Junaid H. Chida

Junaid H. Chida

Junaid H. Chida is a member of the firm's Global Finance, Project Finance and International Practice Groups. He has led numerous transactions in the domestic and international markets (including through leveraged leases and tax-credit structures) for a wide range of infrastructure assets; these include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and other renewable energy projects, coal-fired, gas-fired, nuclear energy and hydroelectric projects, industrial projects, oil and gas, transportation systems and assets, and water and waste treatment facilities.

Mr. Chida has been recognized by IFLR 1000: The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms, 2008 Edition, as a leading lawyer in the field of project finance; Super Lawyers 2006 and 2007 for New York-Metro; Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for Business in 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 as a leader in the field of projects; Legal 500 (January 2007) as a leader in asset finance and leasing, project finance (Lender) and project finance (Sponsor); and Chambers Global - The World's Leading Lawyers 2004-2005 as a leader in the field of project finance.

Recent Domestic Transactions

Mr. Chida has represented clients in almost every one of the wave of renewable and conventional energy power projects that have used tax-credit structures, leveraged leases or other structured vehicles in the wake of the deregulation of the US electric power industry. These transactions have included, in 2007, the $1 billion Coso geothermal power project leveraged lease financing, the largest geothermal project financing completed to date, the $1 billion Frontier Wind wind power project portfolio, which included the largest equity investment in a wind power project portfolio completed to date; the Nevada Solar One solar project, the largest solar project completed in the US in 15 years; the $869 million Aeolus wind power project portfolio; the approximately $1.3 billion Horizon wind power project portfolio; and the $510 million Cedar Creek project, in addition to several other transactions. Other noteworthy transactions have included the Bear Swamp transaction in 1998, which established the template for the so-called "genco" financings done in this sector; the Calpine Geysers transaction in 1999, which established the template for a sponsor-supported pure merchant project financing done through a leveraged lease; the Attala transaction in 2001, which established the template for a project financing done through a leveraged lease on the strength of a related party tolling contract; the Southern Energy Mid-Atlantic genco transaction in 2000, which was the largest genco financing in the leveraged lease market; the landmark $2.5 billion Homer City transaction in 2001, which is the largest project financing of a single-asset merchant project done to date and the first to be consummated through a leveraged lease; the Calpine Peakers transaction in 2003, which utilized an innovative partnership structure together with Rule 144A financing to finance a power purchase agreement with the California Department of Water Resources; the Puna geothermal project in Hawaii in 2004; the Burney Forest biomass project in 2006; the Sweetwater I Wind Farm project in 2003, which was the first wind power transaction to be financed by institutional equity investors; the Blue Canyon I Wind Farm in 2003, and subsequently, virtually every one of the major wind power projects in the US, including the Combine Hills Wind Farm in 2003; the Caprock Wind Farm in 2004; the Sweetwater II Wind Farm in 2004; the Oasis Wind Project in 2004; the Buffalo Gap I, Bear Creek and Atlantic City Wind Projects in 2005; the Sweetwater III Wind Farm in 2005; the Buffalo Gap II, Sand Bluff, Camp Springs I and Locust Ridge Wind Projects, as well as the Aeolus I Wind Portfolio in 2006; and the Buffalo Gap III, Camp Springs II, Hawi and Munnsville Wind Projects in 2007. Other recent transactions have included the Calpine Pasadena transaction in 2000, the PPL Montana transaction in 1999 and a major oil products pipeline expansion on behalf of one of the leading US oil pipelines in 2001. In the bank market, Mr. Chida represented the lenders in the El Dorado merchant power project in 1998 (the project, which sold power into the California power exchange, was located in Nevada), which was the first successfully syndicated pure merchant power project financing consummated in the US.

Recent International Transactions

Mr. Chida is proficient in Portuguese and has participated in transactions in Brazil for over 15 years. In 1997, Mr. Chida represented the lenders in the Jacui project, which was the first attempt at a pure non-recourse power project financing in Brazil. In 1998, Mr. Chida represented the underwriters in the Marlim Oil Project, an offshore oil field development in Brazil, which was the first Brazilian infrastructure project financing to be successfully consummated in the international capital markets. This financing established the template for subsequent similar projects completed in the Brazilian market by other international lenders. Mr. Chida represented the sponsor in the Santa Branca project, one of the largest independent power projects proposed to be developed in Brazil and was also involved in the development of the Norte Fluminense project in Brazil. Among other transactions in Latin America in 2004, Mr. Chida represented a syndicate of international banks in the financing of a major expansion of the metro underground rail system in Santiago, Chile. Other international transactions have included power projects in India and the Philippines, water treatment facilities in the Netherlands, airport assets in Belgium and transportation assets in Australia and Europe.

Selected Activities

· California Bar Association

Speeches & Programs

· QTE Seminar, London (2003).

· Privatization Program, London (1997).

· Strategic Research Institute Finance Program, New York (1997).

· Practising Law Institute, Program in Leasing, New York (1995).

· UCC Article 9 presentation, Orlando (1993).