Solicitor for Insurance Law in London

Practice Areas

Lauren advises on the development and financing of projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors, acting for clients on complex projects in emerging markets and across the globe. In particular Lauren has extensive experience in project finance, advising project companies, sponsors, host governments and lenders in connection with the development and financing of projects in the oil and gas, petrochemical, mining and metals, LNG, port and infrastructure sectors.

Experience Highlights

STAR Rafineri A.S., a subsidiary of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), and its sponsors on the development and financing of a $6.3 billion greenfield oil refinery in Turkey on the Aegean Sea. This is the largest project financing in Turkey and involves the largest and most diverse group of ECAs for any multi-source financing in Turkey to date. The STAR project sets new benchmarks for project financings in Turkey in terms of amount and tenor of facilities

A joint venture between SOCAR Turkey Enerji A. S. and a subsidiary of BP plc on the proposed development and financing of a $1.8 billion petrochemical industrial complex in Turkey on the Aegean Sea

Petkim Petrokimya Holding A.S., a leading Turkish petrochemical producer, in connection with a $300 million loan facility from J.P. Morgan Securities plc to finance the redemption of Petkim’s five-year, $500 million Eurobonds

Funds managed by Apollo in the $2 billion sale by New Fortress Energy Inc. of 11 LNG infrastructure vessels to a newly formed venture owned approximately 80% by Apollo funds and 20% by NFE

Uzbekistan GTL on the construction, development and financing of a $3.6 billion gas to liquids project in the Kashkadarya Region, close to Karshi, in the Republic of Uzbekistan. This project is financed by or under the cover of several export credit agencies, development banks and commercial banks, including China Development Bank, KEXIM, KSure, EXIAR and Gazprombank

ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. on the signed acquisition of 100% of the shares of TEPKRI Sarsang A/S, the holder of an 18% participating interest in the Sarsang Block located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, from TotalEnergies for a potential total value of $170 million

SOCAR and its subsidiary SOCAR Turkey in connection with a $1.3 billion equivalent syndicated loan facility to refinance existing financial liabilities. At the time of signing the transaction represented the largest syndicated loan arrangement completed in 2021 by a non-financial company in Turkey

An investor in connection with the acquisition of working interests in a field in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the related project financing arrangements

A multinational oil and gas company in respect of its proposed financing arrangements in connection with a potential equity investment in a greenfield LNG liquefaction project

A joint venture among Korean Gas Corp (KOGAS), Honam Petrochemical Corp, STX Energy and Uzbekneftegas, on the development and financing (led by the Asian Development Bank, KEXIM, and KSure) of the approximately $3.9 billion Surgil upstream gas and petrochemicals project

Eurochem on the construction and financing of an approximately $1 billion dollar ammonia complex to be located within the existing Phosphorit industrial complex at Kingisepp in the Russian Federation

SOCAR Turkey Enerji A.S. and its shareholder SOCAR in connection with a $300 million loan facility to refinance existing financial liabilities

SOCAR on its entry into a $500 million bilateral loan agreement and a $300 million bilateral loan agreement for, among other things, general corporate purposes

SOCAR GPC on its proposed multibillion dollar development and financing of a gas processing plant and petrochemicals facility in Azerbaijan

SOCAR Polymer on the approximately $800 million development and financing of facilities for the production of polypropylene and high-density polyethylene in the Republic of Azerbaijan

Helios Investment Partners on its in its acquisition and financing of an Africa-based fertilizer and industrial inputs group in 2017 – awarded Commodity Acquisition Finance Deal of the Year 2017 by TXF, TXF noted the deal was “the first structure of its kind within the commodity finance space, [the fund]’s innovative blend of leverage finance and trade finance techniques raised both the necessary funding for its purchase, and post-acquisition trade finance for the acquired asset”

The sponsors to the SOCAR Aurora Fujairah Terminal project in connection with the early repayment of project financing loans and the related release of a multi-jurisdictional security package, in connection with the sale of the underlying oil products terminal in the Port of Fujairah

SOCAR Turcas Petrokimya AS on a $1 billion loan facility arranged by Credit Suisse to refinance an existing acquisition loan facility and to finance the final instalment of the purchase price for Petkim Petrokimya Holding A.S.

