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Kelly Cataldo

Partner, Project Development & Finance at Latham & Watkins

New York, NY

KC
LinkedIn
Why they matter

Lead project-finance counsel on some of the largest U.S. renewable closings of 2024-2025; sees deal economics from the closing-document level.

Background

Partner in Latham & Watkins' Project Development & Finance practice in New York. Has led the firm's representation of Origis Energy across multiple tax-equity financings. Focus on renewable-energy project finance, tax equity, and hybrid solar+storage transactions.

Notable deals

  • 2025
    Led Latham & Watkins' Project Development & Finance team advising Origis Energy in tax-equity transactions.
  • 2024
    Advised Origis Energy on Golden Triangle I project tax-equity financing in Mississippi.
  • 2024
    Advised rPlus Energies on $650M project financing for Blacks Creek Energy Center.

Call-prep brief

Background

Kelly leads Latham's project development & finance team for many of the largest renewable closings. She sits at the intersection of project finance, tax equity, and developer-side strategy. Exceptional for understanding where deals actually stick or fall apart.

What she cares about

  • Closing certainty in a market with shifting tax guidance and rate environment.
  • Developer-side capital structure. Multiple Origis representations.
  • Mid-large project finance ($500M+ debt facilities).

Recent moves

  • Multiple Origis Energy closings.
  • rPlus Energies Blacks Creek $650M financing (2024).

Sensitivities

  • Project finance is detail-driven; questions need to be specific to get useful answers.
  • Don't ask for client-specific intel; ask about market trends.

Questions to ask

  1. Where are project-finance debt spreads landing post-rate moves, and which lenders are most aggressive?
  2. Which developer profiles (independent, sponsor-backed, strategic) are getting the best execution today?
  3. Which renewable sub-segments are seeing the longest financing-process timelines vs. cleanest closings?

Outreach draft

Subject
Project finance market: [Firm] intro
Hi Kelly, I lead clean-energy investing at [Firm]. Your work on Origis and rPlus closings is precisely the deal-shape we're tracking, and I'd like to introduce [Firm] as a credible sponsor for similar mid-market renewable financings. Would you have 20 minutes for an intro in the next month? Best regards, [Your name] [Your firm]

Linked companies

Sources