'Rising Star'
Legal 500 2023

Overview

Emma Sturt is a senior associate in the Banking & Finance practice of the London office. She joined Mayer Brown in 2014 as a trainee spending six months on secondment to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. during her training contract. Following one year of qualification Emma spent a further six months on secondment with the Real Estate Finance desk at Citibank N.A.

Emma has experience acting for banks, financial institutions and a variety of borrowing entities on a broad range of domestic, European and international finance transactions, with a particular focus on project, real estate and export financings. She also has experience working on large scale asset finance and cross-border securitisations.

Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Emma practiced for six years as a civil engineer, focusing on bridge and structural design. She worked on a number of international and UK-based projects such as the 2012 Olympics package and the Heathrow Terminal 4 redesign, where she spent a year on site gaining valuable commercial experience.

Emma is an active member of the FEX UK organisation and sat for six months on its working group. The organisation aims to provide a platform for younger professionals in export finance to network, enhances the FEX members’ knowledge of export finance and aims to promote export finance as a career option.

Areas of Focus

Practices
Industries

Spoken Languages

  • English

Experience

  • Advised the lenders, including Societe Generale and BNP Paribas on the financing and development of Roxgold Inc.'s Yaramoko gold project in Burkina Faso ("Africa – Mining and Metals Deal of the Year 2015" IJGlobal Europe and Africa Awards).
  • Advising Standard Chartered Bank on the grant of a US$3 billion facility to First Quantum Minerals Limited and a US$350 million facility to its subsidiary, Zambia-based Kansanshi Minerals PLC (owners of Africa’s largest copper mine).
  • Advised the lenders, including Societe Generale and Investec on the US$75 million refinancing of the Macedonian SASA mine.
  • Advised an international bank on a landmark EUR600 million first European securitisation together with a refinancing of its Asset Backed Lending facility.
  • Advised the lenders, including Societe Generale and ING Bank N.V. on a US$180 million pre-export refinancing in relation to the borrower's Armenian mining operations.
  • Advised Societe General, London Branch, Natixis, ING Bank, N.V. and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Sucursal en España, as mandated lead arrangers, to refinance a US$400 million senior secured facility for Minas de Aguas Teñidas (MATSA), a mining company based in Spain.

Perspectives

News

Education

BPP University Law School, LPC

BPP University Law School, GDL

Durham University, Civil Engineering

Admissions

  • England and Wales

Activities

  • Member of the FEX UK organisation and sits on its working group. The organisation aims to provide a platform for younger professionals in export finance to network, enhances the FEX members’ knowledge of export finance and aims to promote export finance as a career option.
  • Listed as a Rising star and key lawyer for Emerging Markets and as a key lawyer for Mining and Minerals (Legal 500 2023).
  • Listed as a Rising star and key lawyer for Emerging Markets and as a key lawyer for Mining and Minerals, ‘Key standout members of the team are Ian Coles and Emma Sturt. The difference is the pragmatism and experience of working on both the lender and borrower side over many years on transactions in the sector. Experience can be found in several firms, but implementing and negotiating a sensible result is sometimes less of a focus; the MB team is responsive and pragmatic.’ (Legal 500 2022).
  • Listed as a 'Rising Star' and a 'key lawyer' for Emerging Markets. Counsel Danuta De Vries and export finance associate Emma Sturt also play key roles in the practice. (Legal 500 2021).
  • Part of the team led by Banking & Finance partner Ian Coles for the refinancing of the SASA mine in Macedonia deal which has been shortlisted for the 2017 IFLR European Awards.