Leith Gouta
Managing Associate
Leith advises on large-scale cross-border energy and infrastructure projects across the Middle East and Africa.
Biography
Languages - English, Arabic, French
Jurisdictions - England & Wales, United Arab Emirates
Leith is a Managing Associate in Stephenson Harwood’s Projects, Energy and Infrastructure team in Dubai. He advises clients on large-scale cross-border energy and infrastructure transactions across the Middle East and Africa, with a focus on project development and finance matters.
Leith has experience across the full lifecycle of energy and infrastructure projects, including oil and gas and renewables. He advises governments on tender and procurement processes, sponsors and lenders on project development and financing from bid submission through to financial close, and sponsors and investors on the sale and purchase of project assets.
Experience
-
Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP)*
Advised KAPP on the procurement and development of the first round of solar projects (SREP Zone 1 and 2) in Kuwait.
-
Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP)*
Advised PWP on the procurement and development of two CCGT plants in Misfah and Duqm with a combined generation capacity of 2.4 GW, as well ancillary workstreams related to the reservation of gas turbines and site levelling works required for the development of the projects.
-
Engie*
Advised the lenders supporting Engie on its successful bid for the development (including financial close) of the 1.5 GW solar PV plant in Khazna, Abu Dhabi (PV4).
-
Masdar, EDF and NESMA Company*
Advised the winning consortium composed of Masdar, EDF and NESMA on the development and financial close of a 1.1 GW solar PV plant in Al Henakiyah, Saudi Arabia as part of the fourth round of the national renewable energy programme in Saudi Arabia (REPDO 4).
-
Sembcorp Salalah Power and Water Company (SSPWC)*
Advised SSPWC on the renegotiation of the project agreements relating to the Salalah IWP in Oman in anticipation of the expiry of the term under the relevant project agreements.
-
Acciona, Tamasuk and Tawzea*
Acted as lenders’ legal advisor for MUFG, Riyad Bank, Siemens Bank, Alinma Bank and ADIB, supporting the winning consortium composed of Acciona, Tamasuk and Tawzea on their bid up to financial closing for the development of three ISTPs located in Madinah, Buraydah and Tabuk in KSA.
-
Saudi Water Procurement Company (SWPC)*
Advised SWPC on the tender for the procurement of three desalination plants (Rabigh 4, Jubail 4, and Ras Mohaisen) of a combined water production capacity of 1,200,000 m3/day.
-
Air Products*
Advised Air Products on its USD 120m acquisition of entities holding hydrogen production assets in KSA, UAE and Bahrain from Air Liquide.
-
Various sponsors and lenders*
Advised a regional developer on the development of district cooling and district heating plants in Uzbekistan.
*denotes experience gained prior to joining Stephenson Harwood
