Sebastien Bernard

After starting his career in a financial institution in Jersey (Channel Islands) and seven years working as in-house counsel for a couple of European based companies, including Thales, a leading group of companies in the field of defense, aerospace and security systems, Sebastien joined the headquarters of Dalkia in 2007 (then a joint venture between Veolia and EDF) as Senior International Counsel for Middle East and Asia. In 2009, he then became Special Advisor to the Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary of Veolia, a world leader in the field of environmental services. 

 At Veolia, Sebastien has been deeply involved in some major investment projects. He also carried out some strategic M&A transactions and disinvestment operations including transfer of securities and sale of non-core assets within the framework of a program launched by the group aimed at reducing its net financial debt.  

 Early 2010, he rejoined Dalkia and moved to Dubai to take over the position of General Counsel for META and India regions, before getting his perimeter also extended to Asia. Deals and transactions Sebastien has been involved while at Dalkia include Saadiyat Island District Cooling project in Abu Dhabi (the first district cooling in the Middle East structured as a PPP), securing and closing a RMB 387m increase of capital in China and successfully closing the sale of Dalkia’s former operations in India, Macau and Malaysia. 

 Following the take-over by Veolia of Dalkia’s international operations in 2014, Sebastien became Head of Legal, Project Structuring & Financing Operations of Veolia in the Middle East, covering the GCC and the neighborhood countries. In his role, and during nearly 7 years, Sebastien has been deeply involved in the development, structuring and project financing of large IWPs and ISTPs tendered by the main offtakers of the region, including projects such Rabigh 3 IWP, Shuqaiq 3 IWP, Yanbu 4 IWP, Taweelah IWP, Dammam ISTP, Jubail 3B IWP, Barka 4 and 5 IWPs, but also Salalah IWP and Jeddah Airport 2 ISTP which both reached successful financial close.  

 Early 2021, Sebastien joined EDF Renewables, a world-renowned player in the development, construction and operations-maintenance of renewable energy power plants, including solar plants and wind farms. At EDF Renewables, Sebastien is the Head of Legal for the Middle East region, with a strong focus on project development and project finance. 

 Sebastien has an extensive experience in infrastructure/BOT/PPP transactions in the Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Asia, especially in the field of renewable energy, thermal power, district cooling, waste-to-energy, desalination and wastewater. He also has particular specialism in non-recourse project finance transactions and M&A deals (including asset and share-based transactions).  

Sebastien has a dual citizenship French and British. 

Speaker Details
  • Profession

    Head of Legal Middle East

  • Company

    EDF Renewables 

  • Country

    UAE

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