Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
Marc Norman’s practice stands at the intersection of law and policy—helping major market players navigate the intensifying strategic competition between China and the Western block regarding advanced technologies, and enabling first-of-a-kind energy/infrastructure and technology transactions.
Marc acts a strategic advisor to a major state-owned enterprise on navigating the strategic competition between China and the Western block in the EV battery supply chain—having regard to trade controls, CFIUS/FDI screening, and wider geopolitical and reputational risks.
In terms of energy/infrastructure and technology transactions, Marc has played a key role on the successful development and financing of many award-winning projects. He advises on all aspects of project financings, including development, operation and financing of projects—as well as their regulatory underpinning—and his experience in terms of industry sectors includes power (conventional and renewable), water (desalination and wastewater treatment), hydrogen/ammonia, waste-to-energy, data centres, and social infrastructure.
Marc has been advising Quantum Switch Tamasuk on the financing of a data centre portfolio in Saudi Arabia to provide data storage and cloud services to a major technology company. This includes drafting and negotiation of legal documentation involving a modular expansion criteria to support phased integration of additional data centres and associated renewable energy infrastructure—with a multitude of different hyperscalers—under one accordion financing. The first data centre within the portfolio was financed in 2022, and is the first data centre in the Middle East to have been financed on a limited-recourse basis. The project was awarded “Digital Infrastructure Deal of the Year – Data Centres” for 2022 by IJ Global.
Marc advised a sponsor consortium including Itochu Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Besix, Dubai Holding, Dubal Holding and the Tech Group on the development and financing of Dubai’s circa US$ 1.3 billion Warsan waste-to-energy project, which, once constructed, will be one of the largest waste-to-energy projects in the world. The lender group includes commercial lenders from Europe and Japan, as well as Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI). This project was awarded “Middle East and Africa Deal of the Year” in 2021 by Project Finance International.
Marc also has extensive expertise in structuring, drafting, and negotiating corporate PPA projects in respect of renewable energy and ammonia projects, and has advised on projects involving the following offtakers, amongst others: Unilever, Xylem, DP World, Nakheel, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defense, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Emirates Airlines, Majid Al Futtaim, Lulu Supermarkets, Ajmal Perfumes, Chalhoub Group, Bayara, LIFCO, Al Serkal, Gulfex, Emerson, King’s School, GEMS School, Bloom Education, Dubai Autodrome, and Landmark Group.
Chambers and Partners 2021 (Projects & Energy - Middle East-wide) recognized Marc as an “exceptional attorney” who can “explain his points in language that non-lawyers can understand.”
Advising Quantum Switch Tamasuk on the financing of a data centre portfolio in Saudi Arabia to provide data storage and cloud services to a major technology company. This includes drafting and negotiation of legal documentation involving a modular expansion criteria to support phased integration of additional data centres and associated renewable energy infrastructure—with a multitude of different hyperscalers—under one accordion financing. The first data centre within the portfolio was financed in 2022, and is the first data centre in the Middle East to have been financed on a limited-recourse basis. The project was awarded “Digital Infrastructure Deal of the Year – Data Centres” for 2022 by IJ Global.
Advising the Orascom and Metito in connection with the PPP water treatment scheme called “Project Wave” procured by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The project was awarded “Sustainable Deal of the Year, Middle East and Africa, 2023” by Project Finance International and “Water Deal of the Year – MENA” for 2023 by IJ Global.
Advising a major international industrial company on legal, regulatory, public policy, and project finance aspects relating to a planned green ammonia production plant in North Africa, for export to the EU and/or the U.S.
Advising a major international fertilizer business on the drafting and negotiation of an ammonia offtake agreement in respect of a limited-recourse financed ammonia production plant in Texas, USA.
Advising two developer consortia on the development and financing of two residential communities—including associated utilities—at the NEOM smart city in Saudi Arabia. The two residential communities form part of the first phase of NEOM's residential communities’ expansion, a social infrastructure project that will house the region’s growing workforce. At a value of over $5.5 billion, the project is one of the largest public-private partnerships for accommodation globally. The project was awarded “Alternative Infrastructure Award – MENA” for 2023 by IJ Global.
Advising a sponsor consortium including Itochu Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Besix, Dubai Holding, Dubal Holding and the Tech Group on the development and financing of Dubai's circa US$ 1.3 billion Warsan waste-to-energy project, which, once constructed, will be one of the largest waste-to-energy project in the world. The lender group includes commercial lenders from Europe and Japan, as well as Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI). This project was awarded “Middle East and Africa Deal of the Year” in 2021 by Project Finance International.
