Infrastructure Development

A Market-Leading Global Infrastructure Practice

Bracewell has one of the leading global infrastructure practices in the world. Our team of infrastructure lawyers is consistently ranked in the top tiers in Chambers and Legal 500, and our public and project finance teams can consistently be found at the top of the North American league tables. In 2020, IJ Global ranked us #15 for North America Infrastructure Legal Advisor by value and #18 for Power Infrastructure Finance Legal Advisor by value. Our public finance team also ranked nationally in the top 15 in Refinitiv’s 2020 analysis.

Our infrastructure lawyers offer a comprehensive platform to advise stakeholders on both private and public infrastructure projects. We are experienced in representing sponsors, developers, suppliers, lenders, and government entities in every phase of an infrastructure project, including bidding and contracting, siting and permitting, engineering, procurement and construction, operation and maintenance, financing, and refinancing, and technology.

Energy Infrastructure Projects

Our lawyers draw on their strengths as one of the largest dedicated energy teams in the world to provide cutting-edge advice on complex energy infrastructure projects, from long-haul oil and gas pipelines in the United States to utility-scale solar power plants in Europe and the Middle East. We have advised Equinor on various matters related to its Empire Wind Offshore Wind Farm; Fotowatio Renewable Ventures in the development of a utility-scale storage project to be constructed and operated by Tesla in the UK; and Marubeni and Total Solar in the development and implementation of the first utility-scale renewables IPP in Qatar.

P3 Projects

We also have extensive experience at every stage of social infrastructure projects, including the creation of public-private partnerships, or P3s, between local governments and the private sector to facilitate the development or redevelopment of arts, hospitality, medical, sports, and other infrastructure developments. For example, we represented Edgemoor-Star American Judicial Partners in the development of a modern courthouse in Howard County, Maryland, through an innovative P3 arrangement (Best Social Infrastructure Project and Best Social Infrastructure of the Year, 2019 P3 Awards). Our infrastructure lawyers also played a leading role in the development of the Texas Medical Center, Texas Rangers Stadium, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Toyota Field and STAR Soccer Complex in San Antonio.

Energy-as-a-Service

Our energy and infrastructure lawyers work alongside our public finance and transactional tax teams in the Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) sector, an emerging solution primarily for not-for-profit institutions, including hospitals and universities, that seek to manage their infrastructure without diverting attention and resources away from their core missions.

We represent not-for-profit institutions in a wide variety of EaaS transactions, including complex concession arrangements, where we analyze the legal and commercial risks of the EaaS structure for our not-for-profit clients, ensure proper integration of the EaaS structure with their existing financing structures and optimize the EaaS structure from the federal, state and local income tax perspective of our clients.

Global Recognition for Excellence

We work on cutting-edge transactions, which consistently receive awards from IJ Global and Project Finance International. We are the only firm to be named Infrastructure and Energy Projects Team of the Year more than once at the annual Middle East Awards (2017, 2018, 2021). Our project development and finance lawyers and practice also receive top recognitions from Chambers, Legal 500 and other leading legal publications.

Chambers Global – Africa-wide Projects & Energy; Middle East-wide Projects & Energy; UK Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas; UK Energy Sector (International & Cross-Border); USA Energy Sector (International & Cross-Border); USA Electricity Transactional; USA Oil & Gas Transactional; USA Projects
Chambers UK – UK-wide Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas; UK-wide Projects
Chambers USA – Nationwide Electricity Transactional; Nationwide Oil & Gas Transactional; Nationwide Projects: Oil & Gas; Nationwide Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional; Nationwide Projects: PPP
IFLR1000 – UK Project Development: Oil & Gas (Tier 1); UK Project Development: Power; UK Project Finance; US Project Development: Oil & Gas; US Project Development: Power; US Project Finance
Legal 500 EMEA – UAE Infrastructure and Projects
Legal 500 UK – Emerging Markets; Oil & Gas; Power
Legal 500 US – Project Finance: Advice to Lenders; Project Finance: Advice to Sponsors; Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power; Energy Transactions: Electric Power; Energy Transactions: Oil & Gas
U.S. News – Best Lawyers – National Energy Law (Tier 1); National Oil & Gas Law (Tier 1); National Project Finance Law (Tier 1); National Public Finance Law (Tier 1); Austin Energy Law (Tier 1); Austin Public Finance Law (Tier 1); Austin Water Law (Tier 1); Dallas/Fort Worth Public Finance Law (Tier 1); Houston Energy Law (Tier 1); Houston Natural Resources Law (Tier 1); Houston Oil & Gas Law (Tier 1); Houston Project Finance Law (Tier 1); Houston Public Finance Law (Tier 1); New York Energy Law (Tier 1); Washington, DC Public Finance Law

The team is very experienced, pragmatic and balances the commercial requirements against the legal risks.

