Vlad Zinovyev

Vlad Zinovyev is a corporate associate in the Abu Dhabi office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the Energy & Infrastructure, Power & Renewables, and Cleantech industry groups.

Vlad focuses his practice on domestic and cross-border transactions in the energy and infrastructure space, including corporate and project acquisitions and divestures, project development, construction and operation, equity and debt offerings, as well as other corporate and corporate finance transactions.

He has advised sovereign states, government-owned entities, public and private companies, private equity and asset management firms, and financial institutions in connection with projects and transactions involving conventional power and renewable energy generation, storage, transmission and distribution, energy transition fuels and technologies, transportation assets, metals and mining, as well as other sectors and asset types in the United States, the Middle East and Northeast Africa, China, Southeast and Central Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe.

Prior to moving to the Middle East, Vlad worked in the New York office of Gibson Dunn, and before that across the Beijing and London offices of another international law firm.

Vlad received his LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, M.Sc. from King’s College London, and LL.B. from Saint Petersburg University. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and in England and Wales, and he is fluent in Russian and Mandarin Chinese.

Representative Experience*

Corporate/M&A and Project Development Matters:

• AIP Management on multiple corporate and project acquisitions, including (i) an acquisition of majority equity interests in Victory Pass and Arica, co-located 463 MWac solar photovoltaic and 186 MW battery energy storage system projects in California, from Clearway Energy, (ii) an acquisition of minority equity interests in Pine Forest, a co-located 300 MWac solar photovoltaic and 200 MW battery energy storage system project in Texas, from Clearway Energy, and (iii) an investment in Silicon Ranch Corporation, one of the largest solar independent power producers in the U.S.
• Clearway Energy on its asset acquisition of the 137 MW Tuolumne Wind Project in Washington from Turlock Irrigation District, an electric and water utility providing the Central Valley of California with power and irrigation water.
• Paragon Saguaro and Black Mountain Power Company on their sale of Saguaro Power Company, the owner of an approximately 93.5 MW natural gas fired combined cycle power cogeneration facility located in Nevada, to Nightpeak Energy.
• An energy conglomerate on its acquisition of minority equity interests in a project company as well as related financing and development of two approximately 50 MW hydropower projects in Russia, with equity co-investments from Middle Eastern and Eastern European sovereign wealth funds and debt financing from an Asia-headquartered multilateral development bank.
• A power equipment manufacturer on its proposed acquisitions of (i) a portfolio of small-scale hydropower projects in Indonesia and (ii) an approximately 500 MW wind power project in Ukraine.
• An electric utility company on the development and construction of (i) an approximately 800 km-long, 660 kV high voltage direct current transmission line project in Pakistan, (ii) a $1.8 billion public-private partnership project comprised of electricity transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks in Ethiopia, and (iii) an approximately 750 MW wind farm project in Ukraine.
• A French water and waste management company on the construction of wastewater treatment facilities in China.
• A Chinese steel producer on the construction of (i) a $700 million 2.5 mtpa coking plant project in Russia and (ii) a 5 mtpa traveling grate pelletizing plant project in Ukraine.
• The Government of Kyrgyzstan in connection with (i) renegotiating its strategic investment agreement with Centerra Gold Inc. relating to the ownership and operation of the Kumtor mine, one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia, and (ii) an alleged expropriation of Stans Energy Corp.’s mining rights in one of the world’s largest rare-earths deposits.
• IGY Marinas on the development and operation of superyacht marinas in Saudi Arabia.

Corporate Finance Matters:

• MidAmerican Energy Company on multiple registered green bond offerings, including (i) an offering of $1.35 billion aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds and (ii) an offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds, proceeds of which are used to finance or refinance qualifying energy, clean transportation and climate change adaptation investments.
• Eastern Energy Gas Holding on multiple registered senior notes offerings, including (i) an offering of $900 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes and (ii) an offering of $700 million aggregate principal amount and $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes.
• The underwriters on multiple registered notes offerings by Vale Overseas Limited and Vale S.A., including (i) an offering of $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of guaranteed notes, (ii) an offering of $1 billion aggregate principal amount of guaranteed notes, and (iii) an offering of $750 million aggregate principal amount of guaranteed notes.
• The deal managers on multiple cash tender offers by Vale Overseas Limited and Vale S.A., including (i) a tender offer to purchase for cash outstanding guaranteed notes up to an aggregate principal amount of $500 million, (ii) a tender offer to purchase for cash outstanding guaranteed notes up to an aggregate principal amount of $750 million, and (iii) a tender offer to purchase for cash outstanding guaranteed notes up to an aggregate principal amount of $450 million.
• Berkshire Hathaway Energy and its subsidiaries on multiple financings, including refinancings of five separate revolving credit facilities in an aggregate amount of up to $8 billion and various term loan facilities.
• Veritas Capital on the financing of its $3.1 billion acquisition of Wood Mackenzie, a global research and consultancy group serving the energy, renewables, and natural resources industries.

*Includes representations prior to association with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Capabilities

• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Capital Markets
• Cleantech
• Finance
• Infrastructure
• Private Equity
• Projects

Credentials

Education:

• University of California, Berkeley - 2022 Master of Law
• King's College London - 2022 Master of Science
• Saint Petersburg University - 2015 Bachelor of Law

Admissions:

• England & Wales - Solicitor
• New York Bar