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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.