Chambers Global, 2023

Market-Leading Engagements

We play a leading role in market-leading infrastructure projects throughout the United States, Latin America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Acciona Agua-led consortium in its bid for Al Wakra & Wukair 150,000-300,000 integrated sewage treatment plants in Doha
Alcazar Energy Partners on construction and implementation matters in respect of the Al Rajef and Shobak wind projects in Jordan
Alcazar Energy Partners, as bidder, and EBRD, as lender, on the 30 MW/60 MwH energy storage project in Jordan — the first utility-scale, stand-alone, project financed energy storage project in the MENA region
Alcazar Energy Partners in the project financing for wind and solar projects with an aggregate capacity of 100 MW being procured pursuant to the Egypt Feed-in-Tariff Program
Alcazar Energy Partners in connection with its project financing, including drafting and negotiating EPC and O&M contracts and related contracts, of four 50 MW solar projects in Egypt being procured in Round 2 of the Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff Program – 2017 Global Multicultural Deal of the Year, Project Finance International
Alcazar Energy Partners on the 1.8 GW Benban Solar Park in Egypt – 2017 Global MLA Deal of the Year, PFI Awards
Alcoa Power Generating Inc. in the sale of four hydroelectric power plants with an aggregate capacity of 215 MW located on the Yadkin River in North Carolina to an affiliate of Cube Hydro Partners, LLC
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., as agent, and certain affiliates serving as its counsel to APUC, as lenders, on a long-term financing to a subsidiary of Abengoa Water that holds a 20 percent interest in the Vista Ridge P3 water project near San Antonio, Texas

