The Legal 500

The ‘established’ team at Allen & Overy conducts ‘high-volume’ projects and energy work for a list of predominantly banking clients. It advised BP, Standard Chartered Bank and ICON Capital Corp as lenders on the Jurong Aromatics petrochemical project in Singapore (currently the largest of its kind). The firm also advised the sponsors of the Tayan alumina project in Indonesia, and assisted two banks on a loan facility for the development of a power transmission plant in India. Jason Humphreys and Kayal Sachi, in the banking group, both cover projects work, and Charlie Grover offers support as counsel.

Clifford Chance’s large team of nine partners is led by the experienced Ting Ting Tan. It continues to work on major infrastructure projects across Asia, including advising Asian Development Bank and JBIC on a financing for the full-scale development of a hydroelectric power plant in Laos. In addition, the firm acted as international counsel to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, HSBC and others on a $2.16bn financing for a new 1,000MW coal-fired power plant in Malaysia. Other clients include Deutsche Bank, UBS, Barclays and PT Bumi Alam Sejahtera.

Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee advised Medco Energi as lead counsel on the significant $2.8bn Donggi-Senoro LNG in Indonesia, which was the first LNG project of its kind since 2001. It also advised JBIC on the financing of the Van Phong 1 power project. Other key clients include Pertamina, Talisman Energy and Salamander Energy Group. Brad Roach is a well-established practitioner and leads a group of 13 fee-earners.

Latham & Watkins LLP’s projects and energy team includes managing partner Stephen McWilliams, who advises on both project development and financing transactions. The team advised the lenders on the Mong Duong II power plant financing in Vietnam, worth $1.5bn; and also acted as counsel to the borrower in the Jurong Island petrochemical project: a $2.35bn financing to build facilities off Singapore to produce aromatics.

Linklaters Singapore Pte. Ltd advised a group of international banks on the $6bn acquisition financing to members of the Vedanta Group in order to fund the acquisition of a controlling stake in Cairn Energy. It also advised Asian Development Bank on the financing and development of the JDW Power project in Pakistan, designed to produce biomass and coal. The firm’s quality of work and legal advice is ‘of a high standard’. Christopher Bradley is the lead partner, and Nathan Dodd supports as counsel.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy’s strong projects and energy practice has a ‘good reputation’ among peers, and is led by managing partner David Zemans. James Murray advises on projects across various Asian jurisdictions; examples include a limited recourse financing for a power project in the Philippines, the Paiton power projects in Indonesia, various mining projects in Mongolia, and a tungsten mine project in Vietnam.

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s projects work spans the renewable energy, oil and gas, metals and mining, telecoms and infrastructure sectors. It represented Asian Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation on the $150m financing of a 50MW wind farm in Pakistan, the country’s first internationally financed project of its kind; and worked on the financing of Uch II, a gas-fired power project also in Pakistan. Other clients include POSCO Power, Crédit Agricole and GDF Suez. Bill McCormack heads the practice group.

White & Case LLP’s projects team is led by Ken Hawkes, and ‘can match all others for quality and value’. Its recent work includes advising GMR Infrastructure on the sale of 30% of its stake in GMR Energy to a subsidiary of Petronas; and acting for the project sponsors on the $2bn development of a greenfield project in southern Sumatra, Indonesia. It is providing ongoing advice to PT Antam Tbk and PT Feni Haltim for a proposed $1.6bn financing in Indonesia.

Clients are ‘very happy with the service’ at Allens, which recently entered into an alliance with Linklaters Singapore Pte. Ltd across Asia, strengthening its capacity on the projects side. It advised Chevron, PTTEP and Moeco on the development of a major natural gas project in Vietnam. Darren Murphy is recommended.

Ashurst LLP has ‘good experience, exposure and expertise’ in projects, with a ‘very capable and dedicated team’. It is currently advising the government of Indonesia on the procurement and development of the Masela Floating LNG project. It is also one of the firms advising on the major $2.8bn Donggi-Senoro LNG Project in Indonesia. Practice head Matthew Bubb is ‘good in negotiations and at client management’.

Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow has ‘incomparable knowledge and experience’. It advised Thai electricity provider Gulf JP on the $1.18bn financing of the Nong Saeng IPP project in Thailand; and acted for the sponsors and project company in relation to the full-scale development and project financing of the proposed geothermal power plant in northern Sumatra, which will be the largest of its kind on completion. Chew Chin ‘responds promptly’, ‘works efficiently’ and ‘does not waste clients’ money’.

The ‘superb’ group at Herbert Smith Freehills is noted for its ‘lightning-quick response times’ and ‘always succinct and practical’ advice. It acted for China National Offshore Oil Corporation on the sale of its 36% interest in a sharing contract in Indonesia for approximately $212m, led by Lewis McDonald. Richard Nelson is head of the department, and has ‘extraordinary and extensive knowledge’. John Dick is recommended for energy work.

Norton Rose (Asia) LLP is currently advising Indonesian company PLN and the International Finance Corporation on a major greenfield power project in Java, part of a government scheme to improve infrastructure. The firm also worked with Genting Energy on a $100m (partly covered by HSBC) financing for a wind farm in Gujarat, India. Jeff Smith is the key contact.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP is ‘commercial and sound in its advisory work’, and demonstrates a ‘results-orientated approach’. The team recently assisted several lenders, including Bank of America, on the $168m project financing of a drilling rig in the Caspian Sea. The ‘very impressive and measured’ Chris Lowe heads the Singapore office.

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s practice was significantly bolstered by the recruitment of Alistair Duffield and his projects team of four lawyers from Holman Fenwick Willan LLP. The group’s newly expanded client base includes mining companies PT Arutmin Indonesia, PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk, and PT Bumi Resources Tbk.

DLA Piper Singapore Pte. Ltd. advised the sponsors on the development of a 50MW wind farm project in Mongolia, and acted for the successful bidder on a $500m road network development project in Afghanistan. Former practice head Martin David is now a consultant of the firm.

Gibson Dunn advised aluminium producer Ormet on a joint venture with Trafigura, to be based in Singapore and to operate projects across Asia. Emad Khalil is the main contact.

Jones Day operates its practice from Hong Kong and Singapore. Michael Arruda focuses on representing oil and gas companies in the region.

Wikborg Rein In Alliance with Pan Asia Wikborg Rein has a strong presence in Malaysia, and acted on a large number of power purchase agreements, in particularly for Sarawak Energy Berhad, with a combined value of over $22bn. Kelly Malone has relocated to Singapore, and heads the global projects team.

Duane Morris & Selvam LLP recently advised a seller on the sale of a $350m oil block to an Indonesian company. Head Leon Yee has strong corporate experience.

Ince & Co works predominantly for offshore exploration and production clients, especially contractors and service companies. Denys Hickey leads the energy and offshore group.

King & Spalding LLP’s projects practice continues to grow since its establishment two years ago. The firm has acted on various LNG matters, including for Pacific LNG Operations in Papua New Guinea.

Mataram Partners’ niche practice is led by Andi Zulfikar, with senior partner Oliver Wright now a consultant. It advises investors on all aspects of Indonesian projects.

O’Melveny & Myers LLP’s strengths in projects and energy lie on the mining side, and its client base includes Alcoa, Real Gold Mining Limited, Rio Tinto, and Russell Mining and Minerals. Joel Hogarth advises on Indonesian matters.

Jonathan Howes leads Pinsent Masons MPillay’s projects-related work, with support from David Platt. The practice advises developers and lenders on major infrastructure financing in the region. Clients include Jurong Shipyard and Subsea 7.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s projects work is conducted from its Hong Kong office, where Alan Schiffman, ‘one of the leading energy and project finance lawyers in the region’, heads the group. Rajeev Duggal provides support from Singapore.

Squire Sanders (Singapore) LLP’s new office in Singapore recruited ‘veteran’ projects lawyer Ignatius Hwang and his team from Bryan Cave LLP.

Stephenson Harwood recently advised Australian company Capital Gold on a significant mining investment in the Philippines.