Michael Yates
Biography
Overview
Michael is a Partner in the Project Development and Finance Group in the Firm's Houston office. His practice focuses on the representation of owners and developers in their construction projects including liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, power plants, battery energy storage facilities, photovoltaic solar generation facilities, carbon capture facilities, and petrochemical facilities. Michael has first-chair experience negotiating multi-billion dollar contracts with the largest contractors in the world, and his day-to-day work includes advising clients on procurement and construction strategies and drafting and negotiating engineering, procurement and construction, construction, construction management, engineering, licensing, operating & maintenance, long-term service agreements, and procurement agreements for large energy projects throughout the world. Michael also provides guidance to clients during and after project execution including claim evaluations, warranty and defect issues, payment disputes, and contractor solvency issues.
cum laude
Experience
LNG:
Woodfibre LNG, in a first-chair capacity, in connection with the preparation and negotiation of an EPC, a Fabrication agreement, and a project coordination agreement for the development of an LNG facility with a 2.1 million tons per annum production capacity in British Columbia, Canada. This representation is ongoing and includes providing advice and guidance during the execution phase.
Texas LNG with respect to the EPC of an LNG terminal on the US Gulf Coast. This representation is ongoing and includes advising Texas LNG with respect to contract structuring, contractor selection, early stage engineering and licensing agreements, financing advice, and preparation of engineering and construction contracts.
Construction:
A large US-based energy company in a brownfield technology conversion for the company's existing petrochemicals facilities. The representation includes the drafting and negotiation of the master services agreement and master construction agreement.
Microsoft in its preparation of a standardized global framework agreement for its use in constructing data centers worldwide.
GreenStruxure, a joint venture of Schneider Electric and Huck Capital, on developing a strategic partnership with ClearGen, a Blackstone portfolio company, whereby ClearGen will provide US$500 million in long-term capital to GreenStruxure to develop, operate, and maintain on-site renewable energy microgrid systems. Customers of these microgrids will benefit from "energy-as-a-service" solution that provides energy and sustainability solutions with no upfront capital contribution and no operational risks.
Energy Transition:
Major electricity producer with respect to the EPC of carbon capture and sequestration facilities at an existing combined-cycle natural gas generation site in Texas.
Calpine in the preparation and negotiation of project contracts, including the EPC, the equipment and services supply Agreement, and multiple long-term services agreements for a 680 MW battery storage facility in California that represents one of the largest stand-alone battery storage projects in the world.
A large US power generation company in its development of an approximately 105 MW photovoltaic solar energy and battery storage project located in Kern County, California. The representation included drafting and negotiating an EPC agreement and a long-term services agreement with the EPC contractor (Hanwha) with a value of approximately US$144 million, as well as the separate negotiation of battery supply, battery installation, and inverter contracts (and related long-term service agreements) for the battery storage aspects of the project.
Middle Eastern multinational chemical company in the greenfield development of a US$2.2 billion methanol plant located on the US Gulf Coast, including negotiation of joint venture arrangements, methanol offtake agreements, and related project contracts.
A Japanese oil and gas company in the development of a blue ammonia facility to be located in Texas including the negotiation and execution of licensing and engineering agreements and providing strategy and advice regarding procurement and construction.
A solar and energy storage developer in the development of multiple solar generation and battery storage projects, including the development of a full suite of project contract forms encompassing equipment supply, construction, EPC, O&M, long-term service, and equipment reservation contracts and related exhibits.
An energy developer with respect to the construction of a 350 mw wind energy project to be constructed in Quebec, Canada.
TotalEnergies with respect to the acquisition and construction of 12 solar projects located in Georgia, including the negotiation of the associated EPC contracts.
