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  1. Professionals

Jonathan Birenbaum

Partner

New York

+1 212-294-4629

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  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
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Jonathan’s practice focuses on complex acquisitions and dispositions, debt and equity financings, and general corporate law matters, primarily in the energy and infrastructure sectors. His experience includes deals involving numerous renewable and gas-fired projects, battery storage projects, transmission facilities, and pipelines. He is recognized in, among others, Chambers USA and The Legal 500 US.

He regularly represents both strategic and financial clients and has played a primary role in many complex transactions involving a wide variety of structures and assets. These transactions have included acquisitions and dispositions of companies, projects and portfolios, and project financings, including tax-oriented, preferred and other equity investments, and senior secured and subordinated loans. His experience extends to a wide variety of projects, including: renewable energy projects (particularly solar and wind); battery storage projects; thermal (primarily gas-fired) generating plants; transmission assets; natural gas liquefaction (LNG) facilities; and oil and gas pipelines and related facilities.

Key Matters

  • Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and Manulife Infrastructure Fund III in their investment in the development and ownership, through a joint venture with Hunt Energy Company, of ERCOT battery energy storage system projects and power generation system projects that are interconnected to the ERCOT grid.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation in connection with its purchase of the 1,062 MW La Paloma natural gas-fired generation facility in California  from CSG Investments, Inc., a subsidiary of Beal Financial Corporation.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation in connection its purchase, together with an affiliate of a fund managed by BlackRock's Diversified Infrastructure business, of the 1,092 MW Harquahala natural gas-fired generation facility in Maricopa County, Arizona from CSG Investments, Inc., a subsidiary of Beal Financial Corporation.
  • Represented Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP in connection with the sale of Project Hyperion, LLC, a portfolio of 121 megawatts of operating distributed solar projects located in Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, New Jersey, and Georgia.
  • Represented JLC Infrastructure in connection with its investment in the 13.3 MW cogeneration facility that serves Hudson Yards in New York City as a microgrid and district energy system. As part of the transaction, JLC entered into a joint venture with Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group, developers of Hudson Yards. Financing for the transaction was provided through a private placement of notes to an institutional purchaser.
  • Represented institutional investors in connection with their purchase of privately placed Washington Economic Development Finance Authority Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds (Burnham SEV Pasco LLC Project), Series 2023 (Federally Taxable) (Green Bonds) to provide project financing for the construction and development by Burnham SEV Project LLC of a wastewater treatment and renewable natural gas facility in Pasco, WA.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), and Manulife Infrastructure Fund II in connection with their acquisition of the 1,633 MW Midland Cogeneration Venture from OMERS Infrastructure Management and its co-investors.
  • Represented Barings LLC in connection with the purchase by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and other institutions of senior secured notes to provide financing for the acquisition of the 36-mile Caddeaux Gas Gathering System in Texas and Louisiana by Saber Midstream, LLC, a portfolio company of ArcLight Energy Partners Fund VII. 
  • Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and other institutions in connection with their purchase of senior secured notes to provide financing for the Northeast Energy Center, a 250,000 gallon/day LNG, storage and truck-loading facility in Charlton, Massachusetts. 
  • Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and Manulife Infrastructure Fund II in their investment in the development and ownership of 500 MW of ERCOT battery storage projects through a joint venture with Hunt Energy Network, a subsidiary of Hunt Energy.
  • Represented Cubico Sustainable Investments in connection with its acquisition from Cypress Creek Renewables, and the tax equity and debt financings, of a 377 MW portfolio of solar projects in South Carolina (Palmetto and Huntley projects) and Texas (Wagyu project).
  • Represented Barings (acting on behalf of institutional investors) in connection with a notes financing of the 98 MW Springbok 3 solar project. 
  • Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) in connection with a US$227M equity and debt financing of SolarCity portfolio.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation in connection with its acquisition of the 795 MW Decatur Energy Center from LS Power.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation in connection with its acquisition of the 580 MW Arlington Valley generating facility from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.
  • Represented Gainesville Regional Utilities in connection with its US$750M acquisition of 102.5 MW biomass generating project.

  • Recognized by Chambers USA in the category of “Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional” in 2024 and prior years where he has been described as being “extremely commercial with a tremendous grasp of deal dynamics.” 
  • Recognized by Chambers Global since 2022 for Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional
  • Named a “Hall of Fame Lawyer” for Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power in the 2024 and prior editions of The Legal 500 U.S., in which one client is quoted as saying, “Jonathan Birenbaum is exceptional at connecting with people - clients, opposing party's counsel, etc. He is very good at finding solutions that work for everyone, and also good at telling clients what they may need to hear, even if they don't like it.”
  • Recognized as a  “Leading Lawyer” for Energy Transactions: Electric Power by The Legal 500 U.S. in 2024 and prior years
  • Named as one of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Energy Lawyers” for Renewable Energy & Natural Resource Transactions in 2025 and prior years
  • Listed in the 2024 and prior years editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for Energy Law
  • Who's Who Legal, Recommended Global Leader for Project Finance, 2024
  • “AV Peer Review Rated,” Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability

Jonathan is a Fellow of the American College of Investment Counsel. He previously served as the managing partner of the firm's New York office. From March 2020 through 2022, Jonathan led Winston's highly respected COVID-19 Legal Task Force. Jonathan’s pro bono activities include advising Helen Keller Intl in connection with corporate, governance and other matters.

