Experience 

As a partner in Mayer Brown’s São Paulo office, James Vickers represents lenders, financial advisers, borrowers, project companies and sponsors in all aspects of international project finance deals in Latin America and other jurisdictions worldwide.  He has a particular focus on oil and gas and energy and infrastructure transactions. James also advises financial advisers and companies in cross-border mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector and represents underwriters and issuers in cross-border securitization transactions, including future cash flow securitizations.  According to Chambers Latin America 2009, James “really makes an effort to fully understand clients’ businesses, and always presents a strong, informed and honest opinion.”

James joined Mayer Brown’s São Paulo office in 2007, after practicing for more than eight years in a “Magic Circle” firm, including four years in that firm’s São Paulo office.  He is fluent in Portuguese and English.

Notable Engagements 

• Represented the concessionaire in the first public-private partnership (PPP) project in São Paulo, the São Paulo Metro Line 4 Project, which was named Latin Finance PPP Deal of the Year 2007,  Latin American Deal of the Year 2008 and Latin American Transport Deal of the Year 2008 – Project Finance Magazine – Deals of the Year 2008 Americas.
• Represented BNP Paribas Securities Corp. as arranger in connection with the monetization of future payments by the Government of Peru under obligations relating to a construction concession relating to the Tramo 5 segment of the IIRSA Sur toll-road project, Peru.
• Represented Braskem S.A., as seller, with respect to a US$80,000,000 three tranche export receivables purchase facility in which Deutsche Bank AG, NY Branch acted as the purchaser.
• Represented Telemar Norte Leste S.A., as borrower, in connection with a US$300 million and US$500 million loan facility arranged by China Development Bank.  The loan facilities will be used by the borrower to expand its telecommunications network in Brazil.
• Represented Construtora Norberto Odebrecht in the first PPP project bond financing transaction in Peru, the 960km Interoceanica Norte Toll Road. PPP Deal of the Year 2006/Latin American Project Bond Deal of the Year 2006-Jane’s Transport PPP Deal of the Year 2006 – Project Finance Magazine.
• Represented Petrobras in all aspects of the commercial contracts and project financing of the $1 billion Malhas Gas Pipeline Project to extend the gas supply to thermal plants and industrial facilities in the northeast and southeast of Brazil. Latin American Project Finance Deal of the Year 2005 – Infrastructure Journal.
• Represented Petrobras in all aspects of the $1 billion REVAP Refinery Modernization Project in São Paulo, Brazil, named Latin America Deal of the Year 2006 – Project Finance International.

Education 

University of the West of England, Law School, 1998 • University of the West of England, LLB, 1997

Admitted

• São Paulo, Brazil, 2003
• England, 2001