Hughes Hubbard Adds Daniel Leslie, Expanding Project Finance Practice

July 8, 2025 – Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP announced today that Daniel Leslie has joined as a partner in the firm’s Project Finance practice, bringing significant experience in cross-border project finance transactions, in particular transactions across the mining and energy finance industries throughout the Americas and Africa.

Daniel, who joins from one of Canada’s largest law firms, will be based in the firm’s New York office.

Daniel has considerable existing relationships with financial institutions, project developers and private equity sponsors and has advised creditors and debtors on project financings, syndicated financings, sustainability and ESG-linked financings, acquisitions financings, letter of credit facilities and the negotiation and structuring of complex intercreditor agreements. His practice also extends to bank regulatory and risk advisory matters, including advising on anti-money laundering issues.

Daniel has previously worked in the banking and finance sector at other prominent international law firms, including being based in Paris and South Africa. Prior to practicing law, Daniel worked in various law-related positions at the Vance Center for International Justice in New York, the Max Planck Institute for International Law in Freiburg, Germany, the International Criminal Court at The Hague in Netherlands, and the South Africa Competition Tribunal in Pretoria.

“Daniel has impressive experience advising on cross-border international project finance transactions, specifically across the mining and energy finance industries, making him an excellent addition to the firm,” said Neil J. Oxford, chair of Hughes Hubbard. “Growing the firm’s project finance practice is a priority for Hughes Hubbard and Daniel’s experience will allow us to better serve the unique needs of our clients. We look forward to him making a tremendous impact at the firm.”

“I’m thrilled to join a firm with the immense reputation of Hughes Hubbard,” said Daniel. “The firm’s existing project finance work is very complimentary to my practice and offers me the unique ability to grow my practice, while working with the firm’s finance, corporate and tax lawyers to ensure I’m providing my clients with comprehensive and exceptional service.”

Daniel earned his Doctor of Laws (PhD) in International Anti-Money Laundering regulation and his LL.M with merit from the University of the Western Cape program at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Daniel also holds a LL.B. (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria and a BA (with honors) from the University of Ilorin. Daniel is admitted to practice law in New York, Canada and South Africa.