Having elected to separate the law firm awards into 3 categories, the independent panel of judges voted White & Case to win IJInvestor Awards 2022 for Legal Adviser for its performance on a global level.

The judges were of one voice in their decision to award the trophy to White & Case having been won over by a well-crafted submission that mapped out the law firm’s involvement on a global basis.

The submission states: “White & Case is truly global, with top tier practices in Europe, the US, Latin America and Australasia. We are also one of the most active law firms in the infrastructure sector, advising on complex and high-profile acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, co-investments, financings, refinancings and restructurings across all infrastructure asset classes and across all regions of the world.”

And the judges were minded to agree with that statement with one saying: “White & Case is without question one of the most significant law firms active across infrastructure and energy M&A and infrastructure fund activity in general.”

Throughout the IJInvestor Awards judging period – from start April 2021 to end March 2022 – White & Case was kept busy both globally with digital infrastructure and energy transition dominating play.

The submission states: “We are very proud to be trusted by our clients to help guide them as they continue to invest into these areas.”

Recent experience includes advising Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) on its consortium acquisition of 60% in the National Grid’s UK gas transmission and metering business, and advising the funders to a bidder in relation to multi-layer financing for its bid for 51% in Deutsche Telecom's German and Austrian TowerCo.

White & Case singled out some key transactions that the firm acted on, including advising MAM on its consortium acquisition – alongside British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and MEAG – of Reden Solar from InfraVia Capital Partners and Eurazeo.

The firm also identifies in its submission acting for MSIP on its indirect sale of shares in VTG to a consortium of Global Infrastructure Partners and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. This was the largest infrastructure private equity deal in Germany in 2022.

It also advised EQT on its co-investment with Mubadala to acquire Envirotainer, and then the acquisition and later divestment of Iver Holding to Intermediate Capital Group.

White & Case also acted for a joint venture of PGGM and DIF Capital Partners in relation to the certain funds financing for their successful bid for Fudura, a Dutch energy infrastructure services business.

According to the submission: “We look for best-in-class technology solutions and market-leading providers that are flexible enough to integrate with our cross-border systems, meet the most stringent data-privacy standards, and provide a high level of support for our lawyers working around the world.

“Our legal project management (LPM) team works with our partners to scope matters and tailor staffing to ensure a balance between the right level of expertise and the ability to deliver excellent work efficiently and cost-effectively. Our LPM team also provides high-level support in the management of large portfolios of matters.

“We offer different options for performing cost-effective work tailored to each client’s particular needs. This flexible approach, coupled with our focus on innovation, allows us to offer various options for staffing our client’s matters, while still providing close White & Case partner supervision to ensure high-quality legal services.”