Legal Directory Rankings
For more than a decade, our global Project Development & Finance practice has been recognized as an elite international practice by prestigious legal directories such as Chamber & Partners and Legal 500. In the current regional editions of Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, our practice is recognized among the top three bands in one or more project development and finance categories in the following countries/jurisdictions:
- Africa-wide
- Asia-Pacific Region
- China
- Europe-wide
- France
- Global-wide
- Japan
- Latin America-wide
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- UK
- USA
Awards & Recognitions
Globally, our attorneys and practice group consistently receive awards and recognition for the innovative and client-focused work we provide. Some of our most recent practice group, project and attorney awards and recognitions are highlighted below:
Practice Group Awards
- Named Project Finance Team of the Year by the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2023
- Named Leading Law Firm for Project Development in China by IFLR1000 2023-2024
- Recognised in the sector award category for Energy & Natural Resources by China Business Law Journal’s China Business Law Awards 2021 and 2023
- Named Project Finance Law Firm of the Year in Asia Pacific and Bangladesh by The Asset Triple A Infrastructure Awards 2023
- Named Practice Group of the Year for Project Finance and Environmental by Law360 2022
- Named Energy & Infrastructure Team of the Year by The British Legal Awards 2022
- Named Global Law Firm of the Year and Project Finance Law Firm of the Year – Indonesia by The Asset Triple A Asia Sustainable Infrastructure Awards 2022
- Named Loans Team of the Year by IFLR1000 Americas 2021
- Named Project Finance Law Firm of the Year: Indonesia by The Asset Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards 2021
- Named Projects and Energy Team of the Year by Legal 500 Southeast Asia 2020/21
- Named Project Finance Team of the Year by IFLR1000 Americas 2020
- Named Project Finance Law Firm of the Year: Pakistan by The Asset Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards 2020
- Named Global Law Firm of the Year by Project Finance International 2019
Project Awards
Americas
- Aguas Horizonte Desalination Plant: Project & Infrastructure Finance: Loan of the Year by Latin Finance 2023; Americas Infrastructure Deal of the Year by Project Finance International 2023
- Chile Electricity Lux MPC $1.1 Billion Financing: Structured Financing of the Year by Latin Finance 2023
- Chancay Peru Port Project: Project & Infrastructure Finance: Port Financing of the Year by Latin Finance 2023
- Belize Blue Bond (TNC): Sustainability Bond Structure Innovation Deal of the Year by Environmental Finance - Bond Awards 2022; Sovereign Sustainability Bond of the Year by Environmental Finance 2022; Grunin Prize by NYU Grunin Center 2022; Debt and Equity-linked Deal of the Year by IFLR1000 2022; Sovereign Restructuring Deal of the Year by LatinFinance 2022
- Girasol Solar Park: Best Utility Scale Project by Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum 2022
- Ecopetrol ISA Loan: Acquisition Finance Deal of the Year by Bonds & Loans 2022
- Project Gatun: Power Deal of the Year – Latin America by IJGlobal 2021; Project Finance: Energy and Natural Resources by Latin Lawyer 2022; Loan of the Year by LatinFinance 2022
- Chilean Credit Rights Financing: Project & Infrastructure Finance: Bond of the Year by LatinFinance 2021; Structured Finance & Securitization Deal of the Year by IFLR1000 2022
- GNA 1 LNG to power project: LATAM Refinancing Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2021; Local Currency Financing of the Year by LatinFinance 2022
- Alfa Desarrollo (Colbún Transmisión Acquisition): Americas Transmission Deal of the Year by Project Finance International 2021; Bond of the Year by LatinFinance 2022
- Fresno State Energy Infrastructure Modernization P3: Best Utilities Project of the Year by P3 Bulletin 2021; North America Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2021
- Huemul Renewables Portfolio: Renewable Energy Financing of the Year by LatinFinance 2021
- University of Iowa Utility System P3: North American Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2020
- Fruta del Norte: Project Finance Deal of the Year by IFLR Americas 2020
EMEA
- Jazan IGCC / ASU Project: Global Deal of the Year by Project Finance International 2021; MENA Hybrid Energy Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2021
- Temane IPP Project (400 MW gas-fired power plant in Mozambique): Project Finance Deal of the Year at the IFLR Africa Awards, 2022; Africa Power Deal of the Year by Project Finance International 2021 and IJGlobal 2021; Africa Deal of the Year by The Asset Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards 2022
- NEOM $8.4 billion green energy joint venture: Middle East Project Finance Deal of the Year at the IFLR Middle East Awards, 2023; Middle East & Africa Green Deal of the Year at the PFI Awards, 2022; Green Project of the Year by Global Hydrogen Summit, 2021
- Amunet Wind Farm: Global ESG Deal of the Year by PFI Awards, 2022
- Côte d’Ivoire Terminal: Africa Transport Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2021
- Dow Chemical $10.5 billion refinancing: MENA Petrochemicals Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2021
- Enfidha and Monastir airports: Restructuring Deal of the Year by IFLR Africa Awards 2021
- Al Dur Phase II IWPP Refinancing: MENA Refinancing Water Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2020
- Al Dhafra Solar PV: MENA Renewables Solar Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2020
