McGuireWoods to Assist Seychelles Trust in Financing to Support Ocean Conservation

April 13, 2021

McGuireWoods has become a law firm partner of the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), a nonprofit trust fund that supports marine conservation and climate adaption programs in the archipelago off the coast of East Africa.

SeyCCAT was established in 2015 to manage proceeds of a groundbreaking debt conversion with the Seychelles government that led to improved environmental policies and increased investment in conservation programs. It has since expanded its portfolio to support sustainable fisheries management, using proceeds from a $15 million “blue bond.” 

McGuireWoods will assist SeyCCAT in finance transactions that further support stewardship of Seychelles’ ocean resources, island life and blue economy. McGuireWoods London partner Marc Naidoo, who has extensive experience in sustainable finance, leads the firm’s relationship with SeyCCAT.

“SeyCCAT is playing an indispensable role in preserving Seychelles’ marine ecosystem and building a foundation for a sustainable blue economy. We are proud to put McGuireWoods’ comprehensive global finance capabilities to work in support of that effort,” Naidoo said.

McGuireWoods has one of the world’s preeminent banking and finance practices. The firm ranked No. 3 worldwide for advising lenders in syndicated loans in 2020, remaining a dominant force in authoritative league tables published by Refinitiv. Law360 named McGuireWoods a “Banking Practice Group of the Year” for 2020, the second time in three years the legal news service has recognized the firm for excellence in representing financial services institutions in litigation, transactional and regulatory matters.