Martin Kavanagh
Partner HSF
Martin Kavanagh is a partner of global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, based in the firm's London office. He is the global co-Head of the Africa Group and Head of Practice for Projects in UK, US, Middle East & Africa. Martin specialises in energy and infrastructure finance and energy project development, and has significant experience acting for corporates, borrowers, commercial lenders, multilateral agencies and Export Credit Agencies, as well as governments, particularly in Africa and other emerging markets. Martin was named as Emerging Markets Infrastructure Finance Lawyer of the Year in England at the 2024 Global Law Experts Annual Awards for the sixth consecutive year (2019-2024). He is also consistently recognised by the leading legal directories as a leader in his field in the UK and globally, including in Africa, where he is ranked by Chambers Global 2024 for Africa-wide Projects & Energy and for Africa-wide Project Finance. Client accolades include "He is very good at understanding how to structure a deal so it meets lenders' requirements. He is very calm and level-headed; he handles heated situations very well" (Chambers Global 2024: Africa-wide Projects & Energy).
Conference Agenda Sessions
Capital for gas: challenges and opportunities of financing an African gas-based energy transition
With African gas ambitions on the rise, the financing needs of drilling for gas, processing it and distributing it are on the rise and require a different approach to project financing and capital raising. What are the particularities of African gas projects and who will finance them? We bring financiers, investors and gas developers around a fresh and new conversation on the challenges and opportunities of financing a gas-enabled energy transformation in Africa.
Key areas of discussion:
• What are the key factors influencing investor confidence in financing natural gas projects in Africa, and how can risks related to regulatory, political, and market volatility be effectively managed?
• How significant is the role of multilateral and bilateral financing institutions in supporting natural gas projects in Africa, and what strategies can be employed to increase their involvement and impact?
• What innovative financing instruments (e.g., green bonds, project bonds, blended finance) are emerging to support natural gas projects in Africa, and how can they be tailored to address the specific needs of the sector?
• How can financing for natural gas projects in Africa contribute to local content development and meaningful community engagement? What are the best practices for ensuring that financing benefits local communities and promotes sustainable development?
Thursday 10 October 09:45 - 10:30 Upstream Stage
Finance and M&A Forum
Key areas of discussion:
• What are the key factors influencing investor confidence in financing natural gas projects in Africa, and how can risks related to regulatory, political, and market volatility be effectively managed?
• How significant is the role of multilateral and bilateral financing institutions in supporting natural gas projects in Africa, and what strategies can be employed to increase their involvement and impact?
• What innovative financing instruments (e.g., green bonds, project bonds, blended finance) are emerging to support natural gas projects in Africa, and how can they be tailored to address the specific needs of the sector?
• How can financing for natural gas projects in Africa contribute to local content development and meaningful community engagement? What are the best practices for ensuring that financing benefits local communities and promotes sustainable development?
Upstream Stage Africa/Johannesburg
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