Advising several different developers on developing and financing distributed generation solar photovoltaic projects involving commercial and industrial power purchasers in the United Arab Emirates (including in connection with the Shams Dubai net metering program), Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and in East Africa, namely: Unilever, Xylem, DP World, Nakheel, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defense, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Emirates Airlines, Majid Al Futtaim, Lulu Supermarkets, Ajmal Perfumes, Chalhoub Group, Bayara, LIFCO, Al Serkal, Gulfex, Emerson, King’s School, GEMS School, Bloom Education, Dubai Autodrome, and Landmark Group.
Advising a developer on the development and financing of a 15 megawatt captive solar power project in Jordan, for the provision of electricity to a cement factory owned by LafargeHolcim. This was the first “corporate PPA” transaction in the Middle East to be financed on a limited recourse basis.
Advising a developer on the development and financing of four utility-scale solar power projects in Jordan.
Advising the lenders (Islamic, ECA, multilateral and commercial) in connection with the development and financing (by Xenel and KEPCO) of the Al Qatrana gas-fired independent power project in Jordan.
Advising the sponsor group, led by ACWA Power International, on the development and financing of the Qurayyah gas and fuel oil-fired independent power project in Saudi Arabia. Awarded “Middle East Power Deal of the Year 2011” by Project Finance magazine, and “Best Project Finance Deal of the Year” by Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards 2012.
Advising a consortium consisting of Suez Environnement, Itochu Corporation and Engie on the development and financing of the U.S. $300 million Barka IWP in the Sultanate of Oman.
Advising a consortium consisting of Suez Environnement S.A.S., Infilco Degremont, Inc. and The Morganti Group, Inc., on all aspects of the U.S. $225 million expansion of As-Samra wastewater treatment plant in Jordan.
Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestments
Advising the AES Corporation on the sale of a 56 percent equity interest in Société Nationale d’Electricité, Cameroon’s integrated electricity utility, and on two IPPs: Kribi, a 216 megawatt gas-fired power plant, and Dibamba, an 86 megawatt heavy fuel oil-fired plant, in Cameroon.
Advising Standard Bank, financial advisor to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on the privatization and sale of the government’s ownership interest in the Cimenterie Nationale SARL state-owned cement plant located at Kimpese in the DRC.
Advising a consortium on its bid to acquire state-owned grain mills in Saudi Arabia.
Compliance and Corporate Governance
Advising a large Middle East-based petrochemical company regarding its overall compliance program.
Advising a large oil and gas company on assessing anti-corruption risks in connection with proposed petroleum activities in Senegal, Mauritania, and Ghana.
Advising a large U.S.-based company on a comprehensive internal investigation regarding breaches of U.S. sanctions as well as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
KEDGE Business School (formerly Bordeaux Management School), Diplôme de l’Ecole Multinationale des Affaires, 2007
With honors
University of Portsmouth, B.A. in European Business, 2007
With honors
Bar Admissions
England and Wales
Languages
English
French
Pro Bono
Provides ongoing legal services to nonprofit organization EcoPeace on the proposed development of a solar power project in Jordan, for the provision of electricity to one or more electricity consumers in Israel and/or the Palestinian Territories.
Provides ongoing legal services and advice to Village Health Works, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on providing quality health care in rural Burundi.
Accolades
Chambers and Partners 2019-2025 (Projects & Energy - Middle East-wide): recognized as an "exceptional attorney" who can "explain his points in language that non-lawyers can understand." “Marc has incredible technical and drafting skills, together with business acumen.” “He is always responsive. I always get a timely response that acknowledges my concerns, and this is regularly updated regarding progress. I am always very happy with the way he deals with things.” “Marc is commercially minded, a deal maker. He is creative and resourceful in finding ways around obstacles. He knows the industry and its regulations inside out. You really are in good hands with him.”
Legal 500 EMEA 2017 (Energy and Infrastructure in the UAE): recognized as a “Next Generation Lawyer”.
Who’s Who in MENAT Renewables 2017: recognized as a leading individual in the MENAT solar industry.
Legal 500 EMEA 2016 (Energy and Infrastructure in the UAE): recognized for “responsiveness and drive”.
PwC and the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA): named as a “Solar Pioneer 2015”.
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