Joanna K. Horsnail

Public and Project Finance. Clients seek Joanna's experience in public and project finance. Joanna has participated in financings for the State of Illinois (bond counsel for $10 billion pension obligation bond financing, which was named a Bond Buyer Midwest deal of the year), the City of Chicago, the Board of Education of the City of Chicago, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and other public and not-for-profit entities. Joanna also serves clients on construction-related aspects of project finance transactions, including representing lenders and sponsors. 

General Governmental Representation. Joanna provides general counsel to government bodies engaged in activities such as construction, privatization, economic development, procurement, complex developments, and special projects. She has negotiated and documented sophisticated transactions involving the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, and the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority.

Joanna is the managing partner of the firm's Chicago office and served as chair of Mayer Brown's Diversity Steering Board.

Represented:

• A US-based energy client in the negotiation of multiple EPC contracts relating to the development of a power plant and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal and transmission facilities in El Salvador. Also represented this client in negotiating an EPC agreement in Mexico.
• Unilever in complex manufacturing plant design and construction contracts and construction dispute resolution.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb in the negotiation and drafting of design, construction, and procurement documents for a $900 million biologics manufacturing facility near Cruiserath, Ireland.
• The Texas Department of Transportation in the negotiation of a design-build agreement and capital maintenance agreements for more than $2 billion in highway construction projects.
• United Airlines in the design and construction of numerous design-build projects throughout the United States, including new lounge space, kitchen facilities, training facilities, and a complex, high technology baggage conveyor project.
• A food manufacturing company in the acquisition of several food processing facilities throughout the United States that were under construction; included undertaking diligence and renegotiating terms of EPC, tax incentive, and supply agreements.
• Ascension Health in the creation of template IPD, master architect's agreement, construction agreement, planning agreement, and several forms of professional services agreements, and assisted the client in contract oversight for more than 1,000 contracts.
• Benteler International AG in its construction of a $975 million hot rolling steel mill and related facilities near Shreveport, Louisiana; included all aspects of site diligence, governmental incentives, and leasing, as well as the negotiation of a number of large EPC, design, construction, and supply contracts for the construction of the complex industrial facilities.
• NorthShore University Health Systems in the negotiation and drafting of multiple construction, design, and consulting contracts for hospital and health facility new construction, renovations, and expansions, as well as drafting a suite of form contracts for the client to use in the future.
• Caterpillar as EPC contractor in the negotiation of multiple EPC contracts for projects in the US and Canada. Presented at a series of in-house construction contracting seminars for Caterpillar legal and business teams.
• A Japanese consortium of global companies engaged to negotiate the EPC contract and design and build the multibillion-dollar infrastructure for the Texas highspeed rail project that will run between Dallas and Houston.
• The Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority of Chicago in the negotiation and drafting of design-build contracts for the McCormick Place Convention center expansion and a design-build contract for the development of the $120 million convention center hotel and related operating and management agreement.
• The City of Chicago in the negotiation of a 20-year design/build/install/maintain contract relating to thousands of pieces of "street furniture" provided by JCDecaux.
• The Japanese member of a consortium bidding to construct new metro railway system in Panama City, Panama.
• Acciona Energy North America in the negotiation and drafting of engineering, consulting, and construction agreements for numerous wind farms in Oklahoma, Texas, and Canada, as well as miscellaneous EPC matters, turbine supply agreements, and transportation agreements.
• Acciona Energy North America in development of agreements for solar energy project.
• A power producer in the Dominican Republic in negotiation of EPC contract and related documents for construction of 215 MW dual-fuel power plant.
• A Japanese company in its EPC negotiations to build a gas pipeline in Mexico for a Mexican utility.
• Crestwood in EPC negotiations to bid for the construction of a gas pipeline in Texas.