Christopher Hutchison

CHRISTOPHER HUTCHISON focuses his practice on project finance, project and portfolio M&A, development financing, equity investments and joint ventures and related transactions in the renewable and conventional power markets as well as for infrastructure and industrial assets.

Chris represents sponsors, private equity, tax equity investors, lenders and financial institutions, and other key participants in connection with financing and equity arrangements at all stages of a project’s life-cycle.

Prior to joining Sidley, Chris was a senior associate in the energy and infrastructure practice of another major international law firm.

Chris’ recent experience includes:

• Represented I Squared Capital in its going private acquisition of Atlantic Power Corporation, including a related acquisition financing and corporate reorganization.
• Represented a renewable sponsor in the construction and tax equity financing of a large utility scale solar project in ERCOT.
• Represented a sponsor in connection with the development and financing of an approximately 300 MW solar power generation facility in ERCOT near Houston, Texas.
• Represented a large private equity fund in the acquisition of a majority interest in multiple portfolios of community and C&I solar projects located in Minnesota and California.
• Represented a private equity investor in its bid to acquire district energy assets in multiple U.S. jurisdictions.
• Represented a large renewable developer in its sale of equity in four operating wind projects.
• Represented I Squared Capital in the sale of its hydropower platform, Cube Hydro Partners and related assets, to Ontario Power Generation for US$1.123 billion.
• Represented the construction lender for a portfolio of utility-scale solar projects in PJM.
• Represented a European sponsor in the formation of a joint venture to develop its first renewable projects in the U.S.
• Represented GE Energy Financial Services and Berkshire Hathaway in the tax equity financing of a greenfield 250 MW wind project in Texas.
• Represented GE Energy Financial Services and Berkshire Hathaway in the tax equity financing of a repowered 146 MW wind project in Texas.
• Represented a sponsor in the acquisition and financing of a utility-scale solar project in South Carolina.
• Represented a sponsor in the tax equity financing of a repowered wind project in California.
• Represented GE Energy Financial Services and Berkshire Hathaway in the tax equity financing of a repowered 278 MW wind project in Texas.
• Represented a private equity investor in its sale of Lincoln Clean Energy LLC, a U.S. based developer, owner and operator of renewable energy projects, to Ørsted A/S, a world leader in offshore wind.*
• Represented a large private equity fund and a hydroelectric company in connection with the issuance of $170 million in senior secured term and revolving notes for a 250 MW portfolio of hydroelectric projects in North Carolina and New York.*
• Represented a joint venture between two private equity sponsors in connection with a $580 million term loan B financing for a large CCGT project in PJM, including term, revolving and letter of credit facilities.*
• Represented a renewable energy developer in connection with the tax equity, construction, and back-leverage financing of a greenfield 27 MW photovoltaic solar energy project in Oahu, Hawaii.*
• Represented a large private equity sponsor in connection with the $462 million term loan B refinancing for a 700 MW CCGT project in PJM, including term, revolving and letter of credit facilities.*
• Represented strategic investor in its sale of a portfolio of tax equity and cash equity interests in 24 wind generation facilities with an aggregate capacity in excess of 3 GWs.*
• Represented the borrower in a $20 million back-leverage financing of a portfolio of DG solar facilities throughout the U.S.*
• Represented GE Energy Financial Services in sell-down transactions and JV arrangements for the 805 MW Towantic Energy Center in Connecticut.*
• Represented a major renewable energy developer in the sale of its interest in a 298 MW construction-ready wind farm in Oklahoma.*
• Represented a Midwest utility in negotiations for the construction and acquisition of a 100 MW BOT wind project.*
• Represented GE Energy Financial Services in developing a program for origination and financing of C&I solar projects.*
• Represented GE Energy Financial Services and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in their purchase of Southern Star Central Corp., a natural-gas pipeline company with operations in the U.S. Mid-Continent and Rockies region, from investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partner, and subsequently represented GE Energy Financial Services in two sell-downs of its interests in the company.*

*Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.