Rebecca Major

Partner

Paris, Africa Group

Rebecca is a corporate partner specialising in the energy and natural resources sectors. She is the head of our Paris Energy, Mining and Infrastructure team.

Rebecca advises clients on acquisitions, sales, joint ventures and project development, notably in the energy and natural resources sectors. She has many years of experience of doing cross border work, particularly in Europe and Africa (Rebecca has advised on deals in most of Africa's 54 jurisdictions), but also has substantial experience in Asia, South America and the Middle East.

Rebecca has been ranked by the leading legal directories (Chambers Global, Legal 500, Who's Who Legal) as a stand-out lawyer in the energy and mining sectors for many years.

Client accolades include "Rebecca Major is a brilliant lawyer who is reactive, hard-working and very client-oriented. She is 100% reliable and I know I can call her up when I need something" (Chambers Global 2024); "She has strong international knowledge" "She is excellent" (Chambers Global 2023).

Background

Rebecca is a British and French national who is qualified to advise on English and French law (Solicitor of England and Wales and Avocat au Barreau de Paris) and speaks fluent French. She is a partner in our Paris office where she has worked for 22 years. She also co-led our energy and natural resources team in Tokyo for 5 years. Rebecca teaches at Sciences Po and at the IFP Energies Nouvelles school and is also the office "diversity partner". She has worked on a number of Government capacity building programmes in Africa with the ALSF, GIZ/Connex and the ISLP.

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

Emirates Global Aluminium in relation to its interest in Guinea Aluminium Corporation
Renault on the setting-up of a joint-venture (Hyvia) with Plug Power for the manufacturing and distribution of hydrogen-fuelled light commercial vehicles and hydrogen refuelling stations in Europe
TotalEnergies in relation to the Mirny onshore wind project in Kazakhstan
Itochu on the acquisition and ongoing financing of its interests in the Platreef platinum mine in South Africa and on its investment into France's Clean H2 Infra Fund
Nala Renewables on the development of Belgium’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at Nyrstar’s zinc smelting facility in Balen
Hermes Infrastructure and CGNEE on their acquisition of a portfolio of five Swedish wind farms with total capacity of 813MW from Aquila Capital
EDF on various investments in Africa and Europe (power, gas/LNG) and investments for EDF Invest
Mitsubishi Corporation on (i) the increase of its interest in the Quellaveco copper mine in Peru by 21.9% (held with Anglo American); (ii) the disposal of its various upstream oil and gas assets in Africa (Angola, Gabon, Tunisia); (iii) the internal reorganisation of its renewables business in Europe (DGE); and (iv) the sale of its shares in NeoT Capital to Forsee Power
Fosun in relation to its investment into the Kodal lithium mine in Mali, together with offtake arrangements
Mitsui on (i) the negotiation of the acquisition from Vale of an interest in the Moatize coal mine in Mozambique and in the related Nacala rail and port infrastructure in Mozambique and Malawi (total investment of USD768 million) and on the subsequent sale back to Vale of its interests; (ii) its participation in the Mozambique LNG project; and (iii) various potential European acquisitions
Sumitomo Corporation on (i) its acquisition of, and ongoing interests in, the Ambatovy nickel and cobalt mine project in Madagascar (including various restructurings); (ii) its participation in other mining projects around the world (Europe, Asia); and (iii) its recent acquisition of an interest in EEW Wind Offshore Holdings
Maurel et Prom on its acquisition/disposal of upstream oil and gas assets in various countries, including Venezuela (acquisition of assets from Shell and ongoing advice including offtake arrangements) and Tanzania (takeover of listed company, Wentworth)
Eramet on its non-solicited takeover offer to acquire Australian listed company Mineral Deposits Limited
The lenders on the USD3.9 billion sale of ENGIE's exploration and production business to Neptune Energy (corporate support)
AIIM, BWS and IFD Denmark on the shareholder arrangements for the 90MW Albatros thermal power plant in Kayes, Western Mali
CNIM on the sale of its indirect interest in SELCHP, owner of a major waste to energy plant in the UK (South Bermondsey, London)
a number of companies, including SAMSIC, Chargeurs and SEFAM, on their investments into the UK
various groups (including Sojitz, Willis Towers Watson and Diamond Generation Europe) on internal cross-border reorganisations
MHI on the creation of a major joint venture with Hitachi to integrate their respective thermal power generation systems (to create MHPS)
Willis Towers Watson on the sale of 15 of its African subsidiaries
CGNEE on its acquisition of the 6000kW Estinnes wind project in Belgium
AXPO on its acquisition of Urbasolar, a leading French company specialising in the development, construction and operation of large capacity photovoltaic power plants
a confidential client on its potential investment in a number of floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs) in Brazil