Shariff N. Barakat
Partner
Areas of Focus
- Bioenergy
- Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
- Project Debt & Equity Finance
- Real Estate & Infrastructure Funds
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Renewable Energy
- Real Estate
- Infrastructure & Transportation
- Solar
- Wind
- Structured Credit
- Tax
- International Tax
- Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage
- Energy Transition
- Carbon Offsets
- Tax Structuring & Equity Financing
- Projects & Energy Transition
- Geothermal
- Energy Storage
- Energy & Infrastructure Private Equity
- Private Capital
- Focuses on domestic infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
- Represents developers, sponsors, tax-equity investors, lenders and other stakeholders in the acquisition, development and financing of power generation and infrastructure projects.
Shariff represents clients involved in the acquisition, development and financing of power generation and infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on tax equity financing.
His experience spans billions of dollars in closed and funded investments supporting gigawatts of renewable energy, including large and small utility-scale solar and wind projects, large and small residential solar portfolios, community solar projects, C&I solar projects, geothermal projects and biomass projects. More recently, Shariff has also worked on carbon capture, hydrogen and waste-to-product projects currently under development.
Prior to joining Akin, Shariff practiced as a project finance lawyer in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Shariff worked at a large consulting firm where he provided tax advice and opinions, financial modeling services and valuation services in connection with renewable energy projects. He also provided tax advice and opinions on a number of large M&A and tax-advantaged leasing transactions.
EducationLL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 2012
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2012
B.A., University of Southern California, 2008
LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 2012
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2012
B.A., University of Southern California, 2008
Bar AdmissionsCalifornia
District of Columbia
California
District of Columbia
- The Legal 500 US, US Taxes: Non-Contentious, 2022, Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power, 2022-2024 and Energy Transactions: Electric Power, 2023-2024; Project Finance, 2024; Projects & Energy transition, 2024.
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Project Finance Law, 2021.
- “Introduction to 45Q,” Infocast CCS / Decarbonization Project Development, Finance & Investment Summit, Houston, Texas, July 25, 2022.
- “Federal Tax Landscape for Energy Transition,” North American Petroleum Accounting Conference, Dallas, Texas, May 19, 2022.
- “Where Is the Sponsor Equity/Investor Market Headed?” Solar + Wind Finance & Investment Summit, Scottsdale, Arizona, March 8, 2022.
- “Structuring Section 45Q and Other Energy Transition Investments,” Akin Deal Maker’s Boot Camp, Houston, Texas, December 8, 2021.
- “Tax Equity Market Update,” Infocast’s Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, November 18, 2021.
- “CCS / Decarbonization Project Development, Finance & Investment,” Infocast Master Class, October 4–5, 2021.
- “Renewable Energy & Storage Project Tax Structuring and Strategies,” EUCI's Virtual Program, June 15, 2021.
- “Tax Equity Structures and Solutions,” Infocast Master Class, March 3–4, 2021.
- “Renewable Energy Appraisals and Cost Segregation,” EUCI Virtual Symposium, November 18–19, 2020.
- “Begun Construction–Lessons Learned and Looking Forward,” Novogradac 2020 Financing Renewable Energy Tax Credits Fall Virtual Conference, November 5–6, 2020.
- “After COVID-19: What is Investor and Lender Appetite Like Now?,” Solar and Storage Finance Webinar, June 2, 2020.