Partner
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
With more than 900 lawyers in 13 offices, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is one of the world’s largest law firms. A frequent recipient of industry recognition for its strength in litigation and high-stakes appellate work, its leadership in groundbreaking transactions and its depth in public policy, Akin Gump provides a comprehensive suite of services for global companies and local individuals.
Richard M. Gittleman, Attorney, heads Akin Gump’s Renewable Energy Initiative and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Firm’s Energy and Global Transactions practice group. He has led a number of sophisticated infrastructure development and financing projects in the electric energy, oil and gas, and mining industries, both in the United States and abroad.
His most recent projects include acting as lead attorney in the following:
- The project development and financing of a major copper and cobalt mining project in central Africa.
- The development and financing of a 240 MW hydroelectric power project upgrade in central Africa
- Current representation of a US-based utility in connection with the development of a 140 MW wind project
- The development of agreements related to granting to private parties of oil palm plantations contemplating the construction of biodiesel plants certain concessions on behalf of the government of Liberia
- The financing of a $750 million cold water port terminal for the storage of crude in Russia — OPIC financing involved
- he financial restructuring of a major electric energy project in Argentina after the devaluing of the Argentine peso
- The financial restructuring of a major power project in Colombia, including the renegotiation of certain loans held by the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the U.S. Export Import Bank (Ex-Im)
- The financing of a $900 million upgrade of an oil refinery in Morocco involving SACE, the Italian export credit agency; African Development Bank; Proparco; international commercial lending institutions; Moroccan lending institutions; and hedge providers
- The project financing in connection with the development of a silver mine in Bolivia on behalf of a publicly listed company
- The development and financing of a refinery transforming waste oil into usable lubricants
- Obtaining OPIC and Ex-Im insurance related to an investment in Azerbaijan on behalf of a U.S. developer
- The development and financing of a 415 MW gas-fired facility in the Netherlands
- The development and financing of a 135 MW tolling facility for a steel mill in Michigan
Mr. Gittleman earned his B.A. from Brown University in 1977 and his J.D. cum laude in 1982 from American University, Washington College of Law, where he was awarded the T. Morton McDonald Scholarship for excellence in legal research and served as a dean's fellow. Mr. Gittleman is a member of the District of Columbia and New York Bars. He is fluent in French.