- GAC Mining Project: Export Finance Deal of the Year by Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards 2020; EMEA Mining Deal of the Year by Proximo 2020; African Mining Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2019; Global Multilateral Deal of the Year by Project Finance International 2019
- GIMI FLNG: EMEA FLNG Deal of the Year by Proximo 2020
- BAPCO: EMEA Petrochemicals Deal of the Year by Proximo 2020; Middle East Oil & Gas Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2019
Asia
- DITO Telecommunity Project Financing: Best Project Finance Deal of the Year – Southeast Asia by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2023; Commended for Best Infrastructure Deal of the Year – Southeast Asia by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2023; Finance Deal of the Year by Asian Legal Business Philippine Law Awards 2023
- Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project: Project Finance Deal of the Year by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2023; Power - Hydro Power – APAC by IJGlobal Awards 2022; Power Deal of the Year (Regional) and Power Deal Of The Year (Nepal) by The Asset Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards 2020; Asia-Pacific Hydro Deal of the Year by Proximo 2019; DFI Deal of the Year by Project Finance International 2019
- BRAC Bank US$50 million equivalent Housing Bond: Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year (Bangladesh) by The Asset Triple A Infrastructure Awards 2023
- Bhola-2 Power Project US$210 million Refinancing: Power Deal of The Year (Bangladesh) by The Asset Triple A Infrastructure Awards 2023
- Greenko Wind Projects (Mauritius) US$750 million Green Bond: Green Project of The Year (India) by The Asset Triple A Infrastructure Awards 2023; Deal of the Year by India Business Law Journal 2022
- Cirata Solar Power Project: Renewable Energy Deal of the Year (Indonesia) by The Asset Triple A Sustainable Infrastructure Awards 2022; Asia-Pacific Solar Deal of the Year by Project Finance International 2021; Asia Pacific Floating Solar Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2021
- Asahan-1 Hydropower Plant: Refinance Deal of the Year – Hydropower by IJGlobal Awards 2022; Renewable Energy Deal of the Year – Hydro (Indonesia) by The Asset Triple A Infrastructure Awards 2021
- Sidrap Refinancing: Renewable Energy Deal of the Year – Wind (Indonesia) by The Asset Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards 2021; Asia-Pacific Onshore Wind Refinancing Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2020
- Project RAPID: Project Finance Deal of the Year by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2020; Petrochemical Deal of the Year (Regional) and Petrochemical Deal of the Year (Malaysia) by The Asset Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards 2020; Project Finance Deal of the Year by ALB SE Asia Law Awards 2020; Projects, Energy and Infrastructure Deal of the Year by ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2020
- Super Six Wind Farms: Energy Deal of the Year (Pakistan) by The Asset Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards 2020; “Highly Regarded” in the Innovative Practice of Law by FT Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards 2020; Asia Pacific Onshore Wind Deal of the Year by IJGlobal 2019; Deal of the Year by Asian-mena Counsel 2019
- Banten Refinancing: Power Deal of the Year (Indonesia) by The Asset Triple A Asia Infrastructure Awards 2020; Refinancing Deal of the Year by Project Finance International 2019
Attorney Awards & Recognitions
Americas
- Cynthia Urda Kassis: Recognized as a “Leading Individual: Banking & Finance” by Legal 500 Latin America (2018-2024); Recognized as a “Leading Individual: Projects & Energy” by Legal 500 Latin America (2013-2024); Recognized as a “Global Leader” for Banking – Finance (USA), Mining (USA) and Project Finance (USA) and named a “Thought Leaders Global Elite” for Mining and Project Finance by Who’s Who Legal (2022 – 2023); Recognized as a “Foreign Expert: Projects USA” by Chambers Global 2023; Named to Women Leaders list of "highly regarded" lawyers worldwide by IFLR1000 (2018-2021); Selected to Crain’s Notable Women in Law List 2021; Named to Top 100 Female Lawyers List by Latinvex 2020
- Denise Grant: Listed as a “Top 10 Influential Banking & Finance Lawyer in Latin America by Business Today (2023); Recognized as a “Leading Individual: Banking & Finance” by Legal 500 Latin America (2014-2024); “Highly Regarded” by IFLR1000 (2020-2023); Recognized as a “Foreign Expert: Banking & Finance USA” by Chambers Global 2022; Named to Top 100 Female Lawyers List by Latinvex (2018-2022)
- Paul Epstein: Recognized as a “Global Leader” for Government Contracts (USA) by Who’s Who Legal (2019-2023); Named a “Rising Star” by IFLR1000 (2016-2023); Recognized as a Key Lawyer for Project Finance: Infrastructure and PPP and Energy and Power by Legal 500 USA 2023; Ranked Band 2 for Projects: PPP by Chambers USA (2023)
- Augusto Ruiloba: Recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” for Banking & Finance by Legal 500 Latin America 2024; Recognized as a “Rising Star” for Projects & Energy by Legal 500 Latin America (2022 – 2024); Named “International Firm Rising Star of the Year” by IFLR1000 2021; Named a Rising Star by Latinvex 2020
- Robert O'Leary: Named a Rising Star by Latinvex 2024; Recognized as a Key Lawyer for Banking & Finance by Legal 500 Latin America 2023; Recognized as a Key Lawyer for Projects & Energy by Legal 500 Latin America 2023; Named to the Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist 2022: US-Mexico
Asia
