Zoë Austen
Location Johannesburg
Name / Surname Zoë Austen

Zoë Austen

Associate

Zoë Austen is an Associate with a focus in the Infrastructure, Energy & Projects and Banking & Finance practice areas. Zoë advises on a broad range of financing transactions, including project finance transactions, asset acquisitions, limited recourse financing, and public-private partnerships. She is experienced in structuring and negotiating deals within the infrastructure sector, ensuring the successful execution of projects.

  • Infrastructure & Energy
  • Project Finance and Infrastructure
  • Banking & Finance
  • Project Finance and Infrastructure
  • Bank and Institutional Finance
  • Corporate Finance

Advised / Represented / Acted on behalf of:

  • the South African Reserve Bank in relation to the Curatorship and subsequent liquidation of VBS Mutual Bank
  • Sponsors in relation to the development of the supply of 69MW of wind powered renewable energy for the production of green hydrogen at Sasol's Sasolburg operations, through a wheeling arrangement under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Sasol South Africa Limited
  • Sponsors in 2022/2023 in relation to the development of an 89MW wind farm, supplying renewable energy to a mining house to support its mining operations via a wheeling arrangement
  • Lenders' Legal Advisors in 2023 in relation to the provision of financing in respect of a 150MW solar PV project wheeling energy across South Africa to multiple offtakers, being the first and largest privately developed n-type utility-scale project
  • the Private Party in respect of the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital Project in relation to the PPP and other Project Documents in respect of the upgrading and refurbishments of the hospital complex
  • Sponsors in 2023/2024 in relation to its development of 3 wind power generation facilities of 140MW each, to supply energy on wheeled basis to various offtakers including mining houses and a trader
  • Lenders' Legal Advisors in 2024 in relation to a cross-border transaction involving foreign regulators and cross border funding for the of financing of the acquisition of two 10MW solar PV projects in Namibia
  • Lenders' Legal Advisors in 2025 in relation to both a re-financing and a separate financing arrangement in respect of a portfolio of Secured Properties under a multi-facility lending arrangement, coupled with the registration of a number of mortgage bonds and other asset acquisition concerns with a current deal value of over ZAR1.3 billion
  • Admitted as an Attorney in 2024
  • LLB (cum laude), University of Cape Town, 2021
  • Bachelor of Arts (double distinction), University of Cape Town, 2019
  • Listed as a key lawyer by Legal 500 | Projects and Infrastructure | 2025
  • Listed as a key lawyer by Legal 500 | Banking and Finance | 2025
  • Graduated 5th in the graduating LLB class of 149 students, University of Cape Town, 2021.
  • University Provincial Debating Champion, University of Cape Town, 2017.
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