About Alex
Alex advises on complex corporate matters, projects and restructurings worldwide, primarily in the commodities, mining, energy, financial services and logistics / shipping sectors.
He has over 20 years of experience representing a broad range of clients in these and other sectors, including listed and unlisted companies, private equity houses, governments and other public sector bodies, as well as family offices and entrepreneurs.
He is listed as a Leading Individual for M&A (£50million-£500million) in the Legal 500 which says about him, that he is well-informed, resourceful, responsive and highly effective, and a trusted pair of hands who always excels, works very well under extreme pressure and has incredible experience.
IFLR1000 also lists him as Highly Regarded for M&A and Project Development.
Prior to joining HFW, Alex was with Clifford Chance in London.
Alex’s representative career experience includes:
- Representing buyers, sellers and management teams on cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, including: representing Avenir LNG on the disposal of its Higas LNG storage terminal to Stolt-Nielsen, Golar LNG and Höegh Evi; representing Naviera Chilena de Pacifico on its merger with Hong Kong-based Cetus Maritime; representing Victoria Group on the sale of Sojaprotein to Archer Daniels Midland (ADM); representing Competentia on its merger with Airswift; representing Markerstudy on the £185 million acquisition of Co-op’s underwriting business alongside Blackstone; representing AIK Banka a.d. on the acquisitions of Alpha Bank Serbija and Eurobank Direktna; and representing the managers on the sale of the Danube Food group of companies to private equity firm Mid Europa Partners.
- Advising governments and private investors on energy / mining / infrastructure projects, whether investments, disposals, concessions or privatisations, including: representing a mining investor on its joint ventures with Gecamines in the DRC; representing a commodities trader on its sale of a copper mine in the DRC including the associated ongoing mining services arrangements; representing a purchaser on the acquisition of energy storage facilities in the DRC; representing the seller on the sale of the Lerala diamond mine in Botswana; representing a consortium on the proposed oil storage and transport facilities for the Tonkolili iron ore mine in Sierra Leone; representing an energy client on the proposed acquisition of Iranian midstream assets from one of the oil majors; representing a major international commodities trading house on the acquisition of downstream assets in various West African countries; representing Trafigura on the establishment of the Nala Renewables joint venture with IFM Investors; representing the Hellenic Republic on the privatisation of the gas industry including the €535 million sale of a stake in the national natural gas transmission system operator; representing the Panama Canal Authority on the multi-billion tender for the construction and operation of the Corozal transhipment container terminal; and representing the owner of a UK business jet airport on its proposed expansion and development.
- Advising on the structuring and implementation of complex restructuring transactions such as: representing Avenir LNG on its restructuring and separation from Higas; representing a major creditor on the complex restructuring of ED&F Man pursuant to a UK court-approved Restructuring Plan; representing a seller of over US$500 million worth of claims in the STX Pan Ocean rehabilitation proceedings following a successful auction sale process; representing an agribusiness group in CEE on its financial and corporate restructuring involving a syndicate of banks, multiple shareholders and other stakeholders; and representing the founding shareholders on the restructuring of their interests in a World Bank-backed power plant project in West Africa.
- Advising boards of directors of listed and unlisted companies and public sector clients on a wide range of corporate governance and strategic matters, including: advice the board of directors of Croatian oil company INA on the potential sale of MOL’s 49% stake in INA; advice to Jersey Ports on the proposals to transform it into a body corporate owned by the States of Jersey (the corporatisation was thwe subject of a public consultation); and advice to the Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development on certain strategic national issues relating to its maritime transport sector.
- Advising private family investors, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and other sponsors in the UK, mainland Europe and around the world on a broad range of innovative funds, strategic partnerships / joint ventures, start-ups and other investments, including: the establishment of a complex FFA fund; the first shipping fund aimed at the UK retail market; a Cayman Islands dry bulk shipping fund; a proposed US$500 million aircraft leasing fund; numerous joint ventures between established ship-owning families and financial investors/private equity houses; an energy storage start-up; the establishment of a diagnostics distribution business in EMEA; an investment in a litigation fund; and acquisitions of commercial property (hotels).
- Representing issuers and investors on listed and unlisted debt securities issues, such as the novel Synthesis trade finance receivables securitisation structured as a US$500 million medium term note listed on the Luxembourg stock exchange.