John Beardsworth retired in 2021 as a Senior Partner of the Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP law firm, where he served multiple terms as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Partnership Admission Committee. Mr. Beardsworth also served for ten years as Global Head of Hunton’s Business Practice Group and he served as Chair of the American Bar Association’s Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section. Mr. Beardsworth is an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Dundee’s Center for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP). With over 40 years of experience, he focused his practice on energy and infrastructure transactions and finance, particularly in the oil, gas, electricity, mining and infrastructure sectors. Prior to retiring, Mr. Beardsworth served as Hunton’s relationship Partner for the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the US International Development Finance Corporation, the Port Authority of Virginia, the US Department of Energy and multiple sovereign Governments throughout the world, including many in Africa. In Chambers rankings, Mr. Beardsworth is one of two lawyers worldwide ranked with the highest “Senior Statespeople” designation for Africa Infrastructure Projects and Energy.
Mr. Beardsworth is an internationally recognized author and speaker on the development and financing of energy, extractive industries, renewables and infrastructure projects with a particular focus on Africa and emerging markets. He is a co-author of the World Bank’s ground-breaking treatise on resource-financed infrastructure and his work in Africa has been the subject of feature articles. Mr. Beardsworth has undertaken speaking and lecturing assignments in North and South America, Africa, Europe and Africa, generally with a focus on emerging market development and finance.