NEW YORK CITY, January 5, 2009 — Winston & Strawn LLP announced today that corporate attorney Jonathan Birenbaum joined the firm’s New York office as a partner. Birenbaum focuses his practice on the acquisition, disposition and financing of energy and infrastructure projects.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Jonathan to the firm,” said Jon Goldstein, head of the New York office. “His expertise and strong experience in energy industry transactions is of particular value to our clients and a key component in the sustained success of our corporate practice.” Winston & Strawn has developed a focused initiative in its energy-related corporate practice, which is headed by Jerry Bloom in Los Angeles. With practitioners in all of its offices, Birenbaum’s arrival in New York is another step in the implementation of the strategy. In November, Winston & Strawn added Robert Nelson and Dirk Mueller from Thelen, both of whom are corporate attorneys with extensive expertise related to energy projects.
Birenbaum had previously been a partner at Paul Hastings, and concentrates his practice on energy and other infrastructure sector acquisitions and dispositions of projects and portfolios, and project financings, including tax oriented equity investments, senior secured and subordinated loans, and leveraged lease financings. His experience extends to a wide variety of energy projects including gas- and coal-fired generating plants, alternative energy projects (particularly wind, solar and geothermal), nuclear generating plants, oil and gas pipelines and related facilities, and gas storage facilities.
“Jonathan’s experience and knowledge is a key strategic complement to our growing energy practice, and augments the service we can provide our clients. We’re thrilled that he has joined the team,” said Jerry Bloom, chair of Winston & Strawn’s energy practice.
Birenbaum’s recent engagements have included representing Constellation Energy in connection with the $1.6 billion sale of a portfolio of six gas fired power plants and the purchase of the Hillabee Energy Center power plant, and representing Lehman Brothers in connection with the tax equity financing of First Wind projects in New York state.
“I’m very excited to join one of the premier energy practices that includes a number of the leading practitioners in both transactional and regulatory matters,” said Birenbaum of joining Winston & Strawn.
Birenbaum earned his juris doctor, cum laude, from Albany Law School of Union University, where he was articles editor of the Albany Law Review and his bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Colgate University.
Winston & Strawn LLP is an international commercial law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys in 12 offices. More information about the firm is available at www.winston.com.
