Energy & Natural Resources | Asia-Pacific

A&O Shearman is a global law firm with an impressive regional network across the Asia-Pacific region, with expertise in the financing of high-profile energy transactions. The team is experienced in the oil and gas and power sectors, with clients including blue-chip energy companies, Chinese state-owned enterprises and commercial banks. It has particular expertise advising on financing and development of nuclear power projects, and is also skilled at taking on renewable energy matters. It is also well placed to advise on cross-border mining matters. The firm is experienced in acquisitions and disposals in the energy and natural resources space, as well as joint venture arrangements. The firm has a broad presence across the region, with on-the-ground teams in China, Singapore, Australia and Japan, and is especially active on transactions in South-East Asia and the Middle East. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Baker McKenzie is a global law firm that offers wide-reaching coverage across the region, boasting energy specialists based in a number of key jurisdictions including Singapore, Australia, Japan and Vietnam, with a leading practice in Thailand. It regularly handles a broad range of matters, covering M&A transactions, capital markets mandates, supply agreements, joint venture work and investments into energy projects. It has notable experience in the LNG, power and renewable sectors, with a growing presence in the mining space. The firm acts for a range of clients from major corporates in the energy sector, financial institutions and investment funds.

Clifford Chance has a highly experienced team of lawyers advising on major development and financings, regularly acting on projects in South and South-East Asia, in China and across the Asia-Pacific region. It utilises its global network in support of significant cross-border mandates for leading multinationals. Its impressive client base includes international oil majors and state-owned energy companies. The firm offers noteworthy industry knowledge in oil and gas, power and renewable energy, with a wealth of experience in a wide range of LNG matters. The team represents significant corporate and financial clients on infrastructure and mining work. It also has specialist expertise concerning the arbitration of cross-border energy and resources sector disputes.

DLA Piper's established team of lawyers across the Asia-Pacific region handles a range of transactional mandates, including acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and restructurings across the oil and gas, mining, power and green energy sectors. It wins particular praise for its track record acting for Chinese SOEs, also servicing a wider range of domestic and international energy companies and lenders in the space. The firm offers a high cross-border capability, facilitated by the integrated nature of DLA Piper's global network. It offers additional experience assisting clients with geothermal energy projects, advising on the financing and regulatory elements. The team is also noted for its experience in the management of high-level, cross-jurisdictional contentious matters, notably including arbitration.

King & Spalding has a formidable team of lawyers in Singapore with extensive oil and gas expertise, including high-value LNG sale and purchase agreements. It is highly sought after by major state-owned entities and private corporate clients in the wider region. The firm frequently assists Japanese and Korean clients on energy transactions, project development, financing and energy-related dispute resolution from the Tokyo office. It is also well versed in advising on renewable and conventional power mandates. The team shows significant expertise on cross-border oil and gas matters with a global reach, and a wealth of experience on domestic energy projects in South-East Asia.

Linklaters has an established legal team in China with experience advising international and domestic energy companies on high-value M&A transactions. The Japan and Singapore offices are frequently instructed on a range of energy transactions in the LNG and power sectors. The firm also handles renewable power and mining-related transactions. The team serves a broad range of financial institutions, energy multinationals and state-owned enterprises. It additionally assists clients on mandates in Africa and Latin America as well as across Asia.

Lawyers at Milbank have an impressive track record advising local and international clients, including trading houses, utilities and ECAs, regularly assisting with cross-border energy mandates across diverse jurisdictions. It offers significant strength in its Japan-based group, with a notable team in Singapore. The firm is especially experienced in the financing and development of projects in South-East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. It excels in handling LNG and other traditional power projects, as well as advising on infrastructure mandates. The team is also sought after to advise on major infrastructure and energy projects in South America and the USA. It has a well-established reputation in the Indian market for advising key clients on the development and financing of power and infrastructure projects.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's Singapore-based legal practice is known for its handling of big-ticket M&A for international oil and gas players, with expertise spanning upstream and midstream assets. It is active on matters across the region, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. The firm maintains a varied portfolio of clients including private equity firms, national oil companies and government entities. Its also noted for its in-depth expertise in production sharing contracts and power sector mandates and is skilled at advising on energy regulatory and compliance matters.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has a well-reputed team of lawyers, especially in Singapore, commended for deep sector expertise in oil and gas. It is able to advise on a full spectrum of matters, from large-scale energy M&A to unitisation agreements and environmental issues. The firm has significant experience acting for large multinationals in the power and mining sectors on matters across South-East Asia, with a strong profile in Indonesia and Malaysia. It also houses noteworthy renewable energy capabilities.

