Akin Gump to Welcome Leading Project Finance Lawyer Julian Nichol in London

(London) – Akin Gump today announced that Julian Nichol will be joining the firm in London as a partner in its global project finance practice.

Mr. Nichol, who focuses on project finance and transactional energy and natural resources matters, comes to Akin Gump from Bracewell in London, where he headed the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) power group and co-headed the firmwide oil and gas practice.

Mr. Nichol advises investors from across EMEA looking to invest in the U.S. and around the world, as well as international investors looking to invest in EMEA. His focus is on the acquisition, disposal, development and project financing of independent power generation projects and power transmission/distribution projects. With EMEA as a growth region in the power and projects sector, his arrival at Akin Gump in London will complement the firm’s existing global practice and broaden the practice’s experience relating to both conventional and renewable energy projects.

Working closely with the London, U.S. and UAE energy and finance lawyers, Mr. Nichol and his experience developing and financing power projects in the U.K., the Middle East, South America and Africa will enhance the firm’s client offerings and further expand its capabilities in these regions.

“Julian represents another very strong addition to our global energy and project finance team,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “His particular experience with conventional power projects, coupled with his focus on projects in emerging economies, will be a significant benefit to our clients around the world. I am delighted Julian is joining the firm.”

Added Sebastian Rice, partner in charge of Akin Gump’s London office, “Broadening the firm’s project finance, power and energy capabilities in London fits perfectly with our strategic objectives in this area. Julian’s arrival will further strengthen our global project finance practice and will help us to further develop our offering to clients in Europe, the Middle East, the U.S. and beyond who are looking to finance projects internationally.”

“Akin Gump’s global platform and expansive work in the energy industry present an ideal complement to my practice,” commented Mr. Nichol. “My skills and experience are a great fit with the firm’s client base and service offerings, and I am excited to help continue building out the firm’s project finance and energy platforms across both established and emerging markets.”

About Julian Nichol

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Nichol has worked on more than 30 power generation projects encompassing gas, coal, oil, hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and biomass technologies. He also advises clients on transmission and distribution projects, including in relation to renewable technologies. Mr. Nichol’s clients include developers, funds and lenders as well as governments.

Mr. Nichol is a solicitor qualified in England and Wales. He has spent time in his career practicing in Dubai, the UAE and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Mr. Nichol has an LL.B. (2.1 Hons) in English Law, French Law and French from University of Lancaster, UK, in 1994 and an L.P.C. from The College of Law, York, UK in 1995. He also graduated with a Diplôme d’Études Juridiques Françaises from l’Université de Nancy II, France, in 1992 and a Diploma in European Law from University of Limburg at Maastricht, The Netherlands, in 1993.

He is recognized in The Legal 500 UK 2017 as a Leading Individual for Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) and is recognized in The Legal 500 EMEA 2017 in the Africa-wide review.

About Akin Gump’s Global Project Finance Group

Akin Gump’s global project finance team has extensive global experience and has worked on some of the world’s largest and most complex projects involving traditional energy, renewable energy and infrastructure projects, including natural gas, nuclear and other fuels, wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, landfill gas, biomass and biofuel. With one of the largest and most experienced renewable energy teams, the firm handles the largest global projects, assisting the premier developers, investors, trading companies and others across the sector.

Akin Gump Global Energy and Transactions Group

Akin Gump is known internationally for its sophisticated, diverse and full-service energy law practice, encompassing transactional, dispute and regulatory matters. The energy practice consists of a firmwide team of 200 lawyers who represent public and private companies, sponsors and portfolio companies in project finance and development, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures globally; issuers and underwriters in a wide variety of public and private equity and debt offerings; borrowers and lenders in bank lending transactions; and non-U.S. clients in the energy sector in investments in North America. The team advises in relation to significant upstream, midstream, downstream and conventional power matters as well as LNG and FLNG export projects. The firm is also well known for its energy regulatory experience.

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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