Projects and energy in Hong Kong

Spearheaded out of Hong Kong by Matthias Schemuth and also able to effectively mobilise resources throughout the region, DLA Piper is well-positioned to advise a varied array of sponsor, developer and lender clients on regional projects and infrastructure work. The team is particularly adept at assisting Chinese clients on their outbound investments into Southeast Asia, including on conventional and renewable energy projects, often involving multi-sourced financing arrangements. Carolyn Dong is able to provide a compelling mix of skills garnered through her years in-house at both Sinopec and BP, as well as in private practice, for Chinese entities in energy-related outbound investments and Sino-foreign joint ventures. Russell Wilkinson is a new addition to the team who joined from Baker Botts L.L.P. in December 2021; Wilkinson has notable experience of upstream and midstream petroleum projects, power generation and transmission projects.

Benefiting from significant resources in mainland China, the Hong Kong team at Shanghai-headquartered firm Fangda Partners is particularly well-positioned to advise China-based investors seeking to develop infrastructure and power projects as part of the Belt & Road Initiative. Michael Tam has vast experience across a range of energy, infrastructure and power projects throughout Asia and leads an ‘impressive‘ team that also includes Joe Biqing Zhou, a specialist in cross-border M&A, infrastructure and energy outbound investments.

Watson Farley & Williams‘ Hong Kong office forms an integral part of the firm’s projects and infrastructure offering in Asia, which excels in advising stakeholders throughout the life cycle of renewables and conventional power projects. Much of the work in the space has a nexus to Vietnam where it is well-placed to advise by virtue of a strong offering in situ in Hanoi. Splitting her time between the firm’s Hanoi and Hong Kong office, team head Linh Doan has an excellent reputation for handling Asia power and renewables projects.

Led by Xiao Yong from Hong Kong and also closely integrated with the firm’s Beijing offering, as well as across other key global offices, Dechert‘s sweet spot lies in its ability to effectively act for Chinese energy companies and investment funds on projects involving multiple jurisdictions. It handles a large number of M&A and joint venture structuring mandates within the energy space, reflective of Yong’s corporate credentials as well his vast underlying industry knowledge, particularly on oil and gas matters.

Led by US-qualified partner David Blumental, who is a fluent Mandarin speaker, Latham & Watkins LLP combines leading-edge international experience with local expertise, enabling it to provide a compelling offering to Asia-based and international clients across a range of energy and natural resources transactions, including conventional power and renewables projects. The scope of the work handled by Blumenthal runs the gamut from M&A, JVs, project development and private equity, particularly within the upstream oil and gas sector, much of which involves a collaborative approach with practitioners based across the firm’s wide international network.

With a presence across Greater China and in key other regional locations, including Singapore, and also able to draw upon financing expertise from lawyers across its US and London offices, Milbank’ s ‘hardworking’ team is a popular choice among a balanced roster of lenders and sponsors/developers across an array of conventional and renewable energy projects. Hong Kong and US-qualified of counsel Desiree Woo is the main contact from Hong Kong and is particularly noted for her work acting for Chinese clients engaged in projects throughout Southeast Asia.