Highly accomplished lawyer Li Zhang has joined Baker McKenzie as Special Counsel. She brings with her a wealth of experience in international energy and infrastructure projects, with a focus on nuclear, renewable, hydro power, thermal power, and transmission and distribution networks. She joins the Firm's Beijing office from Covington & Burling.
Li is a practicing lawyer in England and Wales and in New York. Over the years, she has advised many leading Chinese and international energy companies as well as financial institutions on structuring, development, construction, operation, acquisition and financing of projects. She has been involved in many nuclear new build projects in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where she advised clients across a full suite of legal issues, including project contracts (including in respect of procurement), regulatory compliance and technology transfer. She also has extensive financing experience in the energy and infrastructure sector, especially in syndicated lending and project finance.
"We are delighted to welcome Li to our Firm," Stanley Jia, Chief Representative of Baker McKenzie's Beijing office, said. "Li is a highly skilled lawyer and has strong connections with the key players within the energy and financial institutions industry in Mainland China. At a time when China and other major economies around the world are stepping up their efforts to combat climate change, investment activities in renewables are likely to remain buoyant. Li's work in renewables project financing will no doubt be of significant value to our clients along with her strong expertise in nuclear power."
Asia Pacific Head of Projects Martin David, added: "Li joins us at a time of growth in our project practice, having seen the Firm acted on a number of recent award-winning project financing deals, including the Changfang Xidao offshore wind farm project in Taiwan and the Reliance Bangladesh Meghnaghat II gas-fired power project. Her joining not only adds strong technical project skills and experience to our regional Projects team but also gives us added depth in the PRC to support our clients on inbound and outbound (BRI) development and investment opportunities. This demonstrates our commitment to building our capabilities in strategic areas that are also aligned with our client's business interests."
For her part, Li said: "I am excited to join Baker McKenzie. The Firm has a leading project finance practice, and I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across Asia and the rest of the world in helping our clients navigate through complex energy and infrastructure projects and assisting them with their legal needs."