A Toronto Stock Exchange and AIM-listed company on a $600 million seven-year loan facility to be provided by Qatar Holding LLC, the investment arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, and a $150 million loan note facility to finance the development of the Skouries and Olympias gold projects in Greece

A Turkey-based petrochemical company in connection with the construction, financing, and operation of a container port on the Aegean coast of Turkey

The EBRD in connection with an equity investment in GV Gold, a Russian mining company

Equinor (formerly Statoil) in connection with the proposed development and financing of the approximately $20 billion Phase 1 of the Shtokman gas, condensate, and LNG project with Gazprom and Total

A large international mining company in connection with the proposed development and financing of a multibillion dollar integrated iron ore and rail project in west Africa

Practice Areas

Richard deals with a wide range of commercial property matters with a focus on development finance; large scale development projects; long term promotion agreements and acquisitions and disposals of land for development. Richard acts for lenders, developers, land owners, occupiers and public sector bodies including local authorities and further education colleges and charities.

Practice Areas

A construction and engineering law expert, Ron is highly rated by his clients and in legal directories. Recognised for giving practical yet innovative legal and strategic advice, Ron is totally committed and absolutely tenacious in pursuing his clients' objectives.

Ron has over 26 years' experience working for UK and international clients on construction and engineering projects around the world. From roads, railways, tunnels, bridges, airports and ports to stadiums, factories, hotels, offices, retail, housing, power stations, process plants, waste facilities, oil rigs and FPSO's, Ron has worked on some of the world's largest projects and used all of the principal forms of contract including JCT, NEC, FIDIC, ICE, IChemE, GC/works as well as numerous bespoke forms.

Ron has acted as legal advisor on projects covering all major forms of procurement including EPC, EPIC, DBFO, PPP and partnering. He also has extensive real time project pre-dispute and dispute management expertise including mediation, adjudication, arbitration (under ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL Rules amongst others) and litigation. Chambers UK records that Ron is "an incredibly experienced litigator" and "very thorough, diligent and great to work with".

Ron also advised the winning contractor in the leading decision of Walter Lilly v DMW Developments and Giles Mackay. Graham Corless, a former Director says "Ron provided innovative legal and strategic advice and worked tirelessly with our team for 3.5 years to achieve the best outcome for us".

Ron also regularly lectures on construction and engineering law issues to UK and international audiences. Ron is recognised by Chambers UK, The Legal 500 and Legal Business as a leading practitioner.

Practice Areas

Debbie’s leading national reputation in family law is built on over 20 years’ experience advising high net worth individuals. Spear’s 500 describes her as “one of the most respected family solicitors in London, Debbie is known not only for winning fierce court battles, but also for devising creative out-of-court methods to settle complex disputes.” Chambers says: “If you have a difficult divorce, there is nobody better in London than her. She’s clear, she’s strategic – what more could you want?”

Practice Areas

Elaine heads the firm’s Immigration offering and acts for employers across the UK.

On the immigration side, Elaine has acted for employers in a range of sectors including Universities, financial services organisations, oil and gas, healthcare. She provides advice in relation to Sponsor Licence applications, compliance issues, Skilled Worker visas, business visitors, Innovator/ Start Up, Global Talent visas, Hong Kong BN(O) visas and Student visas.

Elaine also advises employers on the whole spectrum of employment law issues but has a special focus on TUPE and strategic advisory work. She regularly appears in employment tribunals across the UK and is interested in all areas of discrimination law - diversity and inclusion is a passion of hers.

Career

As a seasoned Serious Injury practitioner, I've represented many victims of road traffic collisions, cycling collisions, accidents at work and in public places and aviation disasters for more than 20 years. I also specialise in representing amputees, ensuring they receive the expert rehabilitation and support they need.

Over the years, I have built a strong general aviation practice representing people who suffered injury while acting as a pilot under instruction, as well as the families of individuals fatally injured in domestic air crashes.

I regularly take over cases from other solicitors and am currently instructed by the Official Solicitor to represent a 24-year-old boy who suffered catastrophic injuries arising out of a road traffic collision in which three of his friends died and his brother was injured. I was instructed to take over conduct of the claim in place of the boy’s mother who was not acting in his best interests.

I regularly support families at the inquest into the death of a relative following a catastrophic accident.