François-Guilhem Vaissier

White & Case, UK

François-Guilhem Vaissier

White & Case, UK

Biography

François-Guilhem Vaissier is a partner in the Project Development & Finance group of global law firm White & Case in Paris. His practice covers the private sector participation (PSP) and all aspects of the structuring, development and financing of infrastructure, industrial and energy projects (both conventional and renewable), mainly in Europe and Africa, where he has developed a particular expertise. He has extensive experience in drafting project’s documentation for major transactions and in conducting legal due diligence.

François-Guilhem has recently been working on several high profile mandates in the power and infrastructure sectors, such as the award-winning Atinkou cogeneration power plant in Côte d’Ivoire (which received the “Editor’s Choice Award” at the 2020 IJ Global Awards) and the US$122 million financing of the Tri-K gold mine located in the Republic of Guinea, awarded “Africa Mining Deal of the Year” at the 2021 PFI Awards. He is currently working on the renewal of the Oxy concession in Algeria, Iberdrola’s bid for the Normandy offshore wind mega project (1GW) and the South Brittany floating offshore wind project in France, the Sahofika hydropower plant in Madagascar and several projects in Gabon (including the Owendo thermal power plant; the Ngoulmendjim and Dibwangui hydropower projects, the Ntoum 7 Water project and the Transgabonais Railway). He has also advised the National Bank of Greece on the €41.7 million financing for the acquisition by the El Sewedy group of a portfolio of 5 windfarms and 2 hydroelectric plants in Greece, through 4 Greek law bond programmes.

François-Guilhem Vaissier was ranked among the 100 most influential business lawyers in French-speaking Africa (15th rank) in 2021 and named “Project Finance Lawyer of the Year” in 2020 by pan-African weekly news magazine Jeune Afrique.