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

Clifford Chance LLP's team across China and Hong Kong is consistently involved in several large-scale projects and infrastructure financings and investments. The firm's project finance specialists have experience of advising lenders, sponsors, export credit agencies and development banks across a wide range of industries. In recent work, it advised The Export-Import Bank of China on the $1.26bn financing for the development of two power plant projects in Indonesia. Jiahua Ni is based in both the Beijing and the Shanghai offices, and advises on significant outbound financings for major Chinese banks in Asia, Middle East, South America and Africa; Timothy Democratis in Beijing specialises in advising borrowers and lenders on their cross-border transactions involving China; and Maggie Lo, who divides her time between the Hong Kong and Beijing offices, has broad experience advising on project finance, acquisition finance, receivables finance, pre-IPO finance, and corporate loan transactions. Growth in the team included Hong Kong and Beijing-based Vicky Ma, who is a core member of the firm's worldwide projects group, being promoted to the partnership in 2019.

Norton Rose Fulbright is regularly retained by multinational corporations, as well as major Chinese sponsors and lenders, in relation to cross-border deals, and the practice's clients benefit from the firm's global network, which includes over 50 offices. The team acted for China Development Bank, as English and lead counsel, in a $300m dual-tranche facility to Pakistan's United Bank, which was in relation to the first indigenous coal-fired, super-critical power plant in Pakistan. Beijing-based Tom Luckock is head of projects and specialises in projects in the power, infrastructure and water sectors, and Paul Wee Ei Don is highly rated for outbound financing projects; he has advised major financial institutions and corporations on project financing, export credit financing and leveraged acquisition financing, with a particular focus on the mining and metals, oil and gas, power and infrastructure sectors.

Baker McKenzie FenXun's team comprises transactional lawyers who are experienced in development work, joint ventures, M&A and finance, as well as private finance initiatives and PPP investments, international and local tax structuring, capital markets, climate change issues, energy trading and dispute resolution. It advises on cross-border transactions across a wide range of industry sectors, including roads, ports, airports, rail, water and wastewater facilities, and telecoms infrastructure. Beijing-based Bee Chun Boo has acted in matters involving the oil and gas, mining, power, aviation and manufacturing sectors; chief representative of the Beijing office Stanley Jia's experience covers a range of foreign direct investment projects in China; and Simon Leung works across the Hong Kong and Beijing offices. In Hong Kong, Barry Cheng is particularly focused on project-related financing and structured financing in the PRC.

Mayer Brown's practice regularly works with lenders and equity investors on projects involving gas-fired, coal-fired, alternative and renewable energy, infrastructure and manufacturing facilities. It has also assisted with projects involving technology, healthcare, real estate and logistic assets. Hallam Chow, who was hired from White & Case in 2018,  is the firm's China head of projects; his practice primarily involves acquisition, project and structured finance, energy and infrastructure joint ventures, and asset-based finance, including aircraft, equipment and facility leasing. Senior associate Boya Shen has acted for lenders, sponsors and investment funds in power, energy, manufacturing facilities and other infrastructure projects.

Dechert LLP's recent Asia energy and natural resources work included advising on project developments, acquisitions, joint venture investments, divestments, distribution agreements, and dispute resolution. Clients particularly benefit from the firm's China offices' integration with global resources in Asia Pacific, CIS, Middle East, Europe and America. Xiao Yong, who works across the Beijing and Hong Kong offices, assists clients with cross-border transactions, with a focus on the energy and natural resources, mining and metals, and oil and gas sectors. The practice experienced the departure of energy specialist Nicholas Song for Asian co-working space provider, JustCo.

DLA Piper is experienced in acting for major Chinese clients on their outbound investments, particularly their outbound matters involving China's One Belt, One Road initiative. The practice is also well known for its track record in emerging markets. The Hong Kong-based team includes China energy head Carolyn Dong  and finance, projects and restructuring head Matthias Schemuth. On the mainland, senior associate Simin Yu in Shanghai has a particular focus on greenfield project development, construction, financing and M&A activities.

An integral part of the firm's wider Asia power and energy team, Hogan Lovells International LLP's infrastructure, energy, resources, and projects practice is experienced in advising on China outbound investments into Africa, Latin America and Asia, and it enjoys strong client relationships with both Chinese policy banks and commercial banks. Chair of the firm's Greater China practice Jun Wei frequently plays key roles in cross-border financings and infrastructure development projects; Michael Zou is an experienced counsel.

Latham & Watkins LLP's integrated model allows the team to draw on expertise and resources across different practice areas, offices and regions, including acquisition and leveraged finance, project development and finance, and environment, land and resources. The practice is actively involved in matters 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, advises Asia-based and international clients on cross-border energy and natural resource transactions.

Milbank's 'professional attitude best serves its clients'. The team consistently leads advice to sponsors on high-profile, infrastructure and energy projects taking place across the Asia Pacific region; it also acts for large, China-based financial institutions in a range of financings and investments outside China. The 'very impressive' Beijing-based Shepard Liu is a regular adviser to lenders, export credit agencies and sponsors on large-scale energy, natural resources, power and infrastructure projects globally. Guannan Wang is an experienced associate.

Shearman & Sterling LLP's clients appreciate the firm's strong relationships with several of China’s state-owned enterprises and financial institutions. The practice was recently active in advising large Chinese institutions on investments and lending deals that involve the UK, US, Russia, Brazil, Kenya, Iraq, Pakistan, Honduras, UAE, Mongolia and Panama. Sean Wang heads the firm's project development and finance practice in China.

White & Case LLP's energy, infrastructure and project finance group is experienced in outbound project financing and investments; it also comprises energy and mining sector-related corporate finance and M&A expertise. Executive partner of the Beijing Office, David Li focuses primarily on China inbound and outbound financing deals, and his experience includes single and multi-sourced infrastructure and project development financings in emerging markets such as Africa and Latin America. Growth in the team included the hiring in Beijing of partner Grace Fan-Delatour, who advises clients in the oil and gas and mining and metals sectors, from K&L Gates.

Eversheds Sutherland's experience spans the entire spectrum of traditional and new energy, which includes nuclear and thermal power, renewable energy, and upstream oil and gas developments. Beijing-based Jay Ze, who heads the China corporate group as well as the Greater China team, combines transactional expertise with experience in the energy and natural resources sector.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s projects experience extends across a variety of sectors, including oil and gas, infrastructure, utilities, power, mining and natural resources, telecoms, construction and manufacturing. In Beijing, Guo Min heads the Beijing office, which also includes counsel Xi Chen, who is regularly involved in cross-border M&A, energy and infrastructure projects.