Mayer Brown > The Legal 500 Rankings

Singapore > Energy: foreign firms Tier 2

Mayer Brown is best known for LNG transactions and projects, along with a growing number of renewables engagements. Department head Nick Kouvaritakis and counsel Sean Prior have an extensive background in LNG projects across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa; this includes FSRU/LNG import projects, LNG sale and purchase agreements, and LNG-to-power projects. The Singapore team, which frequently works alongside colleagues in Houston, is also increasingly active in solar, wind and hydropower projects. Nathan Dodd and Benjamin Thompson provide additional senior-level project development and finance expertise.

Singapore > Projects: foreign firms Tier 2

Sponsors, lenders, governments and investors value the offering at Mayer Brown particularly for its projects expertise in the power sector, and in emerging jurisdictions such as Myanmar, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The firm is noted for its growing LNG practice, and is regularly instructed to assist with many high profile and first-of-their-kind projects in this area, not only in the region, but globally; Nick Kouvaritakis is the key contact for this type of work. Other recommended practitioners include Nathan Dodd, who regularly works on Asian investments into the Middle East and Africa, and Ben Thompson, whose focus is on project financing, particularly in the field of renewables.

Singapore > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 3

Mayer Brown‘s banking and finance group predominantly acts for international and Singaporean banking clients. In Angelia Chia , the group has an expert in structured trade and commodities finance, as well as bank governance. Ian Roebuck and Kayal Sachi  lead the acquisition and leveraged finance and fund finance practices. Roebuck is increasingly active in advising banks and funds on fund finance facilities; while Sachi is focused on advising banks and borrowers on India-related financing transactions. The team has been strengthened with the hire of Soumitro Mukerji who has joined from Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee.

Singapore > International arbitration Tier 3

Mayer Brown‘s international arbitration team is well-versed in energy, infrastructure, construction and TMT sector disputes. The ‘excellent‘ Yu-Jin Tay (who is particularly active in disputes involving Singapore and Indonesia) leads the team alongside Hong Kong-based Menachem Hasofer and John Hickin. Paul Teo‘s arrival in Singapore from Baker McKenzie bolstered the group’s energy and projects international arbitration expertise.

Myanmar > Foreign desks Tier 1

Mayer Brown has a track record handling high-profile power projects in Myanmar and is singled out for its expertise advising on the full lifecycle of energy assets. Jointly managed from Singapore by Benjamin Thompson and Nathan Dodd, the group advises across solar, natural gas, and hydropower projects, and project financing matters under Burmese Law. Counsel Matthew Chow handles inbound transactional work in the construction sector. The group also leverages its Tokyo office for cross-border work.

India > Foreign firms Tier 5

Yu-Jin Tay heads the Mayer Brown International LLP team, based largely in Hong Kong and Singapore, which has an acknowledged reputation for its extensive work in the energy sectors; LNG, traditional oil and gas, renewable power and energy-related commodities. Infrastructure/construction and natural resources are other areas of strength. Renewable energy-related disputes is a growing source of disputes and arbitrations with an India, (Indonesia and Vietnam) aspect. Yu-Jin Tay is a prominent arbitration specialist, well known for his extensive Asian practice, and the group’s international arbitration capabilities have been increased with the arrival of partner Paul Teo in Singapore, who joined from Baker McKenzie FenXun in October 2020, bringing a specialism in construction and infrastructure disputes. Menachem Hasofer and John Hickin in Hong Kong are other noted international arbitration and disputes specialists.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: international arbitration

Mayer Brown‘s ‘highly efficient‘ international arbitration team counts disputes arising from construction and infrastructure projects among its specialisms, within which Menachem Hasofer is particularly experienced. Hasofer and John Hickin (who focuses on banking and commercial matters) jointly lead the team alongside Singapore-based Yu-Jin Tay. For shareholder disputes, Thomas So is noted.

Mongolia > Leading firms

Mayer Brown‘s Mongolian offering is located in Hong Kong and led by Jason Elder. The firm offers comprehensive advice across a wide range of transactional corporate matters to a client list of notable sponsors and issuers in a number of first-in-market transactions. Elder is widely regarded for his debt capital market practice, which focuses on high-yield, hybrid and structured-debt products. Thomas Kollar and Nishrin Hussain are also key individuals within the team, both working closely with Elder mainly in multi-jurisdictional capital market transactions.

South Korea > International arbitration

Mayer Brown is mainly instructed by clients in the energy, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. The international arbitration team manages numerous LNG sector disputes, including highly specialised gas price review disputes as well as infrastructure and construction disputes across South East Asia. Its capabilities have further expanded with the October 2020 arrival of Paul Teo in Singapore, bringing more than 20 years of experience in arbitration, ADR and litigation matters, with particular focus on China-outbound and Japan-outbound matters. Based in Singapore, Yu-Jin Tay co-leads the team with Menachem Hasofer and John Hickin in Hong Kong.