Mayer Brown adds five-lawyer banking and finance team to leading renewables energy practice

Mayer Brown announced today that a five-lawyer team led by partners Eric Pogue and John Tormey has joined the firm’s Projects & Infrastructure practice, adding to its existing power and renewables capabilities. Mr. Pogue will be based in New York, and Mr. Tormey will be based in Washington DC. They join from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, where Mr. Pogue served as a co-chair of that firm’s Renewable Energy practice.

Mr. Pogue and Mr. Tormey are joined by associates Samantha Leavitt and Addison Perkins. Ms. Perkins will be based in Washington DC and Ms. Leavitt will be based in New York. Both Ms. Leavitt and Ms. Perkins join from Hunton Andrews Kurth.

“Continuing to expand our renewable energy and projects capabilities is a key focus for the firm, and Eric’s and John’s experience will be a significant advantage across a variety of transactions, financing structures and industries,” said Paul Jorissen, a co-leader of Mayer Brown's Banking & Finance practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Eric and John and their team; we are confident they will make a valuable contribution to the growth and momentum of our energy and finance practice.”

Mr. Pogue brings to the firm over two decades of experience in the energy sector. In particular, Mr. Pogue represents financiers and investors in renewable energy projects, as well as other players in various aspects of the power and renewables industries. Additionally, Mr. Pogue advises clients on the financing and acquisition of a variety of asset types, including nuclear, gas, solar, wind, transmission facilities, water utilities and data centers. Before entering law school, Mr. Pogue was a project manager at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Mr. Tormey focuses on the development, acquisition and financing of various types of energy-related assets, including power, gas pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, transmission lines and compression facilities. Mr. Tormey also represents clients in transactions involving various complex financing structures, including syndicated commercial bank debt, export credit agency and other government-guaranteed financing and risk insurance programs, and multilateral lending agency programs. Before joining his previous firm, Mr. Tormey served as senior counsel at the Constellation Energy Group.

“The power industry is in the midst of disruptive change as technologies such as renewable energy, battery storage, energy efficiency and distributed generation replace the 19th century model of centralized production, transmission and distribution,” said Mr. Pogue. “I believe that our team’s knowledge, combined with Mayer Brown’s depth of experience in debt finance, funds and energy M&A, will deliver results unparalleled by other firms in the market.”

“Mayer Brown’s global footprint provides an ideal platform for our team to advise clients on both inbound financing for renewables, as well as international renewable projects,” added Mr. Tormey. “We look forward to working with the firm’s integrated, multidisciplinary team to ensure that our clients receive the best of our knowledge and experience.”

Paul Astolfi, a co-leader of Mayer Brown’s Global Projects and Infrastructure Investment team, observed, “Attracting top-tier talent like Eric and John demonstrates our commitment to strategic growth in the energy and project finance sectors, particularly in key markets where our clients conduct business. We couldn’t be more pleased to have them join us, and we remain extremely bullish on our expanding team.”