Ashurst appoints new project finance partner in Dubai

He joins from International Power plc where he has been general counsel in Abu Dhabi and a legal counsel in London over the past five years.

David has a broad range of corporate and finance experience in the energy sector with a particular focus on the development and project financing of independent water and power projects (IWPP) in the Middle East. David has worked on a number of landmark deals in Middle East project finance, including:

- The Shuweihat IWPP in Abu Dhabi - the first time Islamic finance had been used alongside conventional debt in a Middle East IWPP and was Middle East Economics Digest's 'Project of the Year' in 2002;

- The Umm Al Nar IWPP in Abu Dhabi - involved multiple tranches of conventional and Islamic bank debt. The deal was Project Finance magazine's 'Middle East Power and Water Deal of the Year' in 2003 and was at the time the region's largest IWPP in terms of debt raised.

- The Ras Laffan B IWPP in Qatar - a fast track project for the construction of a new power and water plant at Ras Laffan Industrial City.

Ashurst's global energy team provides a full service to international energy companies, governments and financial institutions active in the energy and resources sector, across upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas and power. The team comprises around 70 specialist lawyers across the firm. David Wadham's appointment follows that of project finance partners Franco Vigliano and John France in Milan.

Geoffrey Picton-Turbervill, head of global energy at Ashurst, said: "David is joining a thriving international practice that acts on a wide variety of ground-breaking and high profile transactions, from energy projects in the Middle East to large cross-border upstream mergers and acquisitions. David's vast knowledge of project financing IWPPs in the Middle East will prove invaluable to our clients and is a major step in expanding the services Ashurst offers in the region."

Geoffrey Green, Ashurst's senior partner, said: "We are delighted to welcome a project finance lawyer of the calibre and experience David Wadham to the partnership. His appointment reaffirms our commitment to developing and growing our international business, as well as attracting the best talent."