Sara K. Orr

Since joining Kirkland, Sara has been involved in the following matters:

Private Equity Transactions

• Conduct ESG due diligence for private equity clients on multiple acquisitions including in technology, oil and gas, beverages, education, and agricultural industries
• Advise private equity firms on best practices for ESG due diligence, metrics, reporting, and external ratings and frameworks including UN Principles for Responsible Investment

Capital Markets Advice
including in Bond Offerings, Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation (SPACs) Formations and Combinations, and Disclosures

• Advise various companies on ESG issues in connection with Initial Public Offerings including advice on ESG Policies and Procedures, ESG voluntary and mandatory reporting obligations, ESG ratings and readiness assessments
• Assess potential shareholder activism ESG vulnerabilities and develop action plans for various public companies

Debt Finance

• Advise lenders on Equator Principles and other ESG issues in connection with project financing
• Counsel clients on sustainable finance structures including sustainability bonds, green bonds and loans, and other ESG related financial products 

Prior to joining Kirkland, Sara was involved in the following matters:

• Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and TOTAL in connection with the financing of the development of the US$20 billion Mozambique LNG Project, named “Global Multilateral Deal of the Year” of 2020 by Project Finance International
• The underwriters in the US$240.6 million initial public offering for Beyond Meat
• Goldman Sachs in multiple financings of various natural resource extraction companies
• A major mining company in connection with the development of anew US phosphate mine, including counseling on public lands management issues, NEPA, and litigation strategy
• Bass Pro Group, LLC in its completed US$5 billion acquisition of Cabela’s Incorporated
• The sponsor, Sasol Chemicals (USA) LLC, in connection with the development and project financing of a multi-billion dollar petrochemical project in Louisiana that Infrastructure Journal Global and Project Finance International magazines named America’s Petrochemical Deal of the Year 2014
• The underwriters in the US$1.57 billion initial public offering of Antero Resources (named Best Financing of the Year by Oil and Gas Investor magazine) and in the US$1 billion and US$600 million notes offerings of Antero Resources
• The underwriters on the US$582.9 million financing of Black Rock and NextEra Energy Partners’ acquisition of a portfolio of wind and solar projects from NextEra Energy Resources that Project Finance International named North America Power Deal of the Year 2018
• An ad hoc group of secured noteholders and debtor-in-possession lenders led by DDJ Capital Management in the Real Industry, Inc. bankruptcy cases, including the acquisition by the note holders of substantially all of the company’s assets valued at US$450 million
• Private equity firm Arclight Capital Partners in a number of transactions, including its acquisition of offshore oil and gas assets from BP and its acquisition of Hovensa’s terminal facilities
• LS Power in the financing of a transmission line in Clark County, Nevada that IJGlobal named North America Transmission/Distribution Deal of the Year 2018
• The lenders and noteholders in a bank and private placement financing of the Texoma portfolio of wind projects owned by Duke Energy

Latham & Watkins, 2005–2021

Bell Boyd & Lloyd, 2002–2005