Andrew C.
Compton

Cravath represented Syrah Resources Limited (“Syrah”), as sponsor, and its subsidiary, Twigg Exploration & Mining, Limitada, as borrower, in connection with a loan from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (“DFC”). Syrah, together with its subsidiaries, is strategically positioned as the first vertically integrated ex‑China natural graphite active anode material supplier for battery and electric vehicle manufacturers globally. Proceeds of the DFC loan will be used to fund capital requirements at the Balama Graphite Operation in Mozambique, the largest graphite mining and processing operation in the world. Graphite produced at Balama is shipped to global battery anode and industrial customers and is being processed at Syrah’s active anode material facility in Louisiana. DFC’s investment will support Syrah in preparation for increased sales to ex‑China anode customers, bolstering the U.S. supply chain for critical minerals. The transaction closed on November 8, 2024.

On May 1, 2025, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “New Executive Order: Enhancing Offshore Critical Mineral Development,” which examines the recently issued executive order, “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources.” The order outlines the administration’s policy objectives for the United States to become a leader in seabed mineral development and mandates certain actions to be undertaken by various federal agencies over the next 60 days in advancement of these policy objectives, including expediting the permitting process for seabed mining, developing a plan to map priority areas of the seabed, and engaging with key partners and allies to jointly develop seabed mineral resources.

On April 29, 2025, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “IRS and Treasury Publish Final Regulations for Sections 45Y and 48E Technology‑Neutral Clean Electricity Production and Investment Tax Credits.” The memo examines the final regulations regarding the clean electricity production credits available under Section 45Y of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the clean electricity investment tax credits available under Section 48E of the Code that were published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service earlier this year.

Andrew Compton is a partner in the Corporate Department at Cravath. In the Season 9 premiere of On Tax, he and fellow Cravath partner and host Len Teti talk about how his work in the energy and energy transition sectors intersects with the world of tax, and the importance of taking calculated risks throughout one’s career. Andrew also discusses the lessons he learned while working in Asia, including the benefits of finding commonality with the people on the other side of the negotiating table.

On February 21, 2025, Cravath partners Kevin J. Orsini and Andrew C. Compton were named to Lawdragon’s 2025 list of “500 Leading Energy Lawyers,” which recognizes the leading “infrastructure & project development experts, energy litigators and dealmakers,” for their work advising clients in the energy sector.

On January 28, 2025, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “IRS and Treasury Publish Final Regulations for Section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit.” The memo examines the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service’s recently published final regulations for the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit under Section 45V of the Internal Revenue Code (the “45V Credit”).