Orrick expands energy & infrastructure practice with leading Africa practitioner

Orrick has announced that Simon Ratledge, a practitioner focused on project finance in emerging countries and in Africa, has joined the firm’s Energy & Infrastructure group in Paris. This follows the firm’s announcement of the addition to its Paris office of a 5-partner team of finance and corporate practitioners from Freshfields. Simon joins Orrick from Simmons & Simmons.

Simon advises on major projects and financings across Africa. Over the past 20 years, Simon has represented project finance clients, including major development banks and other lenders, in the power/renewables, mining, petrochemicals, oil and gas and transport/social infrastructure sectors. He has recently advised on project financings involving AFD, DEG, EBRD, EIB, EKF, IFC, KfW, Proparco, JBIC and KEXIM, among others.

Simon previously served as co-head of Linklaters' North Africa practice. In addition to being ranked in Chambers, Simon is cited as a "Leading Lawyer" for E&I by International Financial Law Review. He is dual qualified as Avocat à la Cour de Paris and Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.

Simon Ratledge stated:

“Orrick has emerged as one of the leading international firm practices focused on Africa, with a team that is playing a key role in many of the most significant projects underway on the continent. The firm’s commitment to Africa is serious and palpable, and I’m excited to be part of the continuing growth of this exceptional platform.”

Pascal Agboyibor, head of Orrick’s Africa practice, commneted: 

“We are honored to welcome a practitioner of Simon’s caliber to our Africa team. The volume and sophistication of investment and development in Africa today is unprecedented, and Simon adds to our team preeminent skills representing development banks and other lenders involved in these projects.”

Simon is the seventh dedicated Energy & Infrastructure partner to join the firm’s European team since 2015. Earlier this year, Orrick added to its London office two energy sector practitioners with extensive experience in Africa: Peter Roberts, who joined from Andrews Kurth and serves as head of Orrick’s global Oil & Gas practice, and Weyinmi Popo, one of the most active practitioners focused on private equity investment into Africa, joined from Jones Day. In addition, this year the firm launched a 38-lawyer Houston office to serve clients across all segments of the energy markets.