Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance expands US project development and financing capabilities with appointment of partner Victoria B. Salem

Global law firm Clifford Chance has hired Victoria B. Salem as a partner in its Global Financial Markets team, further building its energy and infrastructure financing offering in the US.

Based in Houston, Salem joins from Cheniere Energy, Inc., the largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the US, where she was Assistant General Counsel, Finance and Tax, responsible for all finance and tax legal work globally, including successfully leading over US$20 billion of transactions. She brings added experience advising on complex commercial and financing transactions on a global scale in energy and infrastructure, particularly in the business, commercial and financing aspects of LNG.

Head of Global Financial Markets Emma Matebalavu says, "Victoria's unique perspective from her in-house role, combined with her private practice experience in various types of financing for domestic and international energy, resource, and infrastructure projects, including project finance and capital markets, aligns well with the hybrid approach to financing and refinancing all types of projects and companies across the energy and infrastructure sector."

Senior partner of the firm's global energy, infrastructure and projects groups Tony Giustini says, "I'm looking forward to Victoria joining our growing team in Houston. Her knowledge of the LNG sector will be both valuable and additive to our existing E&I capabilities, helping our team advise clients on the increasing number of projects involving LNG, renewables and other energy transition initiatives in the US and globally."

Salem says, "I'm excited to join such a high caliber, international practice and bring my significant industry experience to the team. There's considerable opportunity for LNG projects as part of the energy transition, and I'm happy for the opportunity to help expand this potential for clients."With the addition of Salem, Clifford Chance's Houston office has grown to more than 40 attorneys advising across corporate/M&A, financial markets, projects, tax and environment since launching in 2023.