White & Case
  Someera F. Khokhar
Partner
New York

T: + 1 212 819 8846
F: + 1 212 354 8113
E:
Practice Experience
Someera F. Khokhar is a project and asset finance partner and has advised lenders, borrowers and sponsors on financings and restructurings in the infrastructure, equipment leasing, shipping, rail, aviation and renewable energy sectors.

Her transaction experience includes secured debt transactions, US Export-Import Bank and other export credit agency-supported financings, revolving credit facilities, letter of credit facilities, asset-based structured financings, warehouse facilities, pre-delivery financings, securitizations, cross-border leveraged operating lease financings, and tax-based leasing structures.

Examples of recently closed transactions include:
  • Representation of the lead arrangers in the financing of the FPSO OSX-2 (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) vessel, which is sponsored by OSX Leasing Group B.V., with a total project cost of US$1.1 billion. This deal was selected as "2011 Americas Oil & Gas Deal of the Year" by Project Finance International magazine and as "2011 Latin American Oil & Gas Deal of the Year" by Project Finance magazine;
  • Representation of a US bank on developing and structuring an innovative lease and service contract financing for equipment, including excavation equipment, located in Europe;
  • Representation of China Development Bank in a US$20 billion structured financing for the development of certain infrastructure assets in a Latin American country;
  • Representation of Avianca in its export credit-supported financing for more than 20 Airbus aircraft and the restructuring of the ECA-supported fleet of AviancaTaca Holding. The innovative transaction structure for the initial ECA financing was developed by White & Case and involved English, New York and Panamanian laws and was awarded "2008 Debt Deal of the Year — South America" by Jane's Transport Finance magazine;
  • Representation of GMR Group in the sale of its 50 percent interest in InterGen N.V. for an equity value in excess of US$1.2 billion, a transaction involving the US, UK, the Netherlands, Mexico, the Philippines and Australia. This transaction was named "2010 Infrastructure Deal of the Year" by India Business Law Journal and as "2011 International Energy Deal of the Year" by The M&A Advisor; and
  • Representation of the underwriters and initial purchaser in connection with a Rule 144A/Regulation S issuance by RDS Ultra-Deepwater, Ltd. of US$270 million to purchase PetroRig III, a sixth generation ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig on a long-term charter contract with PEMEX Exploración y Producción. This transaction was awarded "2010 Latin American Oil & Gas Deal of the Year" by Project Finance magazine.

Ms. Khokhar was chair of the White & Case Global Women's Initiative Committee, comprised of 12 partners from around the world, including two members of the firm's Executive Committee. In that capacity, she oversaw the firm's strategy, operations and investment in recruiting, retaining, developing and advancing women lawyers globally. As a result of this strategy, White & Case was recently shortlisted in the "Best International Firm for Women in Business Law" category by the Euromoney Legal Media Group.

Prior to joining White & Case, Ms. Khokhar was based in France and England and spent six months on secondment at a major English airline.

Bars and Courts
New York State Bar
Solicitor of England and Wales

Education
The College of Law, London, 1994
LLB, University of Southampton, 1993

Languages
English
Urdu

Citizenship
British