Dara Penahy
As leader of the firm’s Transportation and Space Group in Washington, DC, Dara Panahy’s practice involves representation of satellite and space infrastructure operators, aerospace manufacturers, launch services providers, communications, earth observation and data services companies, banks, private equity firms, hedge funds and other investors in debt and equity offerings, project, structured and vendor financings, mergers & acquisitions, financial restructurings and in negotiating commercial contracts. He also advises on regulatory, sanctions, anti-corruption, national security and export control matters.
Mr. Panahy’s practice focuses on representing clients involved in the aerospace, communications and data service industries. He advises on numerous financings involving public offerings, high yield debt, investment grade bonds, project and vendor financings, mergers & acquisitions, financial restructuring and reorganizations and in negotiating project contracts. He also counsels clients on domestic and international regulatory and trade matters, including licensing of communications systems, economic sanctions, regulation of foreign direct investment, anti-bribery and corrupt practices, national security and export control laws and regulations and risk management.
His recent representations include:
• numerous commercial satellite and launch services procurements for clients in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia
• procurement and financing of next-generation, multi-billion dollar regional and global fixed and mobile satellite systems
• various satellite, aerospace and communications company mergers & acquisitions, strategic venture transactions and restructurings in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia
• bank and capital markets financings, and private placements, involving global, regional and national communications, broadcast, broadband, remote sensing and asset tracking companies and service providers
Mr. Panahy is a regular speaker at space and communications conferences, a visiting lecturer at the International Space University and has published articles and delivered numerous presentations on finance, commercial and regulatory aspects of the aerospace and communications industries. He has been recognized as a leading lawyer in Telecom, Broadcast and Satellite Financing in Chambers USA and The Legal 500. Mr. Panahy speaks fluent Spanish and Farsi.
Dr. Gianluigi Baldesi
Dr. Gianluigi Baldesi is the Head of the Ventures and Financing Office at the European Space Agency, where he leads the ESA Investor Network to connect space companies with investors and financial institutions. He also supports companies in scaling up and attracting capital through initiatives like the ESA Marketplace. With over 20 years of experience in technology and strategic leadership for space missions, he has held key roles at ESA, including in the Technical and Space Transportation Directorate and the Strategy Department. He holds a PhD in Systems Engineering (Supaero/Sapienza) and an Executive MBA (Columbia/LBS).
Sandrine BedatSandrine Bédat is deputy head of the Defense, Shipping, Space, Telecom unit at the Key Accounts Department of Bpifrance Assurance Export, the French Export Credit Agency. She has spent her carrier in export credit insurance, firstly at Coface, which she joined in 1990 as underwriter, and then at Bpifrance Assurance Export when the export insurance activity managed by Coface for the account of the French State was transferred on 1 January 2017 to that new subsidiary of Bpifrance, acting in the name, on behalf and under the control of the French State. Her portfolio has included the space sector for 22 years and most of the related French export credits supported over the period whatever the financing structure.
Anders Bohlin
Anders Bohlin is a Lead Economist and works in the Digital Infrastructure Division at the Projects Directorate of the European Investment Bank based in Luxembourg. He works with a team of experts involved in project due diligences in all sectors related to digital communication and the various technologies involved. This entails covering the full spectrum of projects from submarine cables to satellites in orbit… He also works on the Bank’s business strategy with respect to financing of broadband infrastructure, Space, innovation policy and the digital economy in general. Anders has also contributed in defining new financial instruments for digital infrastructure jointly with the European Commission, national promotional banks and the private sector.
Before joining the EIB, Anders held senior positions in the telecommunications industry.
Anders holds a Master’s degree from the Stockholm School of Economics.