The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > China > Projects and energy: foreign firms

Consistently active in large-scale energy and natural resources transactions, Clifford Chance LLP's group comprises a multi-disciplinary team of highly-experienced lawyers, who are experts in capital markets, corporate law, construction, environmental law and litigation, along with private finance initiatives (PFI), public–private partnerships (PPP), project finance, restructuring, real estate and tax. The practice, which 'tailors solutions to clients' needs and is very professional', was recently particularly active in relation to power, renewable energy, mining and metals, and oil and gas. Based on the mainland, Jiahua Ni specialises in PRC-related cross-border financings; Kelly Gregory's broad practice includes high-profile energy work; and Timothy Democratis is experienced in cross-border financing transactions that involve Europe and Asia. Working across the Hong Kong and Beijing offices, Maggie Lo advises Chinese and international financial institutions and borrowers on cross-border financing; and Vicky Ma is a global energy and infrastructure project finance expert.

Mayer Brown's China projects and infrastructure group acts for lenders and equity investors in relation to projects involving gas- and coal-fired, alternative and renewable energy, infrastructure and manufacturing facilities. The practice also assists Chinese and international lenders and borrowers with major outbound and inbound bank and acquisition finance transactions in multiple sectors, including technology, energy, oil and gas, healthcare, real estate and logistic assets. Additionally, it advises lessees, lessors and lenders on asset finance transactions involving aircraft, rail, hydroelectric and nuclear facilities. Regularly acting on first-of-their-kind, cross-border projects and infrastructure matters, Hallam Chow leads the China projects practice from the Beijing office, where senior associate Boya Shen advises lenders, sponsors and investment funds on power, energy, and manufacturing facilities projects.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a go-to firm for multinational and Chinese corporations, as well as banking clients, on new and recurring cross-border projects that involve both transactional and project finance components. Based in Beijing for approximately 20 years, projects head Tom Luckock focuses on both inbound and outbound power, infrastructure and water projects. His representative experience includes acting for a Chinese generation company on the acquisition of two hydro projects in Nepal. Associate Yaxun Wang advises major Chinese banks, international development finance institutions and corporate sponsors on project financing, export credit finance and leveraged acquisition financing. Former partner Paul Wee Ei Don left the firm in 2020.

Covering both domestic transactions in China and Chinese outbound investments, White & Case LLP's China projects and energy practice covers the acquisition, development and financing of energy, oil and gas, mining and metals, and infrastructure projects. It was recently sought out by international and PRC-based sponsors, developers and lenders on strategic projects and financing transactions, as well as contentious and regulatory matters. Regularly advising multilateral lenders and development banks, as well as international and Chinese commercial banks, David Li leads the China project finance practice from the Beijing office; Li specialises in equity and debt financings in Asia, Africa and Latin America across a diverse spectrum of sectors, including energy, utilities, natural resources and telecoms. Grace Fan-Delatour, who focuses on the oil and gas, mining and metals, shipping and infrastructure sectors (among others), was hired in 2019 as partner from K&L Gates.

Known for handling complex multi-jurisdictional matters, Dechert LLP's team is particularly strong in the oil and gas and LNG industries. The 'very efficient practice' also works on groundbreaking projects in the green energy, mining and natural resources sectors; and its work comprises investment transactions, divestments, joint venture formations, fund raising, government regulations and dispute resolution. The China energy practice is led by energy and natural resources, mining and metals and oil and gas specialist, Xiao Yong, who splits his time between the Hong Kong and Beijing offices, and 'finds ways to solve problems'. 'Impressive' Beijing counsel Zhaohui Li has extensive experience in advising Chinese state-owned companies on their outbound transactions.

Frequently acting on high-profile project and energy matters, DLA Piper 's team 'develops the best solutions for clients'. It is experienced in acting for major Chinese clients on their outbound investments, including outbound investments in line with China's major One Belt, One Road initiative. The practice's key jurisdictions range from Africa, South East Asia and Indonesia to Europe, Australia, Middle East and Latin America. In Hong Kong, China energy head Carolyn Dong has particular strength in handling mandates involving China and other jurisdictions, and Matthias Schemuth is finance, projects and restructuring head. Providing key support in Shanghai, senior associate Simin Yu is particularly focused on greenfield project development, construction, financing and M&A.

Hogan Lovells International LLP's infrastructure, energy, resources, and projects practice is regularly sought out for China outbound investments into Africa, Latin America and Asia. The broad practice of the firm's Beijing-based Greater China chair, Jun Wei, includes corporate and commercial law, M&A, private equity, and project financing. Her representative experience includes acting for a major Chinese state-owned enterprise on the high-value project financing of a hydropower project. At counsel level, Michael Zou's experience includes assisting a foreign state-owned company on a large oil-for-loan financing that was provided by a development bank.

Latham & Watkins LLP's energy and natural resources team is able to draw on expertise and resources from the firm's practices in M&A, acquisition and leveraged finance, project development and finance, litigation, and environment, land and resources. It was recently particularly active in relation to clean and renewable energy, energy storage and LNG projects, as well as transactions that are driven by China’s One Belt, One Road initiative. Hong Kong-based global co-chair of the firm’s oil and gas industry group, David Blumental spearheads the firm’s energy, natural resources, utilities and chemicals business in the Asia Pacific region.

'Providing solid legal backing for the smooth implementation of projects', Milbank fields US and UK law experts who act for both lenders and sponsors on major projects; recently the practice experienced an increase in both work emanating from outside China and renewable energy-related matters. Regularly acting for lenders, export credit agencies and sponsors, Shepard Liu advises on large-scale energy, natural resources, power and infrastructure projects from the Beijing office, where associate Guannan Wang assists with the development and financing of large infrastructure projects in the power, oil and gas, and energy and natural resources sectors. Dividing her time between the firm's Beijing and Singapore offices, associate Jenny Zhang is another key China projects team member.

Shearman & Sterling LLP has longstanding relationships with Chinese SOEs and financial institutions, for whom it acts on significant cross-border projects. The team's track record is particularly strong in Asia, Africa and Latin America (on behalf of Chinese investors and lenders). Working across the Beijing and Hong Kong offices, Xiaogang (Sean) Wang heads the firm's project development and finance practice in China. Wang also acts on energy M&A, and his clients include large SOEs, such as State Grid, Sinopec and PetroChina, as well as major financial institutions such as China Development Bank, Bank of China and China Construction Bank.

Regularly acting for domestic and foreign clients on projects in China, Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I., which 'fully understands clients' needs', has also recently assisted with projects in France, Turkey, Cameroon, Guinea, Congo and Mauritania. The names to note in Beijing are office head Min Guo and 'clear thinking and energetic' counsel Xi Chen, who advises on energy and infrastructure projects. David Boitout and Jiannian Fan are the key Shanghai contacts.