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Jean Lee

Partner

Email

jean.lee@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 202 683 3898

Offices

Washington DC

V-CARD
Jean is in our Global Projects, Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure group and is Agency Finance Lead. Jean represents sponsors, developers and a broad range of private and public lenders in complex project financings around the globe in a variety of sectors.

Her experience includes advising energy transition-focused companies and funds, as well as their financiers, on a diverse range of projects spanning clean fuels, renewable power generation and storage, and the entire battery manufacturing and EV value chain. She also served as internal counsel at a global solar energy services company, where she focused on expanding the company’s operations outside the United States.

Jean is a proficient Korean speaker and recently spent several years in the Seoul office.

Jean is ranked Band 1 for Agency Financing by Chambers USA 2020-2023 and ranked Band 2 for Projects and Infrastructure by Chambers Korea 2019. In addition, Jean was named ‘Woman Lawyer of the Year’ by Asian Legal Business Korea Awards in 2017.

Experience

Representative matters

US Gigafactories: Advising a global battery manufacturing company on the development and financing of multiple gigafactory projects in the US.

Electric Vehicles: Advising an electric vehicle manufacturer on the development and financing of a greenfield electric vehicle manufacturing facility in the US.

SAF Fund: Advising a US Fund on the structuring of investments by the fund in sustainable aviation fuel projects.

Battery Recycling Project: Advising a lithium ion battery materials recycling company on the structuring, development and financing of a greenfield recycling facility in the US.

Gemini Solar & Storage Project: Advising Voya Investment Management on its provision of holdco mezzanine financing for the Gemini Solar & Energy Storage project in Nevada.

DOE Loan Programs Office: Advising numerous applicants for, and recipients of, financing support for energy transition projects to be under the US Department of Energy's Title 17 and ATVM loan programs.

USD8bn Coral FLNG project: Advising the ECAs and lenders on the development and financing of the Coral FLNG project moored in the Area 4 Coral South Offshore Basin, Mozambique.

USD5bn financing of the Etileno XXI petrochemical project: Advising IFC, IDB, SACE, BNDES, Bancomext and NAFIN on the USD4.5bn financing of the Etileno XXI petrochemical project in Mexico sponsored by Braskem S.A. and Grupo Idesa.USD1.5bn Song Hau 1 power plant: Advising KEXIM, K-Sure and lenders on the financing of the Song Hau 1 power plant in Vietnam.

USD4.2bn construction and financing of the Tanjung Jati B5 & B6 power facilities: Advising Sumitomo Corporation and other sponsors on the construction and financing of the Tanjung Jati B5 & B6 power facilities in Indonesia.

OPIC on its USD250m financing of the development, construction and operation by ContourGlobal of combined heat and power facilities in multiple jurisdictions.

The ECAs and lenders on the financing of a refinery upgrade in Bahrain.

OPIC on its USD186m financing of the 60MW Boshoff solar power generation facility in Free State, South Africa.

KEPCO and Copa Fund in relation to an acquisition of a 30MW solar power plant located in Colorado, United States.

IFC on its equity investment in Seaborn Networks Holdings, the developer of a subsea fiber optic cable system between New York and São Paulo.

Commercial banks on their provision of term loan and revolving loan facilities to a U.S. subsidiary of SK Holdings.The lender group in connection with a bid by a Korean consortium for the development of an independent power project in Botswana.

OPIC in connection with its financing of the Panamericana and Tacna solar energy facilities in Peru. 

Pro bono

Advised AfriKids on its incorporation as a non-profit corporation in the US.

Successfully obtained asylum status in the US for an asylum applicant from Benin.  

Speaking Engagements

  • Panel Moderator, APAICS Energy and Sustainability Summit, Washington, D.C., July 2024
  • Panel Moderator, Infocast RNG & SAF Capital Summit, Houston, July 2023
  • Panel Speaker, AIEN International Energy Summit, Miami, June 2023
  • Panel Moderator, Proximo Latin America Energy, Infrastructure & Development Finance, Miami, March 2023
  • Lecturer, Korea Banking Institute’s Global Project Financing Workshop, Seoul, August 2018
  • Panel Speaker, IFC’s Inaugural Global Debt Mobilization Conference, Madrid, September 2017
  • Panel Speaker, Trade Links with the New Latin America Forum organised by Financial Times Live and Inter-American Development Bank, Shanghai, November 2015 

Awards

  • Band 1, Chambers USA (Projects: Agency Financing) 2021-2023
  • Band 2, Chambers South Korea (Projects & Infrastructure), 2018 and 2019
  • Woman Lawyer of the Year, ALB Korea Law Awards, 2017
  • Recognized Practitioner, Chambers South Korea (Projects & Infrastructure), 2017

Qualifications

Admissions

Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2024

Admitted: Bar of the State of New York, 2003

Admitted: Bar of the District of Columbia, 2005

Academic

J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2002

B.A., Dartmouth College, 1997

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.