Kerin Cantwell’s practice focuses on energy project development, construction, finance, and asset and corporate acquisitions and divestitures in the energy sector, with an emphasis on renewable energy projects. She has represented project sponsors, developers, lenders and investors in a wide variety of domestic and international transactions. Having previously practiced U.S. law in Hong Kong, Ms. Cantwell is experienced in assisting clients with debt and equity financings for energy projects in Asia.

Representative Matters

• represented the project companies in the development and financing of the 392-MW Ivanpah Solar Energy Generating System in San Bernardino County, California which, when constructed, will be the largest utility-scale solar power plant in the world, including negotiation of, and advice regarding, various project agreements and the $2.2 billion project financing guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Energy under the Innovative Technology Loan Guaranty Program
• represented a large U.S. energy developer in the acquisition of a 2.1-MW solar photovoltaic power project which uses an innovative, patent-pending structure covering a parking area adjacent to Sun Devil Stadium at Arizona State University, which will purchase the energy generated by the project
• represented the developer in the project financing of the 120-MW Windstar wind farm located in Tehachapi, California, which included both a construction and term loan facility provided by institutional investors and commercial bank bridge financing for the cash grant in lieu of tax credit expected to be received by the project from the U.S. Treasury Department under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
• represented the owner of the 106.5-MW Shady Oaks wind farm to be constructed in Lee County, Illinois, in connection with its successful bid in the Commonwealth Edison request for proposals for long term renewable energy power purchase agreements
• represented the private-power affiliate of a U.S. utility in the development of a 600-MW power plant in Gansu Province, China, which was the first U.S.-Chinese joint venture independent power project to receive Chinese State Council approval
• represented the lead lenders to a 1,000-MW gas-fired power plant in the Philippines
• represented a leading U.S.-based independent power producer in the development of a U.S.-Chinese joint venture power station to provide power to an aluminum mill and sell excess energy to the provincial utility
• represented a Chinese developer in the preparation of a solicitation of bids for a 600-MW wholly foreign-owned power plant in Hebei Province, China
• represented the developer of a 126-MW power plant in Karachi, Pakistan in connection with the EPC contract for the project
• represented two U.S.-based developers in the joint development of numerous U.S.-Chinese joint venture power plants
• represented the developer of a 50-MW waste-to-energy project in California
• represented developer in connection with an “inside the fence” power plant for an oil refinery
• advised a large U.S. investment bank as U.S. counsel in connection with a proposed initial public offering of stock in Hong Kong and simultaneous Rule 144A/Regulation S private placement of stock in an independent power company in China
• represented various U.S. banks as lead lender on numerous syndicated secured credit facilities
• represented major investment banks and underwriters in connection with various initial public offerings of stock
• represented a wind developer in the private placement of its parent company’s preferred stock to a group of institutional investors
• represented a Hong Kong electronics company in its initial public offering of ADRs.

Ms. Cantwell received her B.A. from Wellesley College cum laude in 1985 and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1989. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable Laughlin E. Waters, Senior U.S. District Court Judge, Central District of California from 1989 to 1991.

She is a member of the California Bar.

Publications

• “Power Industry Regulation in China,” Project Finance International, Asia Pacific Review, March 1998
• “Debt Financing for Power Projects: Using the U.S. Capital Markets as a Source of Funds,” (published in Chinese translation), International Business, September 1996
• “Beijing Sheds (Some) Light on China’s New BOT Regime,” Power in Asia, March 1996
• “Project Finance— A Brief Introduction and a Glossary of Terms,” (published in Chinese translation), International Business, September 1995.