Carina Radford

Partner, London

Biography

“Carina is highly adept at finding commercial solutions to thorny issues. She has a commanding presence in the negotiating room and can cut through problems to get a transaction across the finish line.”

“She is an outstanding professional who consistently delivers great solutions for her clients.”
Projects, Chambers UK 2023

Overview

Carina is a partner in the Project Development and Finance Group in London. Her practice is focused on energy, where she covers the full spectrum of the industry from conventional generation and renewables through to hydrogen, battery storage, energy infrastructure and upstream/downstream oil and gas. Carina frequently leads teams on truly global and innovative energy transition transactions.

Her sought-after industry expertise is further reinforced by her versatile skillset across the full breadth of financing and investment structures, including project finance, structured holdco or mezzanine financings, acquisition financings and structured equity investments. She has a wide-ranging client base, advising sponsors, developers, commercial banks, development finance institutions, export credit agencies, and equity investors.

Carina is a leading member of the Firm's Energy Industry Group and became an Energy Institute fellow in 2019. She is regularly featured as a moderator and guest speaker at key energy industry events, alongside Government representatives, energy company executives, regulators, investors and financiers.

Bars and Courts
England and Wales
Education
BA (Hons)
History
University of York
Common Professional Examination
City University
Legal Practice Course
College of Law
Languages
English
Italian

Experience

Power and Renewables

NEOM Green Hydrogen Project
Representation of NEOM Green Hydrogen Company on all aspects of the landmark US$8.4 billion NEOM Green Hydrogen Project. The project will be powered by 4GW of solar and wind energy and is expected to produce up to 600 tonnes per day of carbon-free hydrogen as the world's first utility scale green hydrogen facility and the largest greenfield renewables project in history. The financing involved a syndicate of 21 commercial banks, ECAs and development finance institutions and was recognised as "Middle East & Africa Green Deal of the Year" at the PFI Awards 2022 as well as "Structured Loan Deal of the Year" at the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards 2023.

BESS Projects in the UK
Representation of NatWest and UK Infrastructure Bank on a £125 million project financing to Sheaf Energy, for the development of its 249MW Battery Energy Storage System at Richborough Energy Park in England.
Representation of NatWest on a project financing to Varco Energy, for the development of its 142.5MW Battery Energy Storage System at the Rainhill Road Industrial Estate and 57MW Battery Energy Storage System at the Capenhurst Electricity Distribution Site in England.

Jazan IGCC Project
Representation of Saudi Aramco on the closing of the US$12 billion hybrid acquisition, development and financing of a world-scale Integrated Gasification and Combined Cycle (IGCC) project in the Jazan Economic City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Jazan project is set to be the largest complex of its kind worldwide (comprising of gasification blocks, gas turbine power blocks that will produce up to 3.8 GW of power, an air separation unit and other ancillary assets).

VALOREM'S Sale and Financing of Wind Farms in Finland
Representation of VALOREM, the French pioneering independent renewable energy developer and operator, on the divestment of the 165 MW Kalistanneva onshore wind farm to a Finnish consortium formed by HELEN Oy and the Bank of Åland Wind Power Fund Non-UCITS, and the simultaneous approximately €135 million project financing of the neighbouring 148.5 MW Matkussaari onshore wind farm, together with the negotiation and settlement of all related commercial arrangements.

Mutkalampi onshore wind power plant
Representation of Neoen S.A on the €328 million project financing of the 404 MW Mutkalampi onshore wind power plant in North Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia, Finland.

West Burton B CCGT and Battery Storage
Representation of EIG on the agreement to acquire the 1332 MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station and 49 MW battery at West Burton B in Nottinghamshire, England from EDF Energy. West Burton B CCGT is EDF's only gas-fired power station in the UK and has three combined cycle units with a combined output of 1332 MW, generating enough electricity for approximately 1.5 million UK homes. The West Burton battery is one of Europe's largest battery storage assets with installed capacity of 49MW.

ib vogt Solar Portfolio
Representation of EIG Global Energy Partners (EIG), a US-based investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, on the commitment from EIG-managed funds of €135 million for ib vogt GmbH's global solar pv portfolio. ib vogt is a Germany-based family-owned company that has developed a global pipeline of solar pv projects in excess of 16GWp.

PowerField Global Pipeline of Solar, Battery Storage and EV Charging Projects
Representation of EIG Global Energy Partners (EIG), a US-based investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, in relation to a €135 million debt facility from EIG managed funds to the PowerField group in order to finance a global pipeline of solar pv, battery storage and electric vehicle charging projects. PowerField is at the forefront of the energy transition and Dutch plans to combat climate change, through a unique combination of CO2-neutral electricity, storage and charging infrastructure for EVs.

Hedet Wind Farm
Representation of Hedet Vindpark AB, a company owned by Neoen and Prokon, on the project financing of the 81MW, 18 turbine Hedet onshore wind farm in Finland.

Bizkaia Energia
Representation of the lenders on an innovative holdco financing for Bizkaia Energia's project financed 800MW Independent Power Plant located in Northern Spain. Awarded "European Power Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal 2018.

