Fergus Smith
Biography
Overview
Fergus specializes in the development, project financing and equity sale & purchase of energy and infrastructure projects – with a strong focus on the renewable energy sector.
He is acknowledged as a "leading figure in renewable energy projects": Legal 500, Asia Pacific, 2019, and "a leading figure in offshore wind projects in North Asia and LNG regasification projects around Asia Pacific": Legal 500, Asia Pacific, 2020. He is recognized in the market as having a "strong record in renewable energy, including offshore wind projects": Legal 500, Asia Pacific, 2019, and his team is acknowledged as being "at the forefront of offshore wind energy projects in Asia Pacific": Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, 2020.
Clients say that Fergus is:
- "very proactive and extremely good. He serves the client better than many other partners out here, and is able to look at developing countries with a fresh set of eyes": Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020.
- "very calm, measured and a steady pair of hands": Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021.
- "a problem solving oriented person and gets the deal closed": Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020.
- "thoughtful and prompt in responding": Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020.
Fergus' team has been awarded:
- Project Finance Team of the Year 2020: International Financial Law Review (IFLR).
- Syndicated Project Finance Team of the Year 2020: APLMA.
- Back-to-Back Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Deal of the Year in 2019 and 2020: PFI Awards.
Fergus' approach is to seek creative common ground in negotiations, and to leverage his experience advising developers, financiers, export credit agencies and investors on projects spanning Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, South America and the Middle East. He has lived and worked around the world – Singapore, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the UK – and seeks to bring an open mind, respect and thoughtfulness to support his clients in their pursuit of big ideas.
Fergus is the editor of the White & Case Global Hydrogen Guide, leading a large team of lawyers across most continents tracking the emerging incentives and regulatory frameworks in the Hydrogen sector.
Fergus was previously Senior Adviser (Legal and Governance) to the Prime Minister of Australia, an experience which encourages him to stay focused on the big picture.
Experience
The sponsor on the development, USD 3 billion project financing and equity sell downs of the 589MW Changfang and Xidao offshore wind project in Taiwan: Asia Renewables Deal of the Year 2020, PFI. This project was financed through a combination of equity and senior loans from a consortium of 25 international and Taiwan banks and financial institutions, as well as six export credit agencies.
The ECAs and a syndicate of international and local banks on the €2.7b project financing of the 640MW Yunlin offshore wind project in Taiwan (Asia Renewables Deal of the Year 2019, PFI). This project was the first large-scale offshore wind project in Taiwan to reach financial close.
Stonepeak on its acquisition of Swancor Renewable, including its interest in the Formosa 2 offshore wind project in Taiwan (Renewables Deal of the Year, Asia Pacific 2019: Infrastructure Investor).
The Sponsors on the development and project financing of the 96 MW Jeonnam offshore wind project in Sinan County in Jeonnam Province, South Korea.
The lender on the project financing of an LNG receiving terminal in Bangladesh.
The developer on a market defining hydrogen supply chain project spanning four continents.
AIIB, EBRD and ICBC on the project financing for Zhanatas Wind-Power Station LLPs construction and operation of a 100 MW wind farm, including 8.6km 110kV single circuit line connecting to an existing substation, in the Zhambyl region of south Kazakhstan.
The Sponsor on the development bank-backed project financing of a gas fired power project in Afghanistan.
Various international developers on the solar and wind power development projects in Vietnam.
Energy Development Corporation on the project financing of a 150 MW wind & solar project in Burgos, the Philippines, supported by EKF. The matter was awarded "Asia Pacific Deal of the Year" by Trade Finance, "Asia Pacific Renewables Deal of the Year" by PFI Awards, and "Asia-Pacific Wind Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal Awards.*
Various developers and financiers on a wide range of offshore wind, onshore wind, solar and other energy & infrastructure development projects across Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Laos, PNG, Australia and Central Asia.
Up & Coming: Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2020
Recognised Practitioner for China/Hong Kong: Projects & Infrastructure, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018
Notable Practitioner for China/Hong Kong: Projects & Infrastructure, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2016
