Infrastructure & Projects

We support you in delivering your infrastructure projects by leveraging our full range of legal and tax expertise, combined with deep knowledge of the relevant sectors. Our goal: to provide innovative, tailored solutions that safeguard your interests. 

From energy to telecommunications, from transport to healthcare, infrastructure development plays a fundamental role in France and worldwide, particularly in emerging countries. 

The growing demand for infrastructure stems from demographic pressure, usanization, the imperatives of energy and digital transition, and the need to ensure fair and sustainable access to essential services. 

Infrastructure is a strategic lever for economic development, territorial attractiveness, and environmental and social resilience. 

Whether modernising existing facilities or developing new projects in France and abroad, budget constraints, climate and geopolitical challenges, and the increasing complexity of legal and contractual frameworks require tailored legal solutions adapted to the specificities of each territory, as well as appropriate financing solutions. 

To support you in implementing your projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors in France and internationally, our teams draw on in-depth knowledge of the various industries involved, the synergies between CMS network member firms, and the expertise and innovative capabilities of our lawyers.  

We leverage our experience and extensive track record to anticipate our clients’ needs, regardless of their role. We regularly advise industrial players, independent developers and producers, infrastructure funds, public sector entities, banks, financial and development institutions, as well as debt funds. 

Our offer 

Our diverse expertise enables us to advise you throughout the entire lifecycle of your infrastructure projects.

Supporting Your Projects in France and Internationally, with a Focus on Africa 

Our Infrastructure & Projects team assists you in contracts with public and private parties, such as:  

• concessions; 
• partnership contracts and other forms of public-private partnerships (PPPs); 
• complex public procurement contracts; 
• contractual arrangements involving public property or requiring administrative authorisations or public regulation; 
• commercial transactions between industrial or financial players. 

Across Diverse Sectors

• conventional, renewable, and low-carbon energy (generation facilities, transmission and distribution networks, storage infrastructure, interconnections); 
• mining and hydrocarbons; 
• transportation; 
• building and public real estate PPPs; 
• defense and security equipment; 
• electronic communications; 
• water, sanitation, and waste management. 

At Every Stage 

Legal and tax audit and project structuring for a new project (greenfield) or an existing project (brownfield): 

• analysis of applicable regulations; 
• review of authorisations obtained or to be obtained and existing contractual documentation; 
• support in setting up contractual, corporate, tax, and social frameworks. 

Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating project documentation: 

• “head” contracts (concession, public service delegation, global or partnership public contract, land-use agreement, or administrative authorisation); 
• project and industrial contracts (design and construction contracts, operation and maintenance agreements, supply and subcontracting contracts, interface agreements, etc.); 
• grid connection agreements for electricity or gas; 
• energy supply contracts; 
• power purchase agreements for electricity, heat, or biogas. 

Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating corporate documentation: 

• share or asset transfer agreements; 
• consortium and joint venture agreements, co-development agreements, bylaws, and shareholders’ agreements; 
• legal documentation relating to equity and quasi-equity investment, and issuance of equity, debt, and complex securities. 

Support in project implementation: 

• securing land and property rights; 
• obtaining authorisations under energy law, urban planning law, environmental law, etc.; 
• assistance during construction, commissioning, and contract management during the operational phase; 
• advice on energy law compliance (self-consumption, private networks, grid connection, etc.); 
• advice on environmental regulations (water law, protected species, etc.); 
• assistance in dealings with lenders. 

Financing and Refinancing 

We provide comprehensive advisory services on debt, equity investment, and capital markets, with particular expertise in non-recourse financing, structured financing, term loans, private placements, export credit agency financing, and credit guarantee mechanisms. 

We support our clients at every stage of project financing: structuring, negotiating financing and security documentation for or with lenders, implementing financing and fulfilling conditions precedent, as well as assisting with hedging and rate-lock operations. 

We handle all types of financing documents: credit agreements, common terms agreements, intercreditor agreements, direct agreements, public guarantees, and personal or real security interests, in the context of both bank and bond financings. 

Our expertise also includes analysing compliance of financing and public guarantees with EU law and assisting in cases of notifications by the State to the European Commission. 

Tender Procedures 

We assist public sector clients in France and worldwide in setting up competitive tendering procedures, particularly those involving negotiation or dialogue phases. We also support bidding consortia in responding to these procedures and, where necessary, in challenging them. 

Contract Execution / Dispute Prevention and Resolution 

Throughout the project, we provide ongoing advice on preventing and managing potential disputes, including representation before national courts or arbitral tribunals. 

Secondary Market 

Our teams are highly experienced in structuring and negotiating acquisition, disposal, and joint-venture transactions. This includes due diligence (covering tax, insurance, and labour law aspects), drafting and negotiating SPAs, investment agreements, and shareholders’ agreements. We also advise on merger control and handle notification procedures before competition authorities. 

Our quotes

The team is very fast and very professional. 
CHAMBERS FRANCE 2025 | PROJECTS & ENERGY: DOMESTIC 

The CMS team have the ability to cross-reference the different areas of law in all its complexities and subtleties on a project. 
CHAMBERS FRANCE 2025 | PROJECTS & ENERGY: DOMESTIC 

CMS has a highly regarded team with strong expertise in the infrastructure, energy, and transport sectors. The team has significant experience in developing energy projects, with a particular strength in solar. The lawyers are also highly experienced in infrastructure mandates, acting primarily for French public and private companies. The firm frequently advises on regulatory matters.
CHAMBERS FRANCE 2025 | PROJECTS & ENERGY: DOMESTIC

The team demonstrate good experience in renewables sector with an understanding of all issues related to renewable developments.
CHAMBERS FRANCE 2025 | PROJECTS & ENERGY: DOMESTIC

I’m always satisfied when working with François thanks to his responsiveness and pragmatic approach in finding innovative solutions.
CHAMBERS FRANCE 2025 | PUBLIC LAW

Foucaud Jaulin demonstrates excellent technical skills and responsiveness.
CHAMBERS FRANCE 2025 | PROJECTS & ENERGY: INTERNATIONAL

Up-and-coming partner Foucaud Jaulin debuts in the rankings on the basis of his experience in concession projects, privatisations, acquisitions and PPPs in the energy sector. He joined CMS in June 2025.
CHAMBERS FRANCE 2025 | PROJECTS & ENERGY: INTERNATIONAL