Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance boosts Asia Pacific project finance practice with relocation of partner Ross Howard to Tokyo

Tokyo: Leading international law firm Clifford Chance will relocate Paris project finance partner Ross Howard to Tokyo in September 2013, further strengthening the Firm's project finance offering in Asia Pacific.

Ross has extensive experience advising clients on the development and financing of large-scale international projects. He regularly advises public sector entities, sponsors and lenders on projects in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors.

His relocation follows that of project finance specialists Ashvin Seetulsingh to Hong Kong and Phil Sealey to Perth in 2012

Mark Hyde, Clifford Chance's Head of Finance in Asia Pacific, said, "Our project finance practice in Asia Pacific is committed to building on its market-leading position. As sources of project finance become more diverse, the skills of Ross and his colleagues in working across the region with a broad range of funders, including IFIs and ECAs as well as traditional bank lenders, are essential for our clients. We're delighted to have someone with Ross's depth of knowledge and expertise join our active practice."

"We are very excited Ross will be joining our team in Tokyo," said Eiichi Kanda, Tokyo Managing Partner. "Ross' arrival comes at the right time as we are seeing a rise in complex, cross-border projects across Asia Pacific, as Japanese companies seek an increasing stake in the region's energy and resources projects."

Ross will join a team of over 110 Energy and Resource lawyers in Asia Pacific, including over 30 project finance practitioners, regularly advising on complex projects with cross-border implications covering the range of financing and capital raising structures.