and fuel the dynamic international markets for debt and equity capital.

Relevant Experience

  • Represented senior lenders and export credit agencies on approximately US $4.4 billion financing for an LNG liquefaction project near Freeport, Texas. Awarded 2014 “Deal of the Year ‒ Americasby Project Finance International; 2014 “Americas Award for North American Oil & Gas and Global Overall” by Infrastructure Journal; and 2015 “Global Finance Deal of the Year: Project Finance” by The American Lawyer.

  • Advised the Federal Government of Nigeria and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC in the procurement and negotiation of long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for photovoltaic solar power projects in Nigeria with an aggregate capacity of 1,125 megawatts.

  • Represented a multilateral development financial institution and lenders on project financing for a 245 megawatt natural gas-fired cogeneration facility near Monterrey, Mexico.

  • Advised the sponsor and project company on approximately US $4.2 billion nonrecourse financing for a 4,000 megawatt power generation and coal mine project in India. Recognized as “India Deal of the Year” for 2011 by Project Finance International.

  • Represented a private international power company in a US $3.4 billion recapitalization and leveraged financing, including private placement of Rule 144A/Reg. S debt securities, syndicated term B loans and revolving credit facilities with commercial lenders. Recognized as “European High-Yield Bond Deal of the Year” for 2007 by Thomson Financial’s International Financing Review.

  • Advised a sponsor consortium bidding for a public-private partnership concession to build, own and operate a US$1.2 billion bridge and road infrastructure project in the New York City metropolitan area.

  • Advised a private company client on the restructuring, competitive auction and US$1.75 billion sale of its international project portfolio, comprising operating projects and development opportunities on five continents and an aggregate capacity of more than 7,800 megawatts.

  • Represented a multilateral development financial institution providing financing for rooftop and other distributed generation solar power projects in Mexico and Central America.

  • Advised the borrower and sponsor in connection with an export credit agency-backed financing for a 40 megawatt utility-scale solar power project in India.

  • Represented the lead arranger and lenders on senior secured project finance facilities totaling more than US$2 billion to finance acquisition and operation of natural gas-fired power projects in the United States.

  • Advised first lien lenders on a pre-packaged bankruptcy restructuring, “DIP” financing and restructured debt and working capital facilities for a 2,500 megawatt portfolio of natural gas-fired power projects.

  • Represented a private international company on acquisition and sale of energy and infrastructure projects, including acquisition and financing for a compression station and related natural gas pipeline in Mexico, a 600 megawatt natural gas-fired power station in Mexico, and a 460 megawatt coal-fired power station in the Philippines.

  • Advised project developers, lenders and corporate clients on the corporate procurement, development and financing for multiple wind power projects in the United States, including construction and other financing and utilization of renewable energy tax credits and incentive programs.

  • Represented the borrower and sponsors on the development, project contracts and project financing for a 750 megawatt natural gas-fired power plant in Colombia.

  • Advised the Government of Pakistan on power purchase agreements and related project documents, privatization structuring, and the offering and sale of interests in two large power stations in Pakistan.

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia

Education
BA, University of Virginia, with distinction, 1989

Areas of Practice

  • Banking and Finance
  • Biomass
  • Energy
  • Energy and Infrastructure
  • Energy M&A
  • Energy Transition
  • Hydro
  • International Renewable Energy and Clean Power
  • Landfill Gas
  • Oil, Gas and LNG
  • Oil, Gas, LNG and Petrochemical
  • Power and Energy Capital Markets
  • Power and Utilities Capital Markets
  • Private Equity
  • Project Development and Finance
  • Project Finance and Development
  • Renewable Energy
  • Renewable Energy and Clean Power
  • Solar
  • Sustainability and Corporate Clean Power
  • Wind

Professional Career

Significant Accomplishments
  • Represented project sponsor in connection with a 4,000 MW power generation and coal mine project in India, including approximately $2.18 billion financing from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, Chinese financial institutions and Sinosure, and a syndicate of international commercial banks, and approximately $2 billion equivalent of Indian rupee loan facilities; recognized as "India Deal of the Year" for 2011 by Project Finance International.
  • Represented an international power company in a $3.4 billion recapitalization, including Rule 144A/Reg. S placement of $1.9 billion of senior secured notes, $800 million in term B loans and $720 million in revolving credit facilities; recognized as "European High-Yield Bond Deal of the Year" for 2007 by Thomson Financial's International Financing Review.
  • Advised a consortium of sponsors in the infrastructure sector in a competitive bid for the concession (on a PPP basis) to build and finance a major transportation project in the New York metropolitan area.
  • Represented the lead arranger and lender in connection with $650 million first lien credit facilities for the MACH Gen, LLC project portfolio, with projects in New York, Arizona and Massachusetts.
  • Represented an independent power company in connection with refinancing of $660 million syndicated revolving credit facilities, including working capital, letter of credit and swingline facilities.
  • Represented the lead arranger and lender in connection with a first lien secured financing for a 1,000 MW natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power project in Texas.
  • Represented the lead arranger and lender in connection with term loan, working capital and letter of credit facilities for a 750 MW natural gas-fired power project in Mississippi.
  • Advised the lender in connection with a term B loan and revolving credit facilities for a 1,000 MW merchant power project in Texas.
  • Represented developer and sponsor in connection with $95 million syndicated commercial bank facilities for a 140 MW wind power generating project, including construction loan, cash grant bridge loan, term loan and letter of credit facilities.
  • Advised the lender in connection with a first lien term loan facility and first lien revolving credit facility for a 1,022 MW natural gas-fired, combined-cycle merchant power project in California.
  • Represented the lenders in connection with term loan financing for an approximately 62.5 MW wind power generating project.
  • Represented the purchaser in connection with acquisition financing for a natural gas compression station and related gas pipeline in Mexico.
  • Acted as issuer's counsel on behalf of an energy-focused private equity fund in connection with the financing of an approximately 600 MW natural gas-fired, combined cycle generating plant in New Mexico, including private placement of $305 million of senior secured notes and $426 million in working capital and letter of credit facilities. 
  • Represented an independent power company in connection with the restructuring, auction and sale of its international project portfolio, comprised of 10 operating projects and development opportunities with a combined generating capacity of more than 7,800 MW.
  • Advised InterGen, an international power project portfolio on the sale of its management company and significant interest in the 460 MW coal-fired Quezon power station in The Philippines.
  • Acted as project counsel for the development, financing and eventual sale of two natural gas-fired peaking facilities in California.
  • Represented an independent power company in connection with more than $2 billion in equity bridge loan, revolving credit and letter of credit facilities to finance or refinance equity commitments in connection with project development and restructuring activities.



Professional Activities and Experience
  • Listed for Energy: Renewable/Alternative, Legal 500 United States, 2016-2017


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