Arnold & Porter Expands Corporate & Finance Practice, Partner Christopher Willott Joins in New York
NEW YORK, NY, August 23, 2021 — Arnold & Porter announced today that Christopher Willott has joined the firm’s Corporate & Finance practice, resident in New York.
Derek Stoldt, co-chair of the firm’s Corporate & Finance practice, said: “Chris brings sophisticated lending and project finance experience that will complement our existing strengths and help our clients with infrastructure and project finance opportunities nationally and in the Latin American market.”
Mr. Willott represents sponsors, borrowers, banks, multi-lateral institutions and export credit agencies with respect to the development, construction, and financing of projects. He has a particular focus on projects in the United States, Brazil, and throughout Latin America. Mr. Willott also handles mainstream banking matters, including syndicated and bilateral financings, acquisition financing, and corporate, trade and commodities financing. He works across energy and infrastructure sectors, including renewable and conventional power, transmission lines, petrochemical, LNG, and other oil and gas facilities, and roads, pulp and paper facilities, ports and airports, among others.
In joining the firm, Mr. Willott said, “Arnold & Porter’s leading Latin America practice and integrated offering is well known throughout the industry, and complements my own practice very well. I look forward to joining a team of sophisticated and talented lawyers and helping clients achieve their business goals.”
Mr. Willott joins a team that has advised sovereign issuers on finance deals raising over $40 billion, including offerings by the Republics of Colombia, Panama, El Salvador, and Honduras since 2020, and which recently advised Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF) in connection with its $3.5 billion shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The practice also regularly represents sponsors and lenders in project finance transactions throughout Latin America, as the region continues to develop and deepen its infrastructure and natural resource assets. Recently, Arnold & Porter has advised clients in critical public-private partnership financing transactions involving airport expansions, toll road and metro projects, as well as other sectors of the economy. The team has garnered many accolades, including recognition by Chambers Latin America and The Legal 500 Latin America. Recognized in Latin Lawyer 250, the editors noted: “Arnold & Porter has been active in Latin America for close to half a century. Its deep expertise in sovereign finance, arbitration and regulatory matters makes the firm’s offering well-suited to Latin America’s business climate today.”
Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, Mr. Willott was in private practice.
Mr. Willott earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and received his BA from Carleton College. He also attended Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, where he received his MSFS.
About Arnold & Porter's Sovereign Finance and Latin America Finance Practices
Arnold & Porter’s preeminent Sovereign Finance team advises sovereigns, sub-sovereigns and state-owned companies on their most challenging financial transactions, including sovereign bond issues, liability management transactions, derivative operations, and re-financings/restructurings. The team also advises many of the world’s most prominent international financial institutions, such as the World Bank/IFC, the CAF, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund, and other multilaterals in both financial transactions and other novel legal assignments. The team also has represented the IDB and the Islamic Development Bank.
About Arnold & Porter's Corporate and Finance Practice
Arnold & Porter’s Corporate and Finance practice represents sovereign nations and sub-sovereign and quasi-governmental issuers in capital markets and financing transactions; corporate issuers and underwriters in registered and unregistered issuances of equity and debt, ranging from emerging companies in venture capital financings and IPOs to large-cap public companies in SEC-registered offerings and continuing reporting and compliance; banks and non-bank lenders and borrowers in secured loan transactions; private equity firms and public and private corporations in all manner of mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions; and hedge funds, private equity funds, and other investment vehicles in their formation, product development, and regulatory compliance. The Corporate and Finance practice is closely integrated with other leading practice groups at the firm, thereby providing a full-service solution for our clients.
About Arnold & Porter
With nearly 1,000 lawyers practicing in 13 offices around the globe, Arnold & Porter serves clients across 40 distinct practice areas. The firm offers 100 years of renowned regulatory expertise, sophisticated litigation and transactional practices, and leading multidisciplinary offerings in the life sciences and financial services industries.
