Ian Coles heads Mayer Brown's Africa and Mining practices and co-heads the Global Projects practice. He concentrates his practice on all aspects of bank and debt finance, ranging from projects and other structured finance to commodities financing and restructuring. He represents banks and other financial institutions, sponsors, and other participants in finance transactions throughout the world.

Ian has also been listed in The International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers and Project Finance Lawyers 2018. He has been listed in this publication since 2006. Ian has also been included in the mining chapter of Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Global Elite (3rd Edition) 2019 and 2020, as well as being selected for inclusion in the Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist: African Specialists 2019.

Ian joined Mayer Brown in 1981, becoming a partner in 1987, and is the author of numerous articles in connection with project finance.