Amni International Petroleum Development Company Limited on its approximately $214 million senior secured facility with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc as lender to refinance its existing $260 million facility with Africa Export-Import Bank
Anadarko Mozambique Area 1 on various aspects of the $20 billion+ LNG export project in Mozambique.
Anglo Pacific Group in the acquisition of a NSR Royalty over copper produced at the Mantos Blancos copper mine in Chile
AP Energy Holdings Inc and South Field Energy LLC in the $1.3 billion project financing and equity arrangements for the construction of the South Field Energy project, a 1,182 MW combined-cycle natural gas electric generating facility located near Wellsville, Ohio
Apache Corporation in connection with implementation of, and exercise of equity options under, various agreements with third party pipeline developers that will provide vital takeaway capacity for Apache’s oil and natural gas liquids production from the Alpine High play in the Permian Basin
Apex Compressed Air Energy Storage LLC on the mezzanine and long-term construction project financing of a compressed air energy storage development project
ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC in the purchase of the FERC-regulated Trans-Union Pipeline from Entegra Power Group and related acquisition financing
Arabia One For Clean Energy Investments, a project company formed by Hanwha Engineering & Construction Corporation, Ennera Energy and Arabia Trading and Consulting Company) in the project development and financing of the Arabia One project, one of seven solar photovoltaic projects in Jordan (called the “Seven Sisters”) procured in Round 1 of Jordan’s renewable energy program — 2014 Middle East Renewable Deal of the Year and 2014 Middle East Overall Project of the Year, IJGlobal Middle East
Banobras, as New York counsel on the amendment of certain financing documentation for a major highway project in Mexico and its refinancing
Basalt Infrastructure Partners II LP in the acquisition of Detroit Renewable Energy LLC, an integrated renewable energy system comprised of Detroit Thermal, Detroit Renewable Power and Hamtramck Energy Services
Brookfield Infrastructure Group Corporation in the sale of Cross Sound Cable Company, the owner of a high voltage direct current electric transmission system connecting the New England and New York power grids, to A1A Energy North America LLC, an affiliate of Argo Infrastructure Partners
Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, as disclosure counsel in connection with $391.755 million Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Joint Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020A (Non-AMT); $459.520 million Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Joint Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020B (Non-AMT); and $1.193 billion Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Joint Revenue Refunding Bonds Taxable, Series 2020C
City of Arlington, Texas, as bond counsel to issuer in connection with $321.717 million Rangers Ballpark Complex Admissions and Parking Taxes Revenue Bonds Taxable, Series 2020, and counsel in connection with the development of a new retractable-roof stadium for the Texas Rangers
City of Houston Airport System, as bond counsel to issuer in connection with $90 million Special Facilities Revenue Bonds (United Airlines, Inc. Technical Operations Center Project), Series 2018 (AMT) and $46.4 million City of Houston Airport System Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, (United Airlines, Inc. Airport Improvement Projects), Series 2018C (AMT)
City of Houston, Texas, as bond counsel in connection with the issuance of over $1 billion Airport System subordinate lien revenue bonds and senior lien commercial paper
Competitive Power Ventures in the equity investment by Osaka Gas USA, Axium Infrastructure and Harrison Street in CPV’s gas-fired Three Rivers Energy Center project in Illinois — 2020 US Power Deal of the Year, PFI Awards
Cosapi, a member of the project company, Metro de Lima Línea 2, S.A., in the review of the financing documents to which Cosapi was a party in connection with the refinancing of the bonds for the construction of Line 2 of the Lima metro in Peru
Edgemoor-Star American Judicial Partners in the procurement and financial closing of the Howard County Maryland Courthouse P3 project — 2019 Best Social Infrastructure Project and Best Social Infrastructure of the Year, P3 Awards
El Paso Corporation and Ruby Pipeline LLC in the $1.58 billion construction and term financing of the 675-mile Ruby Pipeline in the northwest United States – Oil and Gas Deal of the Year in the Americas, Project Finance International; North American Oil and Gas Deal of the Year, Project Finance
Eldorado Gold Corporation and its subsidiary Hellas Gold in a host government agreement in respect of the Kassandra gold mines in Greece
Eni S.p.A. in its £140 million acquisition of a 20 percent interest in the Dogger Bank (C) 1.2 GW offshore wind farm project from Equinor and SSE
Eni S.p.A. in its £405 million acquisition of 20 percent interest in the Dogger Bank (A and B) 2.4 GW offshore wind farm project from Equinor and SSE — the world’s largest offshore wind project
Equinor on the 816 MW Empire Wind Offshore Wind Farm – the first large-scale offshore wind lease in New York State — 2020 Projects Deal of the Year Finalist, IFLR United States Awards
First Reserve Corporation in the long-term hedge arrangement to enable the acquisition and ﬁnancing of the 298 MW Kingﬁsher Wind Project located in Oklahoma — 2015 Commodities Deal of the Year, Commodity Business Awards; 2015 Financial Deal of the Year, Platt’s Global Energy Awards; 2016 Deal of the Year, Energy Risk Awards
Fort Bend Independent School District, as bond counsel to issuer in connection with $45 million Variable Rate Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2017C (Green Bonds); $50 million Variable Rate Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2017D (Green Bonds); and $91.110 million Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2017E
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures in the development of the 99 MW / 198 MWh Clay Tye Project – upon completion, this will be the largest battery energy storage of its kind in the UK
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures in the development of a 34 MW/68 MwH utility-scale battery storage project, to be constructed and operated by Tesla in the UK
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, as sponsors’ counsel in the development of the 55 MW Mets Masrik power plant — the first utility-scale solar plant in Armenia
Freeport Power Limited in the $196 million first-lien financing by its owners GDF Suez Energy North America and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, of an approximately 440 MW rated gas-fired combined cycle power plant located on-site at Dow Chemical’s Oyster Creek chemical complex in Freeport, Texas
Grand Parkway Transportation Corporation (GPTC), as disclosure counsel in connection with a refinancing of outstanding obligations to achieve present value debt service savings of $395 million with the issuance of $2.3 billion in taxable and tax-exempt refunding bonds to refinance a $944 million TIFIA loan (Transportation Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act, a borrowing program administered by the US Department of Transportation), as well as other outstanding debt
Harmony HB Limited in the first-of-a-kind financing for the Holes Bay Battery Energy Storage Project in Dorset, UK
