Stephen McWilliams > Latham & Watkins LLP > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP is especially active in the offshore, infrastructure, and renewable energy spaces, often acting on LNG, oil and gas, and petrochemicals projects. The team acts as counsel to a wide roster of clients, including financial institutions, credit agencies, and investment banks, in relation to complex project financings and refinancings, restructurings, acquisitions, and joint ventures. The group’s instructions have strong cross-border elements, with the firm drawing on resources from its practices in Hong Kong and Tokyo, to name a couple of jurisdictions. Practice head Stephen McWilliams operates from the firm’s offices in Singapore and Tokyo. Don Stokes is noted for his expertise in infrastructure and energy projects, and is well known for his track record in handling work within Vietnam’s energy sector.

LNG projects are a key focus of the energy practice at Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise, and the team acts for both sponsors and lenders on a number of LNG mandates. Stephen McWilliams leads the Asia project development and finance group from both Tokyo and Singapore. The team advises domestic and international clients on projects across the Asia Pacific region, from lenders and borrowers to developers, acquirers and state-related entities; Richard Chul Kim counts Japanese, Korean and other international sponsors, lenders and government agencies among his clients. Hiroki Kobayashi brings his expertise in the oil and gas and power industries, and the team also advises on matters across the petrochemicals, infrastructure and renewables sectors. Michael Yoshii retired from the firm.

With considerable experience in major project development and energy infrastructure-related advisory work, Stephen McWilliams works out of both the Singapore and Tokyo offices, leading the project development and finance team at Latham & Watkins LLP. The group represents Korean and international sponsors, lenders and investors, in a number of high-profile renewable energy, mining and petrochemicals, and LNG deals. Richard Chul Kim operates from the Tokyo office, while associate David Shin advises on various project finance transactions, particularly involving Korean clients.