Latham & Watkins leverages its formidable project development and financing legal capabilities to advise on a range of energy transactions for some of the largest power companies and financial institutions in the region. It regularly handles matters across the power, oil and gas, and mining sectors, with notable experience in renewables and LNG mandates. The firm has teams in Singapore and Japan who lead energy sector M&A, capital markets, joint ventures and due diligence work. It is active in commercial energy work across Asia, as well as Europe and Africa.

Norton Rose Fulbright has wide-ranging experience advising on the legal aspects of energy transactions in the Asia-Pacific region, with an impressive roster of oil and gas and mining clients. It is also active in the renewable energy space. The team provides good coverage from the hub jurisdictions of Japan, Singapore and Australia, and is also well versed in energy mandates relating to Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Sullivan & Cromwell advises on notable energy and resources projects both within Asia-Pacific and elsewhere in the world. Working from its offices in Hong Kong and Beijing, the team cooperates closely with colleagues from across the firm's international network to advise on notable oil and gas, LNG and mining work. It is especially active on mining and resources infrastructure projects in Africa and South America. The team is also noted for its expertise in renewables and clean energy initiatives, including recent work in the green hydrogen sector.

White & Case has an established legal team that is widely praised for its deep knowledge in LNG and is highly rated for its work in the renewable and mining space, advising on transactions and project development. Displaying impressive expertise in Australia, Japan and China, the firm also leverages its team in South Korea when advising on cross-border mandates. It taps into industry expertise housed across its impressive global network, with longstanding client relationships in the Middle East, Malaysian and Indonesian markets. It is also highly regarded for its project infrastructure development-related capability and well placed to advise on relevant construction, environmental and financing issues. It is routinely mandated on high-profile LNG infrastructure projects and also offers experience in the renewables sphere, especially on solar power developments.

Allens has a longstanding focus on mining work, with a leading energy and natural resources law team in Australia. It is especially experienced in energy M&A and funding matters for private and government clients, with additional capability on divestment and contracts issues. The firm is regularly mandated by multinational players in the oil and gas and utilities industries. The on-the-ground team in Vietnam is frequently mandated to advise on oil and gas, power and utilities transactions. It offers notable expertise in renewables work, acting on transactions as well as the full life cycle of development projects.

Jones Day is experienced in advising major energy conglomerates on the legal aspects of complex cross-border oil and gas transactions. It also assists private equity funds and asset management companies with investments into the energy and natural resources market. The firm has on-the-ground specialists in Singapore and Australia and handles a range of mining, renewables and power mandates throughout the Asian markets, with notable activities in India, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

Mayer Brown has built up a well-regarded energy practice in the Asia-Pacific region, with specialists located across its Singapore, Tokyo and Greater China offices. The team has a notable focus on LNG matters, advising on LNG sales and purchase agreements, as well as project development and transactional mandates in the sector. The firm often advises Japanese clients regarding out-bound work relating to the development and financing of FPSO facilities in South-East Asia and Brazil.

Morrison Foerster's team in Japan acts as legal counsel to significant clients on development and financing mandates, especially for projects located in Japan, South-East Asia and further afield. Gas and LNG are areas of particular expertise, whilst the team remains active advising on renewable projects, most notably in the solar power sector. It also maintains a strong record in handling IPP bids, restructuring of joint ventures and expansion of existing projects. It has a coordinated team of both bengoshi and New York-qualified lawyers that allows for a holistic cross-border practice. Its key clients include Tokyo Gas and Sumitomo.