Harris County Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corporation, as bond counsel in connection with the issuance of $52.39 million Revenue Refunding Bonds (Texas Medical Center) Series 2019A and $39.11 million Taxable Revenue Refunding Bonds (Texas Medical Center) Series 2019B
Holly Energy Partners, L.P. in connection with its formation with Plains All American Pipeline of a 50/50 joint venture, Cushing Connect Pipeline & Terminal LLC
Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, Texas, as bond counsel to issuer in connection with $50 million of Alamito Public Facilities Corporation Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds, Series 2016 (HACEP RAD Conversion Program Phase III-A Project)
Houston Independent School District, as disclosure counsel in connection with $848.740 million Limited Tax Schoolhouse and Refunding Bonds, Series 2017
HPS Investment Partners, LLC in the $210 million secured note facility to HMS Kingfisher HoldCo, LLC and ARM Midstream, LLC, as well as an equity investment in the related operating company, to fund the development and construction of a crude oil pipeline and gas gathering and processing facilities
La Paloma Generating Company, LLC in the $412 million first-lien and second-lien term and working capital project finance facilities regarding its 1,022 MW combined-cycle electric generation facility
Macquarie Bank Limited on the project financing of a diverse portfolio of roof-top solar installations for Just Energy Group Inc.’s subsidiary, Hudson Solar
Macquarie Bank Limited on the project financing of Juniper GTL, LLC's gas-to-liquids plan in Westlake, Louisiana
Marubeni Corporation and Aljomaih Energy & Water Company in the financial closing of the Rabigh 300 MW solar photovoltaic IPP in Saudi Arabia — Middle East & Africa ESG Platform Deal of the Year, 2021 PFI Awards; Project Finance Deal of the Year Finalist, 2021 IFLR Middle East Awards
Marubeni and Total Solar in the development and implementation of the 800.15 MW Al Kharsaah solar photovoltaic independent power project, the first utility-scale renewables IPP in Qatar — Project Finance Deal of the Year, 2021 IFLR Middle East Awards
Marubeni Corporation and Kyushu Electric consortium regarding its bid for Facility E 2.3 GW and 100 MIGD IWPP in Qatar — arguably the largest utilities project currently under tender in the Middle East, with an estimated capex value just shy of $3 billion
Midtown Redevelopment Authority, as counsel in connection with an agreement regarding the development and construction of a single level underground parking garage that will provide approximately 400 public parking spaces on property along Main Street in downtown Houston
Mission Economic Development Corporation, as bond counsel to issuer in connection with $336.430 million Senior Lien Revenue Bonds (Natgasoline Project) Series 2018; $50 million Mission Economic Development Corporation Senior Lien Revenue Bonds (Natgasoline Project), Series 2016A; and $202.885 million Mission Economic Development Corporation Senior Lien Revenue Bonds (Natgasoline Project), Series 2016B
Navigator CO2 Ventures in the development of an industrial-scale carbon dioxide pipeline system of more than 1,200 miles of new carbon dioxide gathering and transportation pipelines across five Midwest states
New Age in its capacity as operator of the Etinde offshore gas field in Cameroon on all aspects of the project, including joint venture arrangements, host government agreements, project documents and financing arrangements
North Texas Tollway Authority, as bond counsel and disclosure counsel in connection with the issuance of $192.105 million First Tier Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020A; $517.145 million First Tier Revenue Refunding Bonds, Taxable Series 2020B; and $52.705 million Second Tier Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020C
Permian Highway Pipeline, LLC, a joint venture between Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline and EagleClaw Midstream Ventures in the development of a $2 billion intrastate natural gas pipeline system in Texas
Phillips 66 Partners in the development of the Gray Oak Project, a new crude oil pipeline project to bring crude oil from the Permian Basin in West Texas to market destinations in Corpus Christi and the Houston area
Phillips 66 Partners in the formation of 50/50 joint venture, Bluewater Texas Terminal LLC, with Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd. to develop an offshore deepwater port project in the Port of Corpus Christi
Plum Point Energy Associates LLC on the restructuring of the $819 million secured construction and term financing for its 665 MW coal-fired power generation facility located in Osceola, Arkansas
Premier Oil Sea Lion Development and its joint venture partners in connection with the proposed project financing of the Sea Lion offshore oil field development in the North Falkland basin
Rockland Capital, LLC on the acquisition of $263 million term and project financing of the Michigan Power electric generation project, including development of an innovative secured gas hedging and credit support structure for fuel supply for the project
Rockland Capital, LLC, Lakeswind Power Partners, Sabine Cogen and Eagle Point Power on multi-project project financing of a wind power project and two gas-fired generation projects
Siraj Energy, Marubeni Corporation and Total Solar in the development and implementation of the 800.15 MW AL Kharsaah solar photovoltaic IPP — first utility-scale renewable IPP in Qatar
Sol Systems in a joint venture with Microsoft to develop over 500 MW of solar projects in under-resourced US communities
Star America Infrastructure Partners, LLC, Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate LLC and Hayat Brown LLC, as a consortium, in their bid for a P3 contract for the design, construction and long-term maintenance of six public schools in Prince George’s County, Maryland
Storegga Geotechnologies on its acquisition of Pale Blue Dot Energy, a lead developer of the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage Project at the St Fergus Gas Terminal in the UK, as well as on the second round of equity financing
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as lead arranger and agent, in the project financing of the acquisition of a 121 MW dual fueled combined cycle power plant located in Florida with a short term remaining on its existing tolling arrangement
TC Energy Corporation as US counsel in connection with the Government of Alberta’s $1.1 billion equity investment and $3.54.2 billion loan guarantee to support construction of the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline
Texas Medical Center in the development of a 28-acre biomedical innovation and commercialization campus known as TMC3
Texas Water Development Board, as disclosure counsel to issuer in connection with $1 billion State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas Revenue Bonds, Series 2017A (Master Trust) and $18.9 million State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas Revenue Bonds, Taxable Series 2017B
Lenders to the Utico-led consortium, the lead bidder on read out, in its bid for the 120 MIGD Hassyan Independent Water Project in Dubai
Vestas Wind Systems on the 300 MW Lake Turkana wind projects — the largest single private investment in Kenyan history and one of the largest onshore wind farms in Africa
Yuhuang Chemical, Inc. in the project development and financing of a $1.85 billion greenfield methanol project in Louisiana