Canadian pension fund CDPQ is the second-largest infrastructure investor on the planet. Expect to see it spread its wings in the UK and Europe during 2024 as it rolls out a strategy of managing transactions as close to the assets as possible. In London, CDPQ is headed by former Allen & Overy senior partner David Morley but heading the legal team’s push on the strategy is Canadian-born Alexander Chmel. The latter is currently spearheading CDPQ’s team build-out while overseeing its ability to handle deals locally and autonomously.
Chmel’s lengthy experience in funds will come in handy in an uncertain world characterised by an unprecedented number of elections in 2024, two wars and a perma-crisis. Not the easiest of climates for investors or indeed lawyers to navigate but when times are tough, that is the time for the legal team to shine. And in Chmel, CDPQ has on board the archetypal safe pair of hands.