Overview
McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce the arrival of an experienced team of transactions partners including Edward Zaelke, Carl Fleming and Lloyd MacNeil. With decades of industry experience among them, the group will advise clients on complex investments in the renewable energy sector, focusing on project finance and private equity.
“This amazing team is at the top of the game—and we are thrilled for them to join our firm. They truly could have gone anywhere and they chose McDermott because of our wonderful culture and exciting trajectory,” said Ira Coleman, chairman of McDermott. “Our clients have asked us to focus on verticals and bring the best talent to solve their most difficult issues—and that’s exactly what we’re committed to doing.”
“The addition of some of the leading lawyers in the renewable energy industry bolsters McDermott’s corporate transactions practice on the West Coast and will significantly expand our offerings in project finance and the renewable energy industry,” said Harris Siskind, global head of the Firm’s Transactions Practice Group. “Ed and his colleagues will help ensure we continue to deliver for our clients and are able to advance their business objectives.”
With over 30 years of experience in renewable energy, Ed is one of only three lawyers ranked nationally by Chambers as Band 1 for Projects – Renewables and Alternative Energy. For 12 years, he served on the board of the American Wind Energy Association (including one year as president) and is a founding board member of the Wind Solar Alliance. The Daily Journal has also named Ed as among the Top 100 Lawyers in California three times. His experiences extends to all elements of alternative energy development and finance, including equity and debt financing, merger and acquisitions, equipment purchase and sale agreements, power purchase agreements, siting and other real property issues, governmental approvals and engineering, procurement and construction contracts.
Carl focuses on renewable energy project development, mergers and acquisitions and finance. He counsels a broad spectrum of clients and has led renewable energy, conventional energy and large-scale infrastructure projects in the US and in more than 40 countries worldwide. Carl has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” and one of the “Top Rated Energy & Natural Resources Attorneys in Washington, DC”. He currently serves as an appointee to the Secretary of Commerce’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee as well as a member of the White House’s Power Africa working group. Previously, he worked for the US government at the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Lloyd is a leading advisor to developers, sponsors, investors and lenders of capital and infrastructure projects, in which his principal focus is renewable energy and emerging energy technologies. He also advises commercial and industrial clients on energy portfolio services and energy efficiency solutions. He has more than 20 years of legal counsel experience in the project finance, corporate and commercial arenas.
Upon arrival, Ed will serve as the global head of the Energy Project Finance Group and will be joined by Lloyd in the Los Angeles office as part of McDermott’s continued strategic growth in California. Carl joins in Washington, DC. Ed and Carl were previously in the Project Finance Group at Akin Gump and Lloyd, who is also a former Akin Gump partner, most recently served as General Counsel of Edison Energy.
“McDermott’s strength in private equity and tax will support our ability to serve sophisticated clients in the renewable energy space,” said Ed. “I look forward to working with renewable energy tax lawyer Phil Tingle, the existing team of renewable energy lawyers at McDermott and other colleagues around the Firm to bring nuanced perspectives, strategic thinking and broad experience to bear for these businesses.”
About McDermott
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. With 20 locations on three continents, our team works seamlessly across practices, industries and geographies to deliver highly effective—and often unexpected—solutions that propel success. More than 1,100 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
