Nicholas H. Politan Jr.

Nicholas Politan is a partner in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and co-chair of the firm’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group. He is also a member of the Corporate Transactions and Global Finance Practice Groups.

Mr. Politan focuses his practice on domestic and cross-border energy-related transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings of all types, project development, construction and operation, and restructurings. He has particular experience in wind power, solar power and other renewable technologies. He represents developers, sponsors, strategic investors and lenders in connection with such transactions. For example, Mr. Politan represented MidAmerican Energy Holdings in connection with the acquisition and 144A financing of the Topaz solar project (550MW) and acquisition of a 49% interest in the Agua Caliente solar project (290MW); a joint venture of BP North America and Dominion Resources as sponsors in connection with the project financing of the Fowler Ridge wind project in Indiana (named Project Finance Magazine's 2009 “North American Renewables Deal of the Year”); the lead arranger and underwriter of the Kleen Energy Systems gas-fired power project financing (named Project Finance Magazine's 2008 “North American Power Deal of the Year”); the lead tax-equity investor in connection with the Noble wind project (named Project Finance International's 2007 “Americas – Environmental Deal of the Year”); and the developer of the first phase of the Astoria Energy gas-fired power project (named Project Finance Magazine's 2005 “North American Power Deal of the Year”). He also has extensive experience in asset-based and structured financings, including receivables securitizations and equipment leasing.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Politan was co-chair of Bingham McCutchen’s Project and Structured Finance Group. Before joining Bingham McCutchen in 1998, Mr. Politan served as the chief financial officer of a publicly traded company specializing in domestic and international energy project development, financing, construction and operation from 1995 to 1998 and as its general counsel and head of project finance from 1992 to 1995. He practiced with Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe from 1986 to 1991.

Mr. Politan received his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1986. He graduated magna cum laude, and with distinction in economics, from Duke University in 1983.

Mr. Politan is admitted to practice in New York and California.

Recent Speaking Engagements:

• Strafford Publications, Legal Publishing Group, “Renewable Energy Projects: Alternative Financing Structures” (March 2011, September 2010).
• Strafford Publications, Legal Publishing Group, “Renewable Energy Projects: Power Purchase Agreements” (February 2010, June 2009).
• Strafford Publications, Legal Publishing Group, “Renewable Energy Project Financing: Legal Strategies for Structuring the Deal” (March 2012, April 2009, December 2008).
• 2nd Annual Power & Alternative Energy Conference, “Solving Project Development Challenges in Alternative Energy and Power” (April 2009).
• Strafford Publications, Legal Publishing Group, “Renewable Energy Project Tax Structuring” (January 2009).

• Represented MidAmerican Renewables, LLC in connection with its acquisition of the 550MW Topaz solar power project.
• Represented MidAmerican Renewables, LLC in connection with its acquisition of a 49% interest in the 290 MW Agua Caliente solar power project.
• Represented Topaz Solar Farms LLC in connection with its $850 million senior secured note offering and $345 million letter of credit facility.
• Represented Goldman Sachs as lead underwriter and arranger of the $1.15 billion construction and term financing of the Kleen Energy Systems gas-fired power plant in Middletown, Connecticut. Awarded “North American Power Deal of the Year” by Project Finance Magazine.
• Represented BP in connection with financing of 400MW of windplants in Kansas.
• Represented joint venture of BP and Sempra in connection with financing of 440MW of windplants in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Colorado.
• Represented joint venture of BP and Dominion in connection with financing of 300MW windplant in Indiana. Awarded Project Finance Magazine's “North American Renewables Deal of the Year.”
• Represented Terna Energy in connection with financing of 160MW of windplants in Oregon and Idaho.
• Represented Edison Mission Energy in the financing of its 150MW Cedro Hill wind farm.
• Represented tax equity investors in connection with $800 million equity financing of Vento II wind project portfolio.
• Represented tax equity investors in connection with $250 million equity financing of PPM wind project portfolio.
• Represented Orion Energy in connection with a spin-off of its projects in construction and subsequent sale of the company to BP Alternative Energy.
• Represented Astoria Energy (sponsor/owner) in connection with all aspects of the development, debt and equity financing and sell-down of a 1000MW gas-fired power plant in Queens, NY. First term loan “B” construction financing ever done. Awarded “North American Power Deal of the Year” by Project Finance Magazine.*
• Represented construction lender and subsequent equity investor in financing a 800MW combined-cycle gas-fired generation plant located in Mississippi, including restructuring of EPC and off-take arrangements.*
• Represented equity investor in financing a 800MW combined-cycle gas-fired generation plant located in Louisiana, including restructuring of EPC and off-take arrangements.*
• Represented lessor in connection with single-investor lease financings of three geothermal plants located in California.*
• Represented sole equity investor in a 325MW Noble New York wind project, including leveraged pay-as-you-go structure and long-term financial hedge.* Awarded “Americas – Environmental Deal of the Year” by Project Finance International.
• Represented sole debt and equity capital provider in a 150MW Camp Grove wind project.*
• Represented sole debt and equity capital provider in a 30MW Tawhiri wind project.*
• Represented sole equity investor in 200MW Storm Lake and Lake Benton wind project, including pay-as-you-go structure and comprehensive project restructuring related to Enron bankruptcy.*
• Represented EcoElectrica, the developer/owner, in all aspects of development and financing of a 500MW LNG-fired power plant, LNG storage facility and related desalinization facility located in Puerto Rico.*
• Represented ConEd Development in connection with a $350 million construction and term synthetic lease of a 500MW power plant in Newington, New Hampshire developed by ConEd.*
• Represented Innogy/National Windpower (UK-based utility) in connection with the placement of tax-structured equity and debt for a portfolio of windplants operating in the U.S. Transaction value $125 million.*
• Represented ING (U.S.) Capital as lead arranger and underwriter in providing the $600 million debt component of structured lease equity investments made by Southern Company and its affiliates.*