Alexander S. Choinski

With two decades of experience leading and advising on project finance and other complex transactional matters, both as external counsel and in-house, Alex brings to the table a wealth of deal experience and a commercially-oriented perspective. As a seasoned infrastructure and finance lawyer, Alex advises on a wide variety of project-related, corporate and structured financings involving investment banks, multilateral development institutions, export credit agencies, major corporations and private equity. Additionally, Alex counsels clients on project development agreements, as well as general corporate matters, including corporate governance and formation, joint ventures, asset acquisitions, divestments and restructuring. He also advocates on industry-specific matters before governmental agencies internationally.

Project Finance – Multilateral/ECA/Development Agency

• Acted as lead finance lawyer and key negotiator and managed all aspects of project finance work for the sponsor consortium seeking a multi-sourced financing for a $30 billion LNG project in Africa involving a core group of eight export credit agencies and development finance institutions and over 20 international banks.
• Acted as lead legal advisor for a major oil and gas company in connection with its acquisition of a significant interest in a landmark floating LNG project in Africa (including a complex accession into the existing project financing provided by multiple ECAs and project credit support).
• Represented a major developer and tax equity investor in the acquisition and project financing of utility-scale solar energy projects in Texas and Arizona with a binational development bank.
• Represented a US government agency in the subordinated financing of the $1.2 billion western extension of the President George Bush Turnpike (State Highway 161) in Dallas under the TIFIA program.
• Represented a Venezuelan natural resources and mining conglomerate in the $1 billion pre-export financing by a Chinese development bank.
• Represented a group of multilateral lending institutions, export credit agencies and international banks in the landmark $2.25 billion Peru LNG project financing; named Project Finance International 2009 Latin American Deal of the Year, Latin Lawyer’s 2008 Project Finance Deal of the Year and Project Finance’s 2008 Latin America Export Finance Deal of the year.
• Represented a multilateral lending institution in the largest syndicated loan in its history at the time, a $600 million senior unsecured corporate financing and debt acquisition for a South American telecom company.
• Represented a US development finance institution and a major international bank in a $1.1 billion financing of a Nigerian natural gas liquids project sponsored by a major international oil and gas company and a state owned oil company.
• Represented an Ecuadorian mobile telecommunications developer in a proposed financing by a multilateral financing institution of a cellular network expansion project.
• Represented an export credit agency in negotiating various post-closing matters associated with the financing of a power project in Mexico.

Project Finance – Commercial Banks, Corporates and Private Equity

• Advised a major international oil and gas company on the structuring of a $900 million inter-affiliate pre-export financing for offshore upstream operations in Brazil.
• Advised a major international oil and gas company on financing, collateral security, EPC and related matters associated with the procurement and construction of FPSOs for use in various offshore oil fields in South America.
• Advised on project finance matters for a gas marketing joint venture between two IOCs with regard to potential development projects in the US and Central Asia and long-term sales and supply arrangements in South America, including negotiations of a direct agreement with purchaser’s lender group.
• Represented a major private equity firm in negotiating a reserve-based lending facility and capital call credit facility relating to a US shale project.
• Represented the lead arranger in the $175 million project financing and the $375 million refinancing for the expansion of a crude-oil trans-isthmian pipeline and related storage facilities in Panama; named Project Finance’s 2009 Latin American Refinancing Deal of the Year.
• Represented the lead arranger in a $205 million syndicated bridge financing of two Panamanian hydroelectric projects a proposed long-term refinancing for such projects.
• Represented a major international bank as lead arranger for the long-term financing of a greenfield cobalt mining project in Idaho involving credit support of existing recovery zone bond financing.
• Represented lead arrangers in a proposed project financing for a petrochemical project in Trinidad and Tobago (included review and negotiation of EPC-related documentation).
• Represented a major energy company in the development of a pilot lithium-ion battery-based utility-scale energy storage project (included drafting and negotiation of suite of EPC-related documentation) under the US Department of Energy loan guarantee program.
• Represented an international bank lending syndicate in the $600 million project financing of Nigerian offshore oil fields sponsored by a major oil and gas company and a state owned oil company.
• Represented lead arrangers in the proposed development and financing of several domestic ethanol projects (including negotiation of EPC contracts and related credit support).

