Infrastructure Procurement & Finance

Large infrastructure projects have procurement and financial issues as complicated as the engineering itself.

Experienced strategic advice and expert documentation preparation and review is crucial to ensuring successful projects.

Our lawyers have represented all stakeholders in large infrastructure projects—government sponsors, design, construction, operation and financial syndicates, and financial institutions providing debt financing to projects. Our experience includes advising on the procurement, financing and implementation of public private partnership (P3) transactions and acting for both issuers and purchasers of debt securities in connection with the financing of cogeneration plants and hydroelectric facilities.

Our broad range of knowledge means that we deal with all of the related issues accompanying complex projects, including those that touch on areas as diverse as energy, environmental, labour, and real estate law. In addition to advising on project financing, we work with our leading tax practitioners to help our clients structure projects to optimize tax benefits. We also help our clients navigate the regulatory environment surrounding their project.

Our lawyers have provided legal services to both private sector participants and lenders in a vast number of P3 projects in British Columbia and other jurisdictions across Canada, in many sectors. Farris has also acted and continues to act for the public authority in major P3 transportation projects in British Columbia, including the Golden Ears Bridge project, the Port Mann/Highway 1 project, the South Fraser Perimeter Road project, the George Massey Tunnel Replacement project and the Pattullo Bridge Replacement project. We understand the requirements of both the public sector and private sector participants in P3 transactions, and of lenders providing private financing for these projects.