Jones Day announced that Michelle T. Davies and Rob McNabb have joined the Firm as partners in its Energy Practice. Based in London, both lawyers have extensive energy experience and will focus on Energy Transition and Infrastructure projects and transactions as part of a practice at Jones Day that boasts more than 50 years of experience in this area.
“Adding Michelle and Rob marks a significant step forward in the growth of our global energy capabilities at a time when clients are facing unprecedented challenges, but also tremendous opportunities, on energy transition matters,” said Jeff Schlegel, chair of Jones Day’s Energy Practice. “Michelle is a pioneer in clean energy and sustainability, with an unparalleled track record of advising corporates, financial institutions and governments on every facet of the transition towards clean energy and sustainable development and Rob is widely regarded as one of the United Kingdom’s pre-eminent construction lawyers for complex energy and infrastructure projects. Their combined skill sets add even more to Jones Day’s integrated Energy, Energy Transition, M&A, and Projects capabilities, enabling us to deliver seamless, end-to-end support on both conventional and renewable mandates, and to meet the evolving needs of our clients in this dynamic market.”
Bringing tremendous experience across the energy value chain over decades of transactions, Ms. Davies focuses on M&A across the energy sector but also advises clients on energy transition and sustainability strategy. She advises across all clean energy asset classes for a combination of institutional capital, infrastructure funds, global developers and utilities as well as corporate entities looking to decarbonize or secure alternative energy solutions. She has advised on many of the energy sector’s most innovative and complex mandates in the climate and sustainability space, helping organizations secure alternative energy solutions such as onshore and offshore wind, solar, clean hydrogen, biofuels, biomass and energy from waste.
Mr. McNabb is a highly-regarded Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) lawyer who focuses on the construction of energy and infrastructure projects both in the UK and internationally. He has more than 20 years’ experience advising clients along with extensive knowledge in energy transition matters. He has worked on more than 50 gigawatts of clean energy projects across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia and led legal teams working on the full spectrum of construction and engineering projects for energy transition. Mr. McNabb’s experience includes the first wind farm in Africa, the first solar project in the Middle East, and the first pyrolysis project in Europe.
Ms. Davies and Mr. McNabb join a team of more than 200 lawyers worldwide who represent clients in traditional energy and energy transition and infrastructure matters, providing counsel in major transactions, project/infrastructure development, finance, marketing and trading, commercial and operating arrangements, joint ventures and regulatory issues involving energy and natural resources, including acting on some of the most cutting edge areas of energy transition. Their arrivals follow a number of recent additions to the Firm’s energy and infrastructure offering, including a market-leading projects and energy team of 16 led by Francois Guilliem Vassier in Paris; private equity partners Piero Carbone, Michiel Huizinga, and Pierre-Olivier Mahieu in Europe; Parveet Gandoak, Charles Bogle, James Wood, and Frank Voon in the Asia-Pacific region; Rodney Moore, Sam Peca and Scott Delaney in Dallas; digital infrastructure partners Melissa Vandewater and Liz Yeager in the US; and energy partners Paul Jones in London, Paul Greening in Singapore, and Simon Brown in Brisbane.
“London remains a critical hub for global energy investment, and the arrival of Michelle and Rob further enhances the breadth of experience and deep industry knowledge available to assist our clients in the United Kindom and around the world” said Vica Irani, co-chair of Jones Day’s global Corporate Practice. “These market-leading practitioners reinforce our commitment to helping clients capitalize on opportunities in traditional power, emerging renewables, and the broader energy transition, while drawing on the full resources of Jones Day’s seamless collaboration across practices and jurisdictions everywhere.
Ms. Davies has been honored by Legal 500 for her work in “global sustainability law” and by The Lawyer’s “Hot 100” for her work in renewable energy. She earned her bachelor of laws degree from University College London and her master of laws degree from U.C. Berkeley School of Law.
Mr. McNabb has been recognized by Legal 500 for his work in “energy, infrastructure and finance” and by Chambers and Partners for his “strong practice in the renewable energy sector.” He earned his bachelor of law degree and a diploma in law and legal practice from Cardiff University.
“Jones Day has long been admired by organizations worldwide that are seeking to get projects developed in the energy transition and infrastructure space, so I was attracted to the opportunity to join this elite team of lawyers,” said Ms. Davies. “I’m excited to join Rob in this move to Jones Day’s London office and eager to collaborate with my new colleagues around the world as we help our clients complete the projects that will drive their organizational objectives forward.”