Christopher O'Hara

Christopher O'Hara

Counsel

Email

christopher.ohara@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 3088 2535

Offices

London

V-CARD
Chris has extensive experience advising export credit agencies (ECAs), lenders, multilaterals, sponsors and borrowers on international project finance transactions.
His 14 years at the firm include time spent on secondment in the Tokyo office and on client secondment to IFM Investors in London.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • The lenders and ECAs on the EUR6bn project financing of Stegra (formerly H2 Green Steel), a giga-scale hydrogen and green steel project in Sweden, including the 2025-6 restructuring. This deal was awarded PFI’s Europe Sustainability Deal of the Year 2023.
  • EBRD, Islamic Development Bank and Eurasian Development Bank in relation to the project financing of the Big Almaty Ring Road (Bakad) in Kazakhstan. This deal was awarded PFI’s European Transport Deal of the Year 2020.
  • The ECAs and lenders (including UKEF, KEXIM, K-SURE and SACE) in connection with financing to be provided to the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) for the purposes of modernising its refinery. This deal was awarded PFI’s Middle East and African Petrochemical Deal of the Year 2019.
  • HS1 – the winning consortium on the acquisition financing of the HS1 high speed rail line in the UK – IJGlobal “European M&A deal of the year” 2018.
  • Hitachi, Ltd and Horizon Nuclear Power Limited on the development and financing of the GBP12bn Horizon Wylfa new nuclear power plant on Anglesey, UK.
  • Northvolt on the restructuring of its USD5bn project financing for its flagship lithium-ion battery manufacturing and recycling facility in Sweden.
  • The ECAs (including SACE, UKEF, Bpifrance and CESCE) and commercial lenders on the financing for INEOS’ Project One, a petrochemical project in Belgium.
  • UKEF and the lenders on a hybrid corporate and project financing for JDR Cables, a company manufacturing cables for the offshore wind and interconnector markets.
  • Türkiye high speed rail – the lenders in relation to a UKEF-guaranteed facility for the Republic of Türkiye in relation to the Yerköy-Kayseri high speed rail project.
  • Tel Aviv Metro – advising as international counsel to the lenders (including EIB) on the Green Line metro PPP project.
  • UKEF and Eksfin on various defence-related buyer credit facilities.

Recognition

“Chris has deftly managed the complexity of the project brilliantly through his pragmatic, commercial and collaborative approach. We could not recommend him more highly.”
STEGRA (H2 GREEN STEEL)

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as Solicitor, England and Wales, 2014
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.