Julien Bocobza
Julien Bocobza
Biography
Julien Bocobza is a partner in the Project Development and Finance group based in Paris. His practice focuses on the acquisition, development and financing of infrastructure and energy projects for sponsors and financiers (including export credit agencies, multilateral and development financial institutions).
Julien has extensive experience of working across the hydrogen, power, renewables, water, infrastructure (including airports and rail) and nuclear sectors. He has advised on transactions across Africa, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.
From 2022 – 2024 Julien was resident in the firm's Tokyo office. From his base in Paris, Julien regularly advises Japanese companies and their overseas affiliates on their investments in energy and infrastructure projects in the EMEA region, as well as international companies and financial institutions on their Japan in-bound investments.
Julien is ranked in the most recent edition of Chambers Asia Pacific for his work in Japan Projects & Energy. Clients commend Julien as an "excellent projects and energy lawyer who is very attentive to the client's needs" and praise him for his "depth of experience and state-of-the-art advice" and "extensive skills in M&A energy projects". It also notes that "he is highly rated for his knowledge of projects in the Middle East". In the UK edition of the guide, Julien was previously ranked as an "up & coming" practitioner and highlighted by commentators for "expertise in African power projects".
The Legal 500 recognized Julien as a Leading Partner and commented that he has "considerable experience advising on power and infrastructure project finance transactions in emerging markets". It adds, "he is super efficient and speedy in every action. He is a solution oriented lawyer, so always seeks results rather than being trapped by every small issue."
Prior to joining White & Case, Julien was a partner at an international law firm for eight years and spent one year on secondment at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in their New Energy and Infrastructure Department in Tokyo.
Experience
- The lenders to the consortium composed of Acciona Agua, Green of Africa, and Afriquia Gaz in connection with the tender process, export credit-backed financing, and senior debt facilities for the construction, development, operation, and maintenance of the Casablanca Water Desalination Plant.
- A Sponsor with respect to the development of a mining asset in Mauritania, including the associated rail and port infrastructure.
- A European utility with respect to a hydrogen project in South Africa.
- The lenders to a hydropower project in Rwanda, Burundi and DRC.
- The Sponsors with respect to the development and financing of a DRI plant in Oman.
- The Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan in relation to various Power/Renewables projects in Uzbekistan.
- A battery company for the preparation of a template supply agreement with respect to the supply of equipment of materials to be used for a gigafactory.
- A Japanese company in connection with the development and financing of a hydrogen and green ammonia export project in Texas.
- KEPCO, EDF and Kyushu Electric on the development and financing of the US$3.8bn Lightning offshore transmission line project in Abu Dhabi.
