Cordelia Forth
Managing Director, Legal, UK
Cordelia Forth is a senior energy and infrastructure lawyer with a particular interest in energy transition, sustainability & emerging technologies. Cordelia has 13+ years’ experience in negotiating and managing complex international transactions in the energy sector; she most recently spent 6 years as Managing Director & Global Counsel for GE Energy Financial Services, where she was responsible for leading investments in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
Cordelia has wide-ranging experience in project finance, corporate and commercial law, including M&A, debt, equity, fund structures, greenfield development and other structured products. She is known for her pragmatic and commercially minded advice across a range of technologies in the energy sector including onshore wind, offshore wind, solar energy and CCS.
Prior to GE, Cordelia was legal counsel for a carbon capture storage JV between Drax, Alstom and Linde and an associate in Allen & Overy’s project finance group (including a secondment at UK Green Investment Bank, now GIG).
Cordelia has a first-class honours degree in Law & European Legal Studies from Durham University.
What’s your role at RPC?
I am part of the Legal Team at RPC, which means I provide legal support to the wider team on all aspects of RPC’s deals, from structuring potential investments through to legal due diligence, transaction document drafting and assisting with portfolio matters.
What’s a typical working day for you?
I have only been with RPC for 6 weeks but so far, no two days have been the same! As the legal team is fairly small, we all pitch in on whatever comes in.
Generally, I start my day reading the latest news across energy industry publications to see what is going on in the market. I then spend time reviewing and drafting documents and answering the team’s ad hoc legal queries on anything from property through to compliance matters and disputes! I also try to stay in regular contact with our various external law firms to ensure we are getting the best quality service (and rates!).
What have you found during your time at RPC?
Although I have only just joined RPC, I am hugely impressed by the quality of the team and the common passion we all have towards accelerating the energy transition. The team is lean and can move quickly to take advantage of opportunities in the market – which is one of the many reasons RPC is an incredibly exciting place to work.
What’s your proudest career moment?
I helped close a Spanish development deal with a very tight timeline and demanding stakeholders. What was meant to be a one-day business trip to Madrid turned into a week of long negotiations and very little sleep, but we managed to get the deal signed. It ultimately resulted in a huge benefit for the company I was working for – both in the short term but also as an ongoing business relationship. I earned myself the nickname “the Iron Lady”, which I am not sure was a compliment, but I’ll take it!
What do you do in your spare time?
I have two young daughters so most of my spare time is spent hanging out in playgrounds and going for walks. I enjoy one of these activities – you can probably guess which one!
Where’s your favourite place in Europe?
Loutro, in Crete. Although not quite a hidden secret anymore, it’s a wonderful, whitewashed village on the south coast of Crete, which can only be accessed by boat. My family has been going for almost 20 years and I always feel a wave of peace when we arrive on the ferry and tuck into a big plate of fresh fish!
What’s your favourite clean technology and why?
Onshore wind. I have always loved working on technologies with a visual impact and often point out wind farms to our children when we travel. Our 3-year-old now shouts “wind turbine” whenever she sees one (and can even tell you they help produce electricity), which I am very proud of!