Alec Johnson

Partner, Riyadh

Biography

“Alec Johnson is a superb lawyer. Really knows his stuff, while giving the impression of always being available and on hand to address urgent issues”. (Legal 500, 2021)

“Riyadh-based Alec Johnson and Ivan Paskal are also key names to note”. (Projects & Energy, Saudi Arabia Legal 500, 2021)

Overview

Alec Johnson is a partner in our Project Development and Finance group in Riyadh.

Alec advises state-owned companies, sponsors, lenders and procurers on complex, multijurisdictional projects across a variety of sectors.

Bars and Courts
New York State Bar
Education
JD
Emory University School of Law
BSFS
Georgetown University
Languages
English
French

Experience

Representation of the project company on the US$8.4 billion financing of a greenfield facility powered by renewable energy for production and export of green hydrogen to global markets, capable of producing 650 tons per day of carbon-free hydrogen in the form of ammonia, to be located in the NEOM region of the Kingdom. This deal was recognised as "Green Deal of the Year" by Project Finance International 2022 and "Structured Loan Deal of the Year" by Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards 2023 and "Structured Finance Deal of the Year" by Capital Markets Saudi Arabia Awards 2022.

Representation of Saudi Aramco in connection with the financing of all of its recent and ongoing build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) projects across the power, water and infrastructure sectors, including most recently the Tanajib Cogeneration and Desalination Plant (recognised as "MENA Power Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal 2021), the Jafurah Cogeneration Plant, the industrial wastewater treatment facilities at Ras Tanura Refinery and a number of residential facilities across the Kingdom.

Representation of the Saudi Civil Aviation Holding Company (MATARAT Holding) in relation to corporatization and asset transfer for Jeddah Airport.

Representation of Saudi Aramco with respect to development of a parking structure in the Dhahran Core Area and office buildings and related facilities in the Energy Industrial City.

Representation of the lenders to El Seif in their bid to undertake wave 1 of the Saudi schools PPP.

Representation of DP World on the renewal of a concession to rebuild, operate and transfer of Jeddah South Container Terminal in Jeddah Islamic Port. This 30-year concession is the first port project to be implemented under the new PSP framework in the Kingdom.

Representation of the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) in connection with the restructuring of its subsidiary, Ma'aden Rolling Company (MRC). The transaction was recognised as "MENA Refinancing Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal 2019.

Representation of Ma'aden Wa'ad Al Shamal Phosphate Company (MWSPC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden), in connection with its US$2.3 billion refinancing.

Representation of the Mandated Lead Arrangers in connection with the SAR 2.15 billion Islamic project financing for the construction of a new petrochemicals complex in Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This deal was recognized as "MENA Petrochemicals Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal 2018.

Representation of Saudi Aramco as lead counsel on the structuring, tendering, development and financing of the 2,500+ unit Fadhili residential camp, to be developed on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis. This project, which closed in January 2018, was a "first-of-its-kind" transaction in the Kingdom.

Representation of Saudi Aramco with the development of residential compounds and ancillary facilities to be located at various points along the East-West pipeline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Representation of Saudi Aramco on the development and financing for the US$8 billion expansion of an existing, world-scale petroleum refining and petrochemicals complex in Rabigh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This deal was recognised as "Middle East and Africa Petrochemical Deal of the Year" by Project Finance International.

Representation of Saudi Aramco in connection with various projects being procured, developed and project financed on a BOOT basis, as well as various matters relating to Saudi Aramco's joint ventures in Saudi Arabia.

Representation of SMBC, MUFG and Mizuho Bank, as mandated lead arrangers and lenders in the refinancing of a 440 MW rated gas-fired combined cycle power plant, located inside The Dow Chemical Company's Oyster Creek chemical complex in Freeport, Texas.

Representation of Saudi Aramco in connection with various matters relating to certain of its joint ventures in Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Representation of the sponsors on the project financing of the Nacala railway and port project in Mozambique and Malawi. This deal was recognised as "Africa Transport Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal 2017 and "Middle East and Africa Logistics Deal of the Year" by Project Finance International 2017.

Representation of Freeport LNG with respect to over US$14 billion of third party cash equity, mezzanine debt and senior secured debt financings for the first three liquefaction trains of the Freeport LNG multi-train natural gas liquefaction facility at Quintana Island in Texas. The individual liquefaction trains comprising the facility are separately owned and financed by wholly and partially owned subsidiaries of Freeport LNG. The four transactions comprising the third party equity and senior secured debt financing of the first two liquefaction trains were the largest fully non-recourse project financing in history.