Walter Keneally
Partner
Erin Cluchey
713.223.2300 x2011
Walter Keneally represents and counsels developers, investors, utilities and contractors in all legal aspects of domestic and international energy and industrial project development, finance, and acquisitions and divestitures. Mr. Keneally has substantial experience in the development, acquisition and sale of merchant coal, gas, biomass, hydro and wind power plants, cogeneration facilities, refining and chemical plants, water treatment facilities and pipeline and storage facilities.
Mr. Keneally advises clients in the structuring of project ownership, including joint ventures and other special-purpose entities, and negotiates and drafts equity and debt financing instruments, including non-recourse financing agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and project agreements such as turbine supply, balance of plant, EPC, O&M, offtake, tolling, supply and other service agreements in connection with energy and industrial projects.
Representative Matters
Represented developer of Arizona biomass plant in all aspects of project contracts and non-recourse financing.
Represented chemical companies in third-party development and financing of four cogeneration plants aggregating more than 2000 MW in Texas and South Carolina.
Represented utility in auction and sale of gas-fired portfolio located in Florida and Colorado.
Represented developers of coal-fired plants in Texas and New Mexico in connection with coal supply contract and power purchase agreements with electric cooperatives.
Represented developer in connection with turbine supply and operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements for wind farms in Brazil and a hydro project in Ecuador.
Represented terminal company in project agreements for third-party biodiesel facilities.
Represented utility in sale of 50 percent interest in gas-fired power plant in Mexico.
Represented EPC contractor in connection with construction of 170 MW gas-fired plant in Peru.
Represented developer of Bulgarian oil refinery in negotiation of U.S.-based equipment supply contract and related project financing matters.
Represented seller of individual gas turbines and entire plants located in Southeast U.S.
Represented multinational oil company in project agreements for third-party commodity pipeline.
Represented international power company in sale of two partially-constructed power plants in Nevada and New Mexico.
Represented chemical company in project agreements for third-party syngas plant.
Represented seller of portfolio of gas-fired plants in Texas, Virginia and Czech Republic.
Represented power company in power purchase agreement contract review for utility RFP.
Publications and Speeches
Moderator, "Independent Developers' Perspectives on the Market," Coal Power Finance and Investment Conference, Chicago, Illinois, June 2006.
"Inside the Fence Energy Suppliers: Key Points for Energy Supply Contracts," Counsel of Industrial Boiler Owners, March 2002.
"Understanding Indemnity Provisions in Agreements with Contractors," Houston Bar Association, Corporate Counsel Section, February 2002.
Education
J.D., with honors, University of Houston Law Center, 1991
B.A., Rice University, 1986
Bar Admissions
Colorado
Texas
Affiliations
American Bar AssociationState Bar of Texas
Houston Bar Association