- Bill McCormack: Recognized as a “Senior Statesperson” for Projects and Infrastructure in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam by Chambers Asia Pacific 2024, as a “Star Individual” for Projects and Infrastructure in Singapore by Chambers Asia Pacific (2015–2023) and as a “Top Tier Lawyer” in Indonesia and Vietnam for Projects, Infrastructure & Energy by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2023); Ranked in the “Hall of Fame” for Projects and Energy in Singapore, and recognized as a “Leading Individual” for Foreign Firms in Indonesia by Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024); Recommended by Who's Who Legal: Southeast Asia - Energy (2023); Recognized as a “Market Leader” for Project Development, Project Finance and Banking in Singapore by IFLR1000 (2023); Recognized in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers for Project Finance and Development in Singapore; Named in “IFLR Asia Best Lawyers 2021” in Singapore by IFLR1000
- Etienne Gelencsér: Recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Projects & Energy: International and Investment Funds: Registered Foreign Lawyers in Japan by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2011-2024) and in Projects, Infrastructure & Energy in Vietnam by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024; Recognized as a “Leading Lawyer: Gaiben” for Japan: Investment Funds by Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2017-2024), as a “Rising Star” for Japan: Projects and Energy and as a “Recommended Lawyer” for Myanmar: Foreign Desks by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024; Recognized as “Highly Regarded” for Project Finance and Banking by IFLR1000 (2017-2023); Recognized in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in Japan for Private Equity, Private Funds and Venture Capital Law and Project Finance and Development Practice; Recognized as a Global Leader in Project Finance and Private Funds - Formation by Who’s Who Legal (2020)
- Xiaogang (Sean) Wang: Recognized as a “Top Tier Lawyer” for Projects and Infrastructure in the Greater China Region by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2023-2024); Recognized as "Highly Regarded" for Banking, M&A, Project Development and Project Finance in China by IFLR1000 (2022)
Market Commentary
“Shearman & Sterling has a very powerful team, especially at the level of negotiation and drafting.”
“Shearman has a very strong ability to handle complex and sophisticated situations, while maintaining focus on the most important elements and ultimate impact to allowing for a smooth process.”
Chambers USA 2023
“Shearman & Sterling have a very strong ability to deal with complex matters and to help in the closing of transactions. They display very good commercial awareness and interest in our operations.”
Chambers Latin America 2024
“The firm is exceptional and the teams they put forward really deliver. They truly have an ability to transfer understanding to clients and know how to manage the risks and opportunities in a transaction.”
“Shearman & Sterling is noted for its strong track record when it comes to advising some of the region's largest oil companies and state-owned entities.”
Chambers Global 2023
“The Shearman & Sterling team has a lot of project experience and a strong understanding of Middle Eastern and Asian developments.”
“The firm is exceptional and the teams they put forward really deliver. They truly have an ability to transfer understanding to clients and know how to manage the risks and opportunities in a transaction.”
“Shearman & Sterling is an outstanding firm. The team brings immense knowledge across multiple jurisdictions.”
Chambers UK 2023
“The team at Shearman & Sterling is very good and you can trust them with highly complex energy and infrastructure projects on both the sponsor and lender side.”
Chambers Africa 2022
“Thanks to their wide range of knowledge and their extensive global network, I am fully satisfied with their performance on all deals.”
“Their strengths are responsiveness, solution-oriented advice, excellent sectoral knowledge and willingness to invest in building the client relationship.”
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024
“Shearman & Sterling is an exceptional law firm. We very much appreciate working with them and can highly recommend their services. The legal advisors are highly committed, knowledgeable, creative, solution-driven – just what you need to close a deal.”
“Shearman & Sterling has significant and deep expertise in major project-financed power projects. The firm is very flexible and definitely client-focused.”
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2023
“Omar Alkaffas gives world class advice that is commercial but with an eye for details.”
“The people at Shearman & Sterling are technically excellent, provide concise and commercial advice, understand the business and meet challenging turnaround times. It’s a pleasure to work with them.”
“Very strong financing practice, know the market well.”
Legal 500 EMEA 2023
“Lachlan Poustie [is] extremely responsive and able to meet very tight timelines.”
“We are quite satisfied with their ability to handle things in a timely manner as well as their impressive background knowledge and experience.”
“The lead partners are exceptionally knowledgeable and are innovative in coming up with solutions to complex problems. The partners are backed with high quality senior associates who are clearly partner material in the offing.”
“Shearman & Sterling have a well regarded, solid project financing team, especially in the Middle East where you get the sense that they have made a real effort to grow the practice group and presence on the ground.”
Legal 500 EMEA 2022
