John Balsdon
John is a member of Herbert Smith’s finance division. Described as "the accepted master in the field" in Chambers 2007, he has over eleven years experience of working in the Russian market and has advised a wide range of external investors and international entities on syndicated structured receivables financing, project financing, insolvency and work-outs, aircraft leasing and joint ventures.
It is no surprise that John is ranked as the top leading individual in Russia for Banking and Finance by Chambers 2007. John is also described as being able to “cut through the issues very quickly to reach a mutually acceptable solution” Chambers 2007.
Clients are quoted as being "impressed with [the team's] ability to find creative solutions to difficult negotiations" when describing John Balsdon and his team, Legal 500 2007.
Credentials
- on the $3.2 billion Blue Stream Project, as leader of the Russian team acting for lenders in relation to the loan to Gazprom (which won the IFLR Project Finance Deal of the Year 2000)
- Sinopec Corporation in relation to the $3.5 billion acquisition of OAO Udmurtneft, associated leveraged buyout by SLV vehicle in JV with OAO Rosneft
- INPEX on its acquisition of Lukoil's 10% interest in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashi (ACG) project for $1.375 billion, one of the largest ever corporate deals in Russia
- ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Citigroup N.A. and BNP in connection with an up to $1 billion secured pre-export financing facility to OAO TNK
- BNP Paribas in connection with $700 million loan facilities
- Societe Generale in connection with a $100 million borrowing base loan and hedging facility to OAO Petrokazakhstan Kumkol Resources
- ING Bank N.V. in connection with a $400 million secured pre-export financing facility to JSC TNK
- a Russian team acting for syndicate on a $1.5 billion loan to Lukoil in 1998, including advising on the negotiation of a Presidential Edict for the authorised non-conversion of export proceeds
- the creditor committee and 45 creditors in relation to the bankruptcy of Inkombank. John advised clients filing claims for $3 billion of debt
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