James Orme is an associate in the New York office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and a member of the firm’s Project Finance Group. Prior to joining the New York office, James worked in Milbank’s London office.
Primary Focus & Experience
Mr. Orme’s experience includes representing lenders and sponsors in a variety of international and US project and acquisition financings.
Mr. Orme’s most recent representations include advising J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation as offtaker to the 50-MW Sandy Ridge Wind Farm, the 15- MW Senate Wind Farm and the 200-MW Minonk Wind Farm acquired by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp in a $888 million acquisition, the four leading Japanese trading houses in the $1.5 billion financing (involving JBIC and NEXI) to Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA, for the expansion of the El Palito oil refinery and Puerto La Cruz oil refinery, the senior lenders in the $825 million financing of the Puerto Rico 22/5 Toll Road project, the US Department of Energy in connection with the $13 billion financing of a 2,700-MW nuclear power project in Texas, the mandated lead arrangers in the $900 million financing of the Port of Miami Tunnel Project in Florida, and a bank group of 10 institutions providing financing for a 300-MW coal fired plant and related transmission line in Guatemala. He has also recently advised the lead lender providing debt financing in connection with the sale by Marubeni Corporation of 50% of its 2300-MW Caribbean power portfolio to Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), and a number of power and commodity companies in connection with their interest rate and commodity swap programs. James is currently advising an international oil company in connection with a proposed $2 billion revolving credit facility to Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA, for the construction, development and upgrade of an oil refinery, and the lenders in connection with the $285 million Ohio State University Parking System transaction.
James has also advised both sponsors and lenders in relation to engineering, procurement and construction contracts, supply and off-take contracts, tolling contracts and other project documentation.
James’ European, Middle Eastern and African experience includes advising the finance parties on the Marafiq IWPP in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the lenders in the expansion of the Shuaibah-3 IWPP in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and a sponsor consortium in their bid for a sewage treatment plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He has further represented the commercial banks in connection with the financing of the US$6.1 billion Reliance oil refinery and polypropylene plant in Jamnagar, India, the project company on the acquisition and expansion of the Hidd IWPP project in Bahrain, the lenders on the proposed financing of the U.K. airport operator, BAA and the lender group on the Lumwana copper mining project in Zambia.
Recognition & Accomplishments
James is admitted to practice in the State of New York.
He has co-authored a chapter in “The International Comparative Legal Guide to Project Finance 2012” and was recognized as a leading lawyer in the International Who’s Who of Project Finance Lawyers 2012.