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As the world transitions from fossil fuels to renewable power and other clean energy technologies, we are entering a “super cycle” of demand for new materials. The digitalization of the global economy also drives this demand, as power grids become smarter, sustainable and more resilient. What do all these green initiatives have in common? Batteries. The World Bank has forecasted that the production of metals such as lithium, cobalt, zinc and graphite will need to increase by as much as 500% by 2050 to meet the exploding demand for batteries in EVs, energy storage and electronic devices. In this episode of Law, Policy & Markets Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Finance partners Allan Marks and Alec Borisoff take a deep dive into the world of battery metals with two guests from Swiss-based Pala Investments: General Counsel Kate Southwell and Head Strategist Jessica Fung.
About the Speakers
Kate Southwell is General Counsel for Pala Investments, a private equity investment firm based in Zug, Switzerland. She provides legal, commercial and strategic advice to Pala’s portfolio companies and specializes in the management of international M&A and joint ventures and the negotiation of complex construction and commercial contracts. She also advises on alternative finance structures, including streams, royalties and mezzanine finance.
Jessica Fung is Head Strategist at Pala Investments. She researches emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, renewables, recycling and blockchain and forecasts how these trends will impact commodity markets and how investors will finance the future economy.
Alec Borisoff is a partner in the New York office of Milbank and a member of the firm's Global Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance Group. He represents project sponsors, financial institutions, and export credit and multilateral development agencies in a wide range of US and cross-border projects and structured financings, investment transactions and restructurings, with a particular emphasis on mining, oil & gas, infrastructure and power-related financings.
Podcast host Allan Marks is one of the world's leading project finance lawyers. He advises developers, investors, lenders, and underwriters around the world in the development and financing of complex energy and infrastructure projects, as well as related acquisitions, restructurings and capital markets transactions. Mr. Marks also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley at both the Law School and the Haas School of Business.