Gebze CCGT Power Project
Representation of the senior lenders in connection with the financing and subsequent refinancing (including a holdco loan) to the Gezbe CCGT power project in Türkiye.

Energy and Infrastructure

DP World Financing of South Container Terminal, Jeddah Port
Representation of DP World Limited and its subsidiary DP World Middle East Company Limited on a SAR1.28 billion project financing for the development and upgrade of the South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port located in Saudi Arabia.

The Red Sea Development Company
Representation of The Red Sea Development Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, The Public Investment Fund, on the signing of key finance documents for Phase One of The Red Sea Project, the revolutionary tourism giga project currently under development on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.

Aramco Oil Pipelines Company
Representation of Saudi Aramco in the US$12.4 billion sale of a 49% equity stake in Aramco Oil Pipelines Company by Saudi Aramco to a consortium led by EIG Global Energy Partners. The transaction is a critical component of the Saudi Aramco strategy to unlock the potential of its asset base and maximize value for its shareholders, and also reinforces Saudi Aramco's role as a catalyst for attracting significant foreign investment into The Kingdom. The transaction sets a new benchmark for infrastructure transactions globally.

Saudi Aramco's Gas Pipeline Network
Representation of Saudi Aramco in the US$15.5 billion infrastructure transaction with a consortium of investors led by affiliates of BlackRock Real Assets and Hassana Investments Co., the investment management arm of the General Organisation for Social Insurance in Saudi Arabia, to optimize Saudi Aramco's gas pipeline network through a lease-and-lease-back arrangement.

Nacala Corridor Project
Representation of Vale S.A. and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. in connection with the development and US$2.73 billion financing of the landmark Nacala Corridor Railway and Port Project, an integrated and transformative infrastructure project supporting growth along a regional corridor shared by two countries, Mozambique and Malawi. The project was awarded "Energy and Infrastructure Team of the Year" by The Lawyer 2018, "Transportation and Infrastructure Team of the Year" by The African Legal Awards 2018, "Logistics Deal of the Year" by Project Finance International 2018, "Best Africa Infrastructure Deal of the Year" by Jeune Afrique Magazine 2017.

Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank loan
Representation of the lenders on a €334 million commercial bank term loan to Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank with a guarantee from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of the World Bank Group, the proceeds of which will be used for trade finance and COVID-related purposes.

Farabi Yanbu Petrochemical Complex
Representation of the lenders on the SAR 2.5 billion development of the Farabi Petrochemical Complex in Yanbu, which will manufacture 650,000 metric tons p/a of petrochemical products. Recognised as "MENA Petrochemicals Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal 2018.

PetroRabigh Phase 2
Representation of Saudi Aramco, as sponsor, on the development and financing for the US$8 billion expansion of an existing, world-scale petroleum refining and petrochemicals complex in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. This project was awarded "2014 Project Finance Deal of the Year" by China Law & Practice.

Sadara Chemicals Complex
Representation of Saudi Aramco in connection with the US$20 billion Sadara Chemical Project in Jubail, a joint venture with The Dow Chemical Company. The transaction included raising US$12.5 billion from multiple financing sources, including from Bpifrance, Euler Hermes, FIEM, K-Exim and K-sure, UK Export Finance and US Ex-Im Bank, and is the largest-ever project financing in the chemicals sector. This transaction was recognised as "Project Finance & Infrastructure Deal of the Year" and "Saudi Arabia Deal of the Year" by Islamic Finance News (2014) as well as "Middle East Petrochemical Deal of the Year" by Project Finance International (2014).

Speaking Engagements

"Unlocking Clean Hydrogen Economy" session at Investing in Green Hydrogen 2023 Conference, moderator, London, 14 September 2023

"Energy Transition: COP & Industry Impact – Hydrogen", White & Case client event, London, 15 November 2022

"TE100: Women of the Energy Transition" – Petroleum Economist, September 2021

"Sixth Annual Managing Law Firm Profitability, Pricing & Data Analytics London Conference", 2021

"Energy investment and innovation - Strategic challenges for an industry in transition" panel, EI webinar "Energy investment & innovation", London, 2 June 2020.

"International Women's Day Exchange" panel, Global Leaders in Law, ALM, London, 11 March 2020

"Understanding how a global law firm works", Legal Cheek, 23 April 2020

"Where to look for projects: opportunities inside vs outside Europe?" panel, IJLive, Madrid, 10 September 2019.

"Energy Transition Technology Roundtable: Electric Vehicles" panel, White & Case client event, London, 19 June 2019.

"World Petroleum Council Symposium: the financing challenges ahead for new energies and traditional oil and gas players", New York, 5 June 2019.

"Infrastructure Debt Investing: What can go wrong?" panel, Debt Infrastructure Forum, Berlin, 21 March 2019.

"9th Annual World Energy & Infrastructure Summit: A close look at the role of DFIs: is their capital constantly being deployed in the countries and sectors that need that support the most?" Amsterdam, 11 September 2018.

Awards and Recognition

Named on 'Women in Hydrogen 50' list for 2024 by Hydrogen Economist

Band 4 for Projects, UK-wide, Chambers 2023

Selected Fellow of the Energy Institute 2019

Co-led the team awarded "Energy and Infrastructure Team of the Year" by the Lawyer 2018