In recent years, the Firm has been actively involved in a wide variety of transportation-related transactions involving ports, vessels, railroads, highways and airports, including privatizations, project finance transactions and transnational joint ventures. Examples of this practice include the following:

Paldiski Port Modernization

The Firm was retained by a municipally owned port operator for the Port of Paldiski, Estonia, in connection with the development, expansion and modernization of the port facilities. Responsibilities included structuring and negotiating financing and the possible upgrade of a rail link for the port.

Salalah Port Development

The Firm acted for the Government of the Sultanate of Oman in connection with the infrastructure development and negotiation of a 30-year concession for a large container transshipment facility at Mina Raysut in Salalah, Oman. Duties included preparation and negotiation of the concession agreement and related documentation and protection of the Government’s interests in connection with the project financing.

Nobara Terminal Project

The Firm represents shareholders of a large Brazilian steamship operator who have joined with other investors to develop a major container handling terminal at Santos, Brazil.

Mexican Port Privatization

The Firm represented a Mexican consortium seeking to obtain a concession from the Government for the right to operate a container terminal port facility in Veracruz.

Mexican Line Concessions

The Firm assisted the largest Mexican shipping line, which had won the concession to operate the container facilities at the port of Manzanillo, in its negotiations with a major U.S. stevedoring company for the creation of a joint venture to manage the concession.

Salina Cruz Port Upgrade

The Firm advised Pemex Refinación in connection with a proposed upgrade of existing facilities and the construction of new facilities at the port of Salina Cruz in Mexico.

Airport Privatization

The Firm represented private parties in their successful bid for a 50-year concession to operate nine airports in Mexico’s southeast region, including the airport serving Cancún.

Toll Road

The Firm represented the investor group which acquired the majority stake in the first privately financed toll road in modern U.S. history.

Railroad Privatization

The Firm currently serves as general counsel to the operator and exclusive provider of freight services over the Northeast Rail Lines, which represent 20% of all trackage in Mexico and comprise the most actively traveled railroad corridor in the country. These lines were privatized in 1997 following a public bid process. The Firm was also actively involved in the nearly US$1.5 billion financing for the acquisition.

Maritime Transactions