Arrival of energy specialist, Brad Roach, heralds continued growth of Lovells South East Asia practice on the back of record deal flow
Leading energy partner Brad Roach will join Lovells from White & Case in Singapore, complementing what is recognised as one of the leading projects teams in South East Asia. Over the last three months Lovells Singapore practice has closed financing for projects worth US$7.5 billion and the regional project finance practice is currently ranked second in Asia & Australasia by Dealogic.
Brad Roach has more than 15 years' experience advising clients in the energy, infrastructure and project finance industry throughout Asia including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, the Philippines, South Korea, the People's Republic of China, and Australia, and is recognised as one of the pre-eminent energy and projects practitioners in Asia for his expertise in the petroleum industry, and his experience advising sponsors of liquefied natural gas projects.
He focuses on advising developers of infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on the upstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry. He has extensive experience advising exploration and production companies on joint operating agreements, farm-out agreements, production sharing contracts and concession agreements, drilling agreements and gas and LNG sale and purchase agreements. He also advises companies in connection with the sale and disposal of interests in major energy projects. His recent experience includes advising PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk., Indonesia's largest independent exploration and production company, in connection with the development and financing of a proposed LNG project in Sulawesi, and its operations in Indonesia.
He currently represents Talisman Energy, Salamander Energy plc, Murphy Oil Corporation and several other exploration and production companies who are active in the petroleum industry throughout Asia. He has previously advised the sponsors on a number of other LNG projects in South East Asia, including BG Group in connection with the Tangguh LNG project In Papua, Indonesia.
He has also advised developers of power projects through South East Asia, and advises upon EPC contracts, shareholders agreements, operation and maintenance agreements, power purchase agreements, fuel supply agreements and the financing of such projects.
Brad is recognised as a leading energy and projects lawyer in The International Who's Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Energy and Natural Resources Lawyers and Chambers Asia. Up-and-coming energy associate Janine Carroll will also join Brad at Lovells.
David Harris, Lovells' Managing Partner, said:
"Our Singapore office has grown significantly over the past three years. This growth has been largely driven by our projects practice which is recognised as one of the best in the region. It is important that we continue to build and develop this practice so that it is aligned with our clients evolving needs.
South East Asia is an area rich in natural resources, particularly in oil and gas, with significant infrastructure requirements. Whilst our practice has been instrumental advising on a number of the most significant projects in the sector, the addition of Brad and his team enables us to provide our clients, both regional and international, with a comprehensive energy and projects service in South East Asia that is second to none in the market. "
Commenting today, Brad Roach said:
"I have been impressed by the growth of Lovells projects practice and am excited to be joining the team in Singapore, and working with James Harris and Ken Hawkes, whom I have known for some time. James and Ken have developed the practice over the past few years, and it is a credit to their dedication and expertise that Lovells is one of the leading practices in South East Asia.
I am looking forward to leveraging the international opportunities arising from the strong network of offices and expertise that Lovells maintains in the Middle East and Asia Lovells energy disputes and arbitration practice is extremely well regarded, and given the increasing tension in the development of energy resources, and energy security and pricing issues, I see this capability as being of increasing importance to clients.
Brad's move to Lovells is in addition to the firm's strategy to broaden the range of legal services provided by the Singapore office and follows on from the recent recruitment of renowned international arbitrator Richard Tan, intellectual property specialist Chung Nian Lam and corporate of counsel Scott Calver.
Commenting on the move, Asia regional managing partner Crispin Rapinet, said:
"Our sustained investment in developing the Asian projects practice in recent years has been client driven. The success of this strategy is amply demonstrated by the impressive range of deals we have closed in Singapore alone in the past quarter.
In addition, this year we have made a concerted effort to broaden the scope of the practice through other senior lateral hires encompassing dispute resolution, international arbitration, and intellectual property. However, it is important that we continue to bolster our corporate and project finance capabilities in the energy sector - a critical area for investment by our clients in the region.
Brad is one of the few genuine energy specialists in Asia and it is further testament to the reputation of our projects practice that Brad has decided to join us."
About Lovells
With over 3,000 people operating from 26 offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, Lovells is one of the world's leading international law firms. We advise many of the world's largest corporations, financial institutions and governmental organisations. We regularly act on complex, multi jