robert wray PLLC (RW) is a specialized law firm focusing on providing legal and related services to its clients in transportation infrastructure matters involving project finance, privatization, aircraft finance and political risk mitigation.
RW provides comprehensive services to government and private sector investors and intermediaries, operating in the United States and internationally, in the areas of privatization and asset restructuring with a particular interest and competence in transportation related business transactions. The firm has substantial experience in privatization and joint venture projects, a large number of which have been funded by multilateral lending agencies such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank or by U.S. development agencies such as the USAID. RW lawyers have been involved in aviation sector privatization and joint venture projects throughout the world (e.g., Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Ecuador, Panama, the United Kingdom and Germany) and have participated in all aspects of the process including regulatory, corporate and financial issues as well as comprehensive due diligence.
RW attorneys have most recently participated in the following projects:
- Preparation of due diligence and advice to a German airport operator on a joint venture structure for a long-term concession for operation of international airport in Panama.
- Advice and preparation of due diligence for purchase of shares by German airport operator in a Mexican government-corporation holding company with a 50-year concession to operate 13 airports in Mexico's Pacific Region. Assignment involved negotiation of shareholders and consortium agreements, due diligence of all concession agreements and laws and regulations, review of airports' existing obligations and contracts and preparation of bid documentation.
- Preparation of due diligence and advice on joint venture structure for purchase of shares by Swiss airport operator in government-corporation holding company with a 50-year concession to operate 11 airports in Mexico's North-Central Region. Assignment involved negotiation of shareholders and consortium agreements, due diligence of all concession agreements and laws and regulations, review of airports' existing obligations and contracts and preparation of bid documentation.
- Advice and preparation of due diligence for purchase of shares by German airport operator in a Mexican government-corporation holding company with a 50-year concession to operate 9 airports in Mexico's Southeast Region. Assignment involved negotiation of shareholders and consortium agreements, due diligence of all concession agreements and laws and regulations, review of airports' existing obligations and contracts and preparation of bid documentation.
- Advice to Swiss airport operator and German contractor on terms of an indicative offer for the purchase of East Midlands International Airport Ltd. and Bournemouth International Airport Ltd. and the purchase of shares of Bristol International Airport PLC.
- Development of and submission to the Government of Belize, on behalf of Lufthansa Consulting, a strategy for privatizing the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport. Assignment involved advice on legislation for concession contracts and changes to Belize Aviation Law, due diligence review of all airport obligations and agreements, preparation of model concession in accordance with proposed legislative changes and review of engineering, procurement and construction contracts for runway expansion and airport terminal renovation.
- Advice to German airport operator on terms of a long-term concession for operation of Peru's Jorge Chavez International Airport by private-sector consortium. Assignment involved initial negotiation of shareholders and consortium agreement.
- Drafting and negotiation of EPC agreement for new international terminal at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines.
- Together with Lufthansa Consulting and the Spanish bank, BBVA, engaged by the Municipality of Guayaquil, Ecuador to advise on: (i) a strategy to privatize and upgrade its municipal airport; and (ii) the development of a new airport. Assignment involved preparation of data room and bidding rules as well as development of concession agreements.
- Development of strategy and advise Haitian Government on privatization of Port au Prince International Airport and four other regional airports. Assignment involved due diligence review of all laws and regulations, review of airports' existing obligations and contracts and preparation of concession and management contracts.
In the seaport practice, members of the RW team have advised port authorities, national governments, container shipping companies and private companies in the restructuring, reform and privatization of seaports around the world. Members of the firm publish and lecture extensively on seaport modernization and finance, emphasizing the most-recent developments in this sector among major emerging markets. Several challenging seaport reform assignments have been:
- World Bank-financed project review and regulatory assessment for two port authorities and facilities in Costa Rica.
- Assistance to Haitian Government in privatization of Port au Prince seaport, including due diligence review of all laws and regulations, review of seaport's existing obligations and contracts, preparation of model concession and alternative management agreements and recommendations for modality of privatization.
- Guidance to The World Bank on structural reform and other legal issues for a seaport reform 'toolkit' distributed to government privatizing agencies.
- Acquisition due diligence review of a large, international group of container seaports and preliminary structuring and negotiation of purchase terms for a large European client.