Vlad Zinovyev is a corporate associate in the Abu Dhabi office of Gibson Dunn. He is a member of the Power & Renewables, Cleantech, Finance, and Capital Markets Practice Groups.
Vlad focuses his practice on energy and cleantech-related transactions, including project development, construction and operation, mergers and acquisitions, financings, and capital markets transactions. He has advised sovereign states, state-owned enterprises, public and private corporations, and financial institutions in connection with projects and transactions across the renewable and conventional energy, electricity transmission, transportation, metallurgy, mining, as well as other industries in the United States, China, Southeast and Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Northeast Africa.
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 Master of Laws from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Master of Science from King’s College London, and Bachelor of Laws from Saint Petersburg University. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and in England and Wales, and fluent in Russian and Mandarin Chinese.
Representative Experience*
- Veritas Capital in connection with the financing of its US$3.1 billion acquisition of Wood Mackenzie, a global research and consultancy group serving the energy, renewables, and natural resources industries.
- Berkshire Hathaway Energy and its subsidiaries in connection with the amendment of five separate revolving credit facilities in an aggregate amount of up to US$8 billion.
- MidAmerican Energy Company in a registered green bond offering of US$1.35 billion aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds proceeds of which are to be used to finance or refinance qualifying energy, clean transportation and climate change adaptation investments.
- AIP Management P/S in connection with the acquisition of majority interests in 463 MW solar power generation and 186 MW battery storage projects in California.
- An energy conglomerate in connection with the acquisition of a minority equity interest in a project company as well as 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 in connection with its proposed acquisition of a portfolio of small-scale hydropower projects in Indonesia.
- A power equipment manufacturer in connection with its proposed acquisition of an approximately 500 MW wind power project in Ukraine.
- An electric utility company in connection with the development of an approximately 800 km-long, 660 kV high voltage direct current transmission line project in Pakistan.
- An electric utility company in connection with the formation of a joint venture with local utilities and development of a US$1.8 billion public-private partnership project comprised of electricity transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks in Ethiopia.
- An export credit insurance agency in connection with providing export credit insurance to the largest wind power producer in Asia for its equity investment in and development of a wind farm project in Ukraine.
- A solar energy sponsor on the renewable energy investment policy of Bangladesh in connection with the client’s potential renewable projects in the country.
- An electric utility company, acting as a general contractor, in connection with the construction and financing of a 750 MW wind farm project in Ukraine.
- A renewable energy developer, acting as a general contractor, in connection with the performance of power equipment supply agreements with a Spanish solar power equipment manufacturer related to a 1 GW solar power project in Egypt.
- A German engineering company in connection with EPC contracts for the modernization of two hydropower plants in Brazil.
- A French utility company in connection with EPC contracts for the construction of wastewater treatment facilities in China.
- A Chinese steel producer in connection with the construction of a US$700 million metallurgical project in Russia.
- A Chinese steel producer in connection with the construction of a pelletizing plant in Ukraine.
- The underwriters in connection with the US$1.5 billion registered notes offering by Vale S.A. and Vale Overseas Limited.
- The deal managers in connection with the US$500 million tender offers by Vale S.A. and Vale Overseas Limited to purchase for cash any outstanding guaranteed notes.
- The Government of Kyrgyzstan in connection with renegotiating its strategic investment agreement with Centerra Gold Inc. relating to the ownership and operation of one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia.
- The Government of Kyrgyzstan in connection with the alleged expropriation of Stans Energy Corp.’s mining rights in one of the world’s largest rare earths deposits.
*Includes representations prior to association with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Capabilities
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