He has over 23 years of experience and covers LNG liquefaction, shipping, and regasification as well as all aspects of power generation, including renewables.
Scott is also sought out by clients to help with energy transition and decarbonisation initiatives, including energy value chains mixing molecules and electrons, offering strategic and pragmatic solutions. He has worked on some of the world's largest and most challenging projects, such as the $20 billion Ichthys LNG, the $5 billion Coral South FLNG, and the $1 billion Warsan Waste-to-Energy project financings, each of which were market firsts and/or the largest of their kind at the time of financial close, involving multiple sources of financing and diverse stakeholders.
Regarded as a true expert in his field, Scott has authored the chapter on export credit agencies in the book, Liquefied Natural Gas: The Law and Business of LNG, Third Edition.
Scott advises on complex and innovative energy, infrastructure, and finance transactions across the globe.
Expertise
Industries
Experience
Representative matters
Ichthys LNG Project: USD20bn project financing acting for the project companies, and on the subsequent USD8.9bn refinancing. This remains the world’s largest project financing. Global Deal of the Year, Project Finance 2012; Asian-MENA Counsel Deal of the Year 2013; Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA) Awards 2014 - Syndicated Project Finance Deal of the Year.
Warsan Waste to Energy Project: JBIC, NEXI and other lenders in relation to the project financing of a USD$926 million loan for the development of a waste to energy (WtE) facility in Warsan, Dubai. This was the first WtE plant in Dubai, and one of the world’s largest. Deal of the Year 2021 – PFI Awards 2021.
Jawa 1 Gas to Power Project: JBIC, NEXI and ADB and the commercial lenders on the USD1.8bn 2x800MW Jawa 1 FSRU and gas-fired IPP project in Indonesia, the first LNG-to-Power project in Asia. Asia Pacific Power – Gas Deal of the Year – Jawa 1, IJ Global Awards 2019. Project Finance Deal of the Year, IFLR Asia-Pacific 2019.
Coral South FLNG: USD5bn project financing acting for the lenders. This was the first ever project financing of an FLNG project and was the largest project financing in African history at the time. Midstream Oil & Gas Deal of the Year, IJ Global 2018. ECA-backed Energy Deal of the Year, TXF 2018.
LNG Liquefaction
• Tangguh LNG Train 3 expansion project – USD3.745bn trustee borrower scheme financing acting for the lenders.
• Donggi Senoro LNG – All aspects of the project acting for the project company. This included a USD2.8bn project financing and was the first time the trustee borrower scheme was dispensed with and the first all Asian sponsored LNG project.
LNG regasification and LNG to power
• Jawa 1 gas to power in Indonesia – USD1.8bn project financing acting for the lenders. This was the first integrated gas to power project in Asia and is a 1,760MW gas fired power plant and an FSRU.
• Manzanillo onshore LNG regasification plant in Mexico – USD875mn project financing acting for the project company.
• Hanaseatic Energy Hub – Acting for the finance parties on the potential financing for the construction and operation of zero-emission LNG termial in Stade, Germay.
Power
• 250MWac solar PV plant in Rajasthan, India – acting for UNOPS.
• 50MW Tsetsii wind farm in Mongolia – acting for the lenders. This was the first dollar-denominated project finance debt transaction by JICA through its Private Sector Investment Finance scheme.
• 129MW Q10 offshore wind farm in the Netherlands – acting for the lenders.
• 210MW Westermost Rough wind farm in England – acting for the lenders. This was the first financing in the UK OSW sector which took construction risk.
• 1,800MW gas fired power plant in Sharjah, UAE – acting for the project company. Included a USD1bn financing.
• Acquisition of 5 CCGT power plants (2.2GW) and a gas pipeline in Mexico by Mitsui and Tokyo Gas – acting for the lenders on the USD750mn innovative limited recourse portfolio financing.
• 90MW geothermal power plant in Theistareykir, Iceland – acting for JBIC. The USD68mn buyer’s credit financing included JBIC’s first loan to Iceland.
Acquisition financing
• Acquisition of Jaguar and LandRover by Tata Motors from Ford – acting for the lenders on the USD3bn financing.
• Acquisition of RBC’s aircraft leasing business by SMBC and Sumitomo Corporation – acting for JBIC on the USD3bn financing.
Pro bono
Scott advised UNOPS in relation to its investment in Acme Solar Holdings Ltd’s 250MW solar project in Rajasthan, India.
Published Work
- "Emerging Asia powering ahead with decarbonisation agenda" (November 2023)
- "Financing the Gap", "Delivering Net Zero by 2050: the $200 trillion opportunity", "How big is the Net Zero Gap financing gap?" (September 2023)
- "Spotlight on COP26: Asia Pacific countries have come a long way on their climate commitments" (December 2021)
- "Japan's new energy strategy: Reflections on COP" (November 2021)
Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, "Japan's energy struggle: Safety, security and sustainability", EICN Tokyo, Nov 2023
- Speaker, "SEACA: CCS Legal & Regulatory Framework", Global CCS Institute's South East Asian accelerator in Jakarta, Nov 2023
- Speaker, Energy transition in ASEAN region, Future Energy Asia, July 2022
- Speaker, the future of energy , Allen & Overy Energy & Infrastructure Webinar Series –Session 1, October 2021
Recognition
“Shortlisted for the Financial Times
”
”
Innovative Lawyer award 2023
“Scott Neilson is outstanding.”
Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 (Japan: Projects & Energy –International Firms)
Awards
- Ranked Band 1: Projects & Energy in Japan (International Firms), Chambers Asia Pacific, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Leading Individual: Projects and Energy in Japan (International Firms: Gaiben), Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Global Leader, Project Finance, Who's Who Legal 2022
- National Leader for Japan, Project Finance, Who's Who Legal 2022
Qualifications
Admissions
Registered Foreign Lawyer, Japan, 2014
Australia, New South Wales, England & Wales, 2010
Solicitor, England and Wales, 2006
Solicitor, New South Wales, Australia, 2001
Academic
BCom, Accounting, The University of New South Wales, 2000
LLB (Hons), The University of New South Wales, 2000
Graduate Diploma, Legal Practice, The College of Law, Sydney, 2001
Languages
English
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.