Christopher John Thorn

Recent experience includes representation of:

• The Industrialization and Energy Services Company (TAQA) on its 100% acquisition of Al Mansouri Petroleum Services LLC for c.US$1 billion (nominated for ‘M&A Deal of the Year’ at the ALB Middle East Law Awards 2023).
• Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on its c.US$500 million investment in Skyborn Renewables and Bluepoint Wind, two offshore wind developers and operators with projects across Europe, the US and Asia.
• DP World on its US$1.2 billion acquisition of syncreon, a US-based logistics provider.
• a consortium of senior lenders of Venator Materials plc, a UK plc listed on the NYSE, in connection with their debt-or-equity swap on emergence by the company from US Chapter 11 proceedings.
• Africa50 on its joint venture with Bayobab, wholly-owned by MTN Group, to invest up to US$320 million to develop Project East2West, a terrestrial fibre optic cable network connecting the eastern shores of Africa to those on the continent's west.
• Goldman Sachs and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on their investment in DgPays, a Turkish digital payments business.
• Kalyon İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., a Turkish conglomerate with major interests in construction and renewable energy, on the establishment of a joint venture via the sale of its shares representing 50% of the share capital of Kalyon Enerji Yatırımları A.Ş. to International Holding Company PJSC (via International Energy Holding LLC), the UAE's most valuable listed company.
• Mediclinic Middle East on its acquisition of Ayadi Home Health Care LLC and Aman Home For Health Medical Care, providers of home healthcare services to patients in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Principal Responsibilities Include:

• Drafting and negotiating key transaction documents, e.g. SPA, SHA.
• Leading legal due diligence processes, including coordinating and overseeing junior and specialist teams’ reviews, consolidating findings and “holding the pen” on preparing final reports.
• General transaction management, e.g. coordinating CP, signing and closing processes, coordinating with local counsel, regularly updating wider team and client on transaction status, holding internal “catch-ups”, etc.
• Business development and maintaining and developing key client relationships – member of the firm’s Core Relationship Team for PIF and GIC.
• Mentoring and supervising trainees and juniors.
• Providing training to junior associates on drafting key transaction documents.

Completed seats in Bank Finance (Sep 2017 – Feb 2018), Private Equity (Mar 2018 – Aug 2018), Tax (Sep 2018 – Feb 2019) and Corporate M&A (Dubai office, Mar 2019 – Aug 2019).