Michael Gabriel

Associate, Abu Dhabi

Biography

Overview

Michael is an associate in our Project Development and Finance practice. He has experience advising clients in the Middle East, Australia and elsewhere on project delivery and has acted for procurers, sponsors and lenders on complex PPP projects.

Michael's experience spans infrastructure (with a particular focus on transport infrastructure), the renewable and conventional power sectors, water, and energy and resources. Michael's experience across the water sector in the Kingdom in recent years is unparalleled at the associate level.

Bars and Courts
New South Wales
High Court of Australia
Education
B. Commerce (Finance)
University of Sydney
LLB
University of Sydney
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
College of Law
Languages
English

Experience

Recent transactions include advising/representing:

Ongoing representation of NWC since February 2018 on the development and procurement of six management, operation and maintenance contracts ("MOM Contracts"). The work on the MOM Contracts is a central plank of the distribution sector's reorganization, which is being undertaken in order to achieve the National Water Strategy, NTP and Vision 2030 goals for the sector. This includes using the MOM Contracts to help integrate historical MEWA directorates into NWC and reach a level of standardized service across the Kingdom.

Ongoing representation of SWPC with respect to the path-finding Batch 1 ISTPs in the Kingdom (being Dammam, Jeddah Airport, and Taif).
 
Representation of SWCC on its unbundling initiative including preparation of the business for functional privatization and separation of its activities into separate transmission (TransCo) and generation companies (GenCos).

Representation of Saudi Aramco in connection with a 950 MW/32,000m3/day greenfield cogeneration and desalination facility and water distribution pipeline project in Tanajib, Saudi Arabia.

Representation of Saudi Aramco in connection with a 900 MW/32,000m greenfield cogeneration plant located in Jafurah, Saudi Arabia.

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 General Authority for Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the landmark privatization of five of Saudi Arabia's airports (Al Qassim; Hail; Jeddah; Yanbu and Taif), including running bid processes and drafting and negotiating concession agreements with bidders.

Representation of the General Authority for Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the development of a dedicated cargo airport on the western seaboard of Saudi Arabia on a concession basis.

Representation of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia on the acquisition and ongoing development of the expansive King Abdullah Financial District; including on the interface of over 15 separate construction packages.