Other Project Development/Acquisition

• Represented major energy companies and traders in matters relating to several LNG sale and purchase agreements.
• Advised a major oil and gas company on a number of billion-dollar asset divestments, including credit support issues.
• Advised a major oil and gas company on a number of EPC contract matters.
• Advised a developer on agreements relating to the construction of a transmission line in Honduras.
• Represented an investment firm in its acquisition of a portfolio of renewable (wind turbine) energy projects in the US.

Corporate Finance / Structured Finance / Acquisition Finance

• Negotiated and advised on documentation for discharge and redemption of +$1 billion tranche of fixed rate corporate notes.
• Advised a major oil and gas company on proposed +$1 billion supply chain receivables financing with a major US bank.
• Advised a major petrochemicals producer on a number of proposed factoring, reverse factoring and other supply-chain related financing transactions.
• Negotiated amendment and extension of $10 billion corporate revolving credit agreement with a major US bank.
• Advised on legal matters for multi-billion-dollar commercial paper program.
• Managed and led legal advisory efforts on numerous inter-affiliate financing and corporate restructuring transactions around the world for a major oil and gas company
• Managed and negotiated numerous surety company guarantees and letter of credit reimbursement obligations for various affiliates of a major oil and gas company in its transactions worldwide, including M&A.
• Advised on and negotiated a shareholder loan facility for approximately $200 million to provide working capital to a joint venture refinery project in the Middle East.
• Represented a major private equity firm in structuring and negotiating a $430 million dividend recapitalization term loan B facility with respect to its ownership interest in a multi-billion dollar midstream gas transportation, storage, gathering and processing system in the south central region of the US.
• Represented a major private equity firm in negotiation of a working capital credit facility for a portfolio company which owns and operates natural gas transportation assets in Louisiana.
• Represented a media conglomerate in its $530 million investment in the secured debt of Sirius XM Radio; named The Deal’s 2009 Deal of the Year.
• Represented a major European bank in the $800 million acquisition financing of chemical production assets in Ukraine.
• Advised a major investment bank on collateral/intercreditor matters for a contemplated commodity hedge transaction with an Eagle Ford shale venture involving an Asian state owned oil company.
• Advised an electricity supplier on credit sleeve arrangements and documentation.
• Represented a private equity firm in its $450 million refinancing of a portfolio of merchant power facilities, a subsequent proposed acquisition financing and refinancing involving senior secured and mezzanine facilities and various asset dispositions, hedging, amendment and consent matters.

Oil & Gas E&P Matters

• Advised a major E&P company on upstream license agreements, joint operating agreements, farm-out agreements and regulatory issues in Colombia relating to upstream interests, which included extensive interaction with the leadership of that country’s oil and gas regulatory agency.
• Led efforts on major litigation on behalf of seven oil companies, defending against environmental claims associated with offshore exploration activities in the Rio de la Plata basin in South America.
• Managed legal advisory work for a major oil and gas company’s worldwide portfolio of offshore drilling contracts, including major capital projects in several countries in South America and sub-Saharan Africa and a proposed, highly complex rig sharing arrangement between five operators in Brazil.
• Represented the interests of a major oil and gas company in its advocacy efforts relating to national hydrocarbons legislation and regulation in various Latin American countries.
• Advised on a variety of ESG-related matters.

Workouts, Restructurings and Bankruptcy

• Advised a major oil and gas company on issues relating to the potential insolvency of a key foreign contractor for a refinery operation in the US.
• Represented a major financial services company in the debt refinancing of leveraged lease transactions involving two power plants, a distressed asset disposition in the power sector, as well as the settlement and assignment of claims in connection with the bankruptcy of a major US energy company.
• Worked on matters relating to the representation of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Enron Corporation Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.