Mayer Brown adds former Chief Counsel for CHIPS Program Office, Sven Hodges, expanding federal financing and infrastructure capabilities in Washington DC

WASHINGTON DC – Mayer Brown announced today that Sven Hodges has joined the firm as a partner in its Projects & Infrastructure group in Washington DC, where he will focus on federal financing programs and infrastructure projects. In his prior role, Sven served as Chief Counsel for Semiconductor Incentives for the US Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Program Office. He previously also served as an Assistant Chief Counsel for the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (now Office of Energy Dominance Financing).

“Sven is a well-regarded project finance lawyer and a leader in federal financing programs supporting advanced manufacturing and energy in the US,” said Joe Seliga, leader of Mayer Brown’s global Projects & Infrastructure practice. “His experience in government funding and energy infrastructure matters will be invaluable to our clients as they navigate priorities such as advanced manufacturing, energy security, and AI infrastructure.”

Sven brings more than 20 years of experience advising leading federal financing programs, private lenders, and investors on complex financing transactions for a wide range of infrastructure projects, including in the semiconductor, automotive, and energy sectors. In addition to his federal background, Sven previously served as Managing Director for Legal & Regulatory Affairs at NY Green Bank, a leading state-sponsored sustainableinfrastructure credit fund. He also worked as in-house counsel at GE Energy Financial Services and after beginning his career in private practice as a project finance lawyer in New York.  

"I am thrilled to be joining Mayer Brown’s Projects & Infrastructure group in Washington DC," said Sven. “The firm offers a fully integrated platform with a market-leading project finance practice and deep experience across key federal agencies. As such, it provides the ideal foundation to build a practice advising clients committed to advancing infrastructure investment in the US across a range of industry sectors.”

“Sven’s experience working at the center of federal initiatives makes him a strong fit for our Washington DC office,” said Andrew Olmem, managing partner of Mayer Brown's Washington DC office. “His arrival is another important step in our growth strategy and significantly enhances our ability to deliver sophisticated project financing solutions for clients across the advanced manufacturing and energy sectors.”