Ashurst boosts global energy team with 5 partner hires

London-based project finance expert Sanja (Sonny) Udovicic, Seoul-based Anna Chung, and Singapore-based Jean-Louis Neves Mandelli and Scott Baggett will join Ashurst as part of a plan to increase the firm's capacity to service clients across multiple jurisdictions. They will be joined by London-based energy M&A and project development expert Julia Derrick, who returns to Ashurst.

The team hire reflects Ashurst's strategic focus on the energy and infrastructure industries and the opportunities being driven by the energy transition. With a client base spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, the new partners will build on the firm's plan to increase its offering in project development and finance for both sponsors and lenders globally and further strengthen the firm's Tier 1 energy M&A business in London.

Lee McDonald, Global Division Co-Head, Projects, Energy Transition & Real Estate, said: "Projects is a key area of strategic focus for Ashurst. With one of the highest performing teams in the market, we continue to make focused and strategic investment in the group. The addition of Sonny, Anna, Jean-Louis and Scott demonstrates our commitment to expanding our capability and operating at the forefront of the global projects market. As a team they have worked together for many years and their market standing will serve to further transform our project development and finance offering."

"The rapid pace of the energy transition combined with rising energy costs and declining energy security is driving demand for expert legal advice, and this team of highly regarded practitioners will allow us to further support our clients to navigate the challenges and opportunities this presents," added Lee.

Global Co-Head of Corporate, Jason Radford, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Julia back to Ashurst, she is a proven cross-border M&A and project development lawyer whose technical expertise and energy industry knowledge greatly complement our existing strengths and allow us to further build our offering in these areas. Julia's appointment is a further demonstration of our ongoing investment in the growth of our global corporate team, and follows the recent appointments of Patricia Paton and Jo En Low in Sydney, Alexander Duisberg in Munich and Simon Rahimzada in the UAE."

Global CEO, Paul Jenkins, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Sonny, Anna, Jean-Louis and Scott to Ashurst and are delighted Julia is also returning to the firm – it's an exciting development to welcome this elite team of widely-recognised and influential practitioners. They bring with them a wealth of experience, and their arrival will enable us to continue to build our pre-eminent reputation for advising clients in their most complex and strategically important projects."

"The team will also support our continued growth in key Asian markets by expanding project development and finance teams in the firm's Singapore office and recently-established joint venture with Korean law firm HwaHyun." added Paul.

Sonny Udovicic said: "I am excited to join Ashurst's global partnership and by the chance to help grow the firm's projects practice across both established and emerging markets. Ashurst's strategic focus on the energy transition creates a compelling proposition for clients who need support to capitalise on the opportunities that will continue to come with the accelerating shift towards net zero. Anna, Jean-Louis, Scott and I have worked closely together over the years and I know we are all looking forward to helping Ashurst's existing energy and projects experts address this growing client demand."

The arrivals follow that of Katie Williams, who joined the firm's London office from Linklaters in November 2022, and partners Paul Lingard, Miriam D’Souza and Jessica Davies who joined Ashurst's Perth office from Norton Rose Fulbright in August 2022.

The five partners join from Shearman & Sterling.