Paul Hastings, a global law firm advising financial institutions, asset managers and corporations, added a high-profile group of laterals specializing in projects and project finance in energy transition and infrastructure from Shearman & Sterling. The Band 1 recognized group, which represents some of the most high-profile asset managers and largest banks in the world, includes three top-ranked partners who will join the firm in New York, advancing Paul Hastings’ position as a firm specializing in energy transition and infrastructure with a global team focused on the United States, Europe and Latin America.
The partners are Robert Freedman, Alexandro M. Padres and Gregory Tan. Upon joining the firm, Freedman and Tan will co-chair Paul Hastings’ infrastructure and energy practice.
The arrival of this group comes on the heels of Paul Hastings’ 18 partner elite financial restructuring addition in New York continuing the firm’s focus on strategic investments in areas of growth, given broader macroeconomic and legal trends. The energy transition and de-carbonization imperative is driving unprecedented amounts of capital – including more than $1 trillion in global transactions in 2021 – into a wide range of products relevant to the firm’s clients and key practice areas.
“This exceptional group is defined by superior intellectual capital, execution and reputation,” Seth Zachary, chair of Paul Hastings, said. “Widely recognized as a top five infrastructure and energy practice this group adds synergies and client value to our existing foundation with our leading Infrastructure and Energy Transition practice.”
“Paul Hastings is embracing a unique moment where the firm is firing on all cylinders—from the firm’s forward looking growth strategy, stellar financial results and clear attraction of the finest lawyers in the world, it is clear that something exciting is underway at the firm,” Freedman said. “The opportunity to join Paul Hastings was incredibly enticing, as was the timing. The energy transition and infrastructure space is incredibly dynamic and we’re placing a stake in the ground that says we want to be the firm of choice for clients that want to be ahead of the curve.”
“At this watershed moment for many industries, the opportunity for us to join forces with the outstanding finance and corporate practices at Paul Hastings when the firm is laser-focused on the energy transition and infrastructure sectors, was a “once in a career” opportunity for us, and we’re very excited for us and our clients,” Tan said.
Freedman was previously global project development and finance practice group co-leader as well as a lead industry coordinator for energy at Shearman & Sterling. He focuses on finance and development, asset acquisitions and dispositions and complex work-outs and restructurings of infrastructure assets across the breadth of infrastructure sectors, including power, renewables and sustainable development and transportation. His clients include major corporations, private equity and other institutional investors, banks and financial institutions.
Tan was previously global project development and finance practice group leader as well as co-head of global finance at Shearman & Sterling. His practice is focused on project development, limited recourse and structured financings and restructurings in the renewables and conventional power, oil & gas, transportation and digital infrastructure sectors in the United States and Latin America. He represents corporate and financial sponsors, as well as lenders, financial institutions and funds.
Padrés was the head of the Latin America practice group and a partner in the project development and finance practice at his prior firm. He focuses on infrastructure projects as they relate to the electricity (both conventional and clean/renewable), oil and gas telecommunications and metals and mining sectors, with a particular emphasis on Mexico and Latin America. He is recognized as a Band 3 attorney by Chambers Latin America, Legal 500 Latin America and Legal 500 Mexico, and was named a Rising Legal Star by Latin Business Chronicle.