Overview

Kelann Stirling focuses her practice on development and financing of energy and infrastructure projects. She has advised clients on a wide range of projects, within and outside of the U.S., with a focus on renewable power (including wind, battery storage and hydroelectric facilities) and energy transition technologies (including renewable fuels, carbon capture and sequestration, and hydrogen), conventional power, LNG and midstream gas gathering and processing facilities. Kelann also advises clients on matters relating to sustainable financing and is part of the Firm’s ESG strategy group. In addition, Kelann has significant experience in restructurings and acquisition financings in the energy and infrastructure sector.

Kelann has represented private equity investors, strategic investors, developers and lenders (including commercial and investment banks, export credit agencies, institutional investors, credit funds and governmental entities) and has experience in all aspects of structuring international and domestic infrastructure financings and negotiating and drafting finance and project development documents.

Kelann was recognized for her work in USA - Projects in Chambers Global in 2022–2023, as “Up and Coming” in Chambers USA in 2021–2022, as a “Rising Star Partner” in Project Finance by IFLR1000 and as a 2019 Rising Star by Law360. In the 2022 edition of Chambers USA, clients note, “Kelann possesses an acute legal mind, analyzes the most complex issues in full depth and delivers practical advice.” “She is very creative, very hard-working and up to speed on the market.” She is also recommended by Legal 500 for Project Finance.

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Thought Leadership

Publications

“Tax-equity Financing” chapter, The Project Finance Law Review – Edition 3, June 2021

Co-author, “Biden Charts Future of U.S. Infrastructure in Ambitious American Jobs Plan,” Kirkland Alert, April 2, 2021

“Tax-equity Financing” chapter, The Project Finance Law Review – Edition 1, June 2020

“Tax-equity Financing” chapter, The Project Finance Law Review – Edition 1, June 2019

Co-author of the United States country report for Project Finance Report 2017, an IFLR publication

Co-author of “Multisource Project Financing,” The Principles of Project Finance, a project finance text edited by Rod Morrison

Seminars

Panelist, “How Secure Is Your Performance Security? Performance Bonds, Parent Guarantees, and Letters of Credit” The Foundation of Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute, July 21, 2023

Moderator, “Renewable Energy Outlook” Kayo Infrastructure Summit, November 2022

Panelist, “Is the Energy Transition Under a Threat?” REFF Wall Street, September 2022

Speaker, IJ ESG North America 2021, hosted by IJ Global, Panel on Examining the Environmental Policy Shifts Across North America

Moderator, Innovation and Investments in ESG Through Green Bonds and Sustainable Finance Webinar, March 31, 2021 

Moderator, 2020 Kayo Infrastructure Summit, Panel on Renewable Energy Investor

Moderator, 2019 DOE Energy Storage Summit, Panel on Capital Providers

Moderator, 2019 Kayo Women’s Power & Infrastructure Summit, Panel on Trends in Project Finance

Speaker, Power Finance & Risk Corporate Offtaker Roundtable 2019 (published by Power Finance & Risk on February 22, 2019)

Moderator, 2019 Harvard Business School Venture Capital & Private Equity Conference, Panel on Energy & Infrastructure

Recognition

Recognized as “Up and Coming” for Projects (USA) by Chambers Global, 2022–2023

Recognized as a “Rising Star Partner” in Project Finance by IFLR 1000, 2021–2022

Recognized as “Up and Coming” for Projects (USA - Nationwide) by Chambers USA, 2021–2022

Recognized as “Top 21 in 21: Women in Infrastructure” by Kayo Conference, 2021

Recognized for Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power by The Legal 500 United States, 2020–2021

Recognized for Project Finance by The Legal 500 United States, 2019–2023

Recognized as “Rising Star” for Project Finance by Law360, 2019

Memberships & Affiliations

Chair of NYC Bar Association Project Finance Committee for 2023

Member of New York City Bar Association Project Finance Committee for 2021

Member of Law360’s Project Finance Editorial Advisory Board for 2020

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • New York
  • California
  • District of Columbia (inactive)

Education

  • Cornell Law SchoolJ.D.magna cum laude2004

    Order of the Coif

    Managing Editor, Cornell Law Review

  • Boston UniversityB.S., English & Sociology2001

    Valedictorian, Sociology Major

    Phi Beta Kappa

    Alpha Kappa Delta