Simon Elliott Principal Associate

Simon Elliott

Based in the UAE, Simon has experience of advising the government sector, multi-national corporations, local family groups, regional and international investment funds and ultra-high net worth individuals on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions across the Middle East and North Africa region. Simon previously worked as a corporate/M&A lawyer at international and US law firms in London.

Simon's practice includes corporate and commercial transactions including M&A, private equity and corporate structuring/re-organisations. He also advises on regulatory compliance and corporate governance matters.

Simon also has recent experience in the infrastructure sector, advising on projects in the Middle East and Africa region acting for government authorities, offtakers, sponsors and lenders on PPP transactions in the energy and utilities sectors. Most recently, he was the lead associate on a team advising the UAE Government's Federal Electricity & Water Authority (FEWA) on the successful procurement of a key water desalination plant (with total capital expenditure of USD 1 billion) in the Northern Emirates. This was a complex project that required him to work intensively with the UAE Government sector in order to achieve commercial and financial close, involving a consortium of stakeholders (namely, ACWA Power and Mubadala) and a syndicated lending group. This was the first Independent Water Project executed by the UAE Government's Federal Electricity & Water Authority.

Simon has also been recognised as a notable practitioner for M&A by the legal directory ILFR1000.

Experience

UAE

• The Federal Electricity and Water Authority of the UAE on the procurement of a new build water desalination plant (with capital expenditure of USD 1bn) in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain (on an IWP basis).
• The Federal Electricity and Water Authority of the UAE on the entry into a joint venture development agreement with Mubadala for the development of power and utility facilities in the Northern Emirates
• Carnival Corporation on its participation as port operator in a multi-billion US dollar development for a new cruise liner terminal in the UAE.
• Saudi Arabia's Zahid Group on its acquisition of a 50% stake in Greencells Group (one of Europe's largest solar plant developers and operators).
• Advising a Swedish multinational on its acquisition of a majority stake in a UAE-based manufacturing and sales company.

UK

• Advising Global Risk Partners on its acquisitions of (i) Alan &Thomas Insurance, (ii) Greens Insurance Group, (iii) HIGOS, (iv) Marshal Wooldridge, (v) the County Group and (vi) Camberford Law.
• Advising Lightsource Renewable Energy on its agreement to enter into a partnership platform with UK Climate Investments (part of the Green Investment Group within Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets) to fund the development of large scale solar power assets in India.
• Advising Blue Energy in connection with the disposal of a 149MW onshore windfarm portfolio to funds managed by Octopus Investments.
• Advising Canadian Solar Inc. in connection with the disposal of a 142MW portfolio of solar generation assets to Greencoat Capital LLP.