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Experience:
Robert Edwards focuses on domestic and international energy projects, with a particular emphasis on project development and finance, "inside the fence" energy projects, renewable energy projects, ethanol and biofuels projects, privatizations in emerging markets, and emerging issues relating to climate change and renewable energy policies in the United States and abroad.
His projects experience includes representing sponsors, lenders, governments and other project participants in the United States, Latin America, Asia and Africa in all stages of project development and financing. He has worked in all of the major financing techniques used in infrastructure finance, including bank and institutional lender debt financing, export credit agency and development finance institution financings. Robert also represents buyers and sellers in competitive auctions for share interests in project financed projects and in asset acquisitions of generating plants and other energy assets.
In addition, Robert has experience working in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe in energy and infrastructure public-private-partnerships, energy sector restructuring and privatization. Prior to joining Mayer Brown in 2008, Robert was a partner in the Energy and Project Finance Team and a member of the Climate Change Law and Policy practice at an international law firm based in Washington, DC. He is conversant in French.
Notable Engagements:
Renewable Energy and Related:
Representation of purchaser and energy services provider in the acquisition and project financing of a cogeneration facility located at a large pulp and paper manufacturing plant in Alabama. Energy services agreement provided for inside the fence provision of steam and electricity.
Representation in all aspects of project development and financing of developer of biomass fired power plants to be located in the Southeast United States.
Representation of private equity and financial advisors in the investment in, and development of, greenfield ethanol facilities in the Caribbean and biofuels projects in South America.
Representation of private equity in the development and project structuring for construction and operation of a biodiesel facility in Texas.
Representation of purchaser and energy services provider in the acquisition of a power house and negotiation of energy services agreement for inside the fence provision of steam, electricity and related services to automobile manufacturing facility.
Representation of Australian owner of landfill gas electricity generating projects in the Midwest United States with respect to the ownership of renewable energy certificates.
Representation of utility offtaker in the negotiation of power purchase agreement for "e-grass"-fired power plant located in Florida.
Representation of utility developer with respect to acquisition and development of biomass-fired power plant to be co-located with a paper and pulp mill in Pennsylvania.
Representation of participants in Clean Development Mechanism projects involving the World Bank Umbrella Carbon Fund.
Representation of governments in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe on the development, financing, rehabilitation and operation of various hydropower projects.
Representation of various parties involved in numerous renewable energy project issues including: ownership of renewable energy credits; negotiation of verified emissions purchase agreements; development of energy projects to attract production tax credits and maximize the value of environmental attributes; climate change and regulation of greenhouse gases in the United States and internationally.
Project Finance and Acquisition and Divestiture Experience
Representation of major US electric utility in all aspects of development and preparation of bids, in excess of $1 billion, for coal-fired and natural gas-fired generating assets in the Midwest United States sold through competitive auction processes.
Representation of private sector sponsors in connection with the development and financing of a $335 million financing, including export credit agency financing and institutional lender tranches, for a 541 MW power plant in Baja California, Mexico.
Representation of successful acquirer in competitive auction acquisition of a 50% interest in the EcoElectrica Project in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, including the 540 MW combined cycle power plant and liquefied natural gas import terminal and desalination facility.
Representation of the development finance lender and commercial bank in A/B loan structure in $136 million financing for 240 MW power plant in Monterrey, Mexico.
Representation of private sector sponsors in connection with the development and financing of a $235 million Rule 144A financing for a 484 MW combined cycle, power plant in Neuvo Leon, Mexico.
Representation of purchaser/issuer in the $293 million acquisition and Rule 144A note financing of coke battery and associated facilities in Michigan.
Representation of the development finance lender in $25 million senior secured loan to Sierra Rutile Limited for the refurbishment and restart of the rutile mine in Sierra Leone.
Representation of seller of portfolio of dispersed generating plants.
Privatization and Representation of Governments and Parastatals
Representation of governments in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe in structuring public-private-partnerships through concessions and other arrangements in the power, water, mining and other infrastructure sectors.
Representation of the Ministry of Energy and Power of the Government of Sierra Leone in the structuring, negotiation and implementation of the Public-Private-Partnership for the completion, commissioning and operation of the 50 MW Bumbuna Hydroelectric Power Project.
Representation of the Government of the Philippines on the restructuring of the Philippine electricity sector, the privatization of its transmission system and market and regulatory reform issues arising in connection therewith, the privatization of its portfolio of generating facilities, and the integration of its portfolio of IPP plants, including hydroelectric generating facilities, into the Philippines's developing wholesale electricity spot market. On behalf of the Philippines government, negotiated with large international IPP developers in the early buy out of long-term power purchase agreements and reviewed restructuring options for the multiple use hydroelectric generating facilities.
Representation of the Government of Albania in the structuring for the privatization of the electric distribution sector.
Representation of the Government of Romania on strategic plans for the privatization of the thermal and hydropower sector and proposed sale of its largest lignite-fired generation plants. The project included a review of public private partnership structuring options, legislative and regulatory framework.
Representation of the Government of Guam with respect to the potential privatization of its water sector.
Representation of the Government of Tanzania, in various aspects of the Songo Songo Gas to Electricity Project, including during the sale of the Project by AES to CDC Globeleq.
Representation of the Government of Uganda on selected aspects of the development and financing of the Bujagali hydroelectric facility on the Nile River.
Education:
Stanford Law School, JD, 1990; Associate Managing Editor, Stanford Journal of International Law, Stanford Graduate School of Business, MBA, 1990, Harvard University, AB, magna cum laude, Economics, 1983. |
