Professional Biography

James R. Cowan Partner

  • Portland

    D +1.503.727.2065

    F +1.503.346.2065

    Portland

    1120 NW Couch Street, 10th Floor

    Portland, OR 97209-4128

    +1.503.727.2065

    JCowan@perkinscoie.com

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Overview

James Cowan's practice focuses on project finance and development, primarily in the energy and infrastructure industries. In his finance practice, James represents borrowers, project developers, sponsors, investors, lenders and other participants in private and capital markets debt financings including Rule 144A offerings and other project financings, secured and unsecured corporate financings, letters of credit and related refinancings and restructurings. He also advises clients on various types of swaps, derivatives and other financial instruments.

In his development practice, James represents project companies, developers and sponsors in the structuring and negotiation of joint venture agreements, engineering, procurement and construction agreements, design/build agreements, supply agreements, operation and maintenance agreements, service agreements and other project agreements, primarily for the development of power projects, including gas-fired, solar, wind, geothermal and hydro-powered generation, and housing developments. A significant component of this practice involves the representation of borrowers, developers and sponsors in connection with public-private partnerships (also known as "PPPs" or "P3s") in the infrastructure sector.

James also has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, representing buyers and sellers in acquisitions and dispositions of projects and companies in the energy and infrastructure and other sectors and in related leveraged financing transactions. 

James' recent transactions of note include representation of:

  • sponsors, developers, vendors, investors and financing parties in connection with the development and financing of wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower projects across the United States;
  • sponsors and project companies in the infrastructure industry in the restructuring and refinancing of debt facilities, interest rate, credit default and currency swaps and guaranteed investment contracts with a collective value in excess of $1 billion; and
  • a public private partnership in the development, construction and financing of military housing facilities across the United States for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, with a collective value in excess of $3 billion.

Experience

News

RELATED INFORMATION

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Oregon
  • California

Education

  • University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D., 1992
  • University of Oxford, M.St., 1988
  • Harvard University, B.A., cum laude, 1986