Jonathan Birenbaum continues to be at the top of our list as go to partners in any of our transactions. His knowledge across the board is top notch, and his problem solving ability makes every transaction as seamless as possible. He always maintains a consistent and friendly demeanor, that reassures everyone that a solution can always be found.

Legal 500 US 2024

Capabilities

Mergers & Acquisitions
Project Finance
Private Equity
Finance
Transactions
Public Companies
Energy
Energy Transition
Infrastructure
Power & Transmission
Oil & Gas

Key Matters

  • Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and Manulife Infrastructure Fund III in their investment in the development and ownership, through a joint venture with Hunt Energy Company, of ERCOT battery energy storage system projects and power generation system projects that are interconnected to the ERCOT grid.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation in connection with its purchase of the 1,062 MW La Paloma natural gas-fired generation facility in California  from CSG Investments, Inc., a subsidiary of Beal Financial Corporation.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation in connection its purchase, together with an affiliate of a fund managed by BlackRock's Diversified Infrastructure business, of the 1,092 MW Harquahala natural gas-fired generation facility in Maricopa County, Arizona from CSG Investments, Inc., a subsidiary of Beal Financial Corporation.
  • Represented Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP in connection with the sale of Project Hyperion, LLC, a portfolio of 121 megawatts of operating distributed solar projects located in Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, New Jersey, and Georgia.
  • Represented JLC Infrastructure in connection with its investment in the 13.3 MW cogeneration facility that serves Hudson Yards in New York City as a microgrid and district energy system. As part of the transaction, JLC entered into a joint venture with Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group, developers of Hudson Yards. Financing for the transaction was provided through a private placement of notes to an institutional purchaser.
  • Represented institutional investors in connection with their purchase of privately placed Washington Economic Development Finance Authority Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds (Burnham SEV Pasco LLC Project), Series 2023 (Federally Taxable) (Green Bonds) to provide project financing for the construction and development by Burnham SEV Project LLC of a wastewater treatment and renewable natural gas facility in Pasco, WA.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), and Manulife Infrastructure Fund II in connection with their acquisition of the 1,633 MW Midland Cogeneration Venture from OMERS Infrastructure Management and its co-investors.
  • Represented Barings LLC in connection with the purchase by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and other institutions of senior secured notes to provide financing for the acquisition of the 36-mile Caddeaux Gas Gathering System in Texas and Louisiana by Saber Midstream, LLC, a portfolio company of ArcLight Energy Partners Fund VII. 
  • Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and other institutions in connection with their purchase of senior secured notes to provide financing for the Northeast Energy Center, a 250,000 gallon/day LNG, storage and truck-loading facility in Charlton, Massachusetts. 
  • Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and Manulife Infrastructure Fund II in their investment in the development and ownership of 500 MW of ERCOT battery storage projects through a joint venture with Hunt Energy Network, a subsidiary of Hunt Energy.
  • Represented Cubico Sustainable Investments in connection with its acquisition from Cypress Creek Renewables, and the tax equity and debt financings, of a 377 MW portfolio of solar projects in South Carolina (Palmetto and Huntley projects) and Texas (Wagyu project).
  • Represented Barings (acting on behalf of institutional investors) in connection with a notes financing of the 98 MW Springbok 3 solar project. 
  • Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) in connection with a US$227M equity and debt financing of SolarCity portfolio.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation in connection with its acquisition of the 795 MW Decatur Energy Center from LS Power.
  • Represented Capital Power Corporation in connection with its acquisition of the 580 MW Arlington Valley generating facility from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.
  • Represented Gainesville Regional Utilities in connection with its US$750M acquisition of 102.5 MW biomass generating project.

Credentials

Education

Jonathan received an A.B. from Colgate University with majors in International Relations, with honors, and French. He received a J.D., cum laude, from Albany Law School of Union University, where he was articles editor of the Albany Law Review.

    Admissions
    • New York
    Languages
    • French

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    Capabilities

    Mergers & Acquisitions
    Project Finance
    Private Equity
    Finance
    Transactions
    Public Companies
    Energy
    Energy Transition
    Infrastructure
    Power & Transmission
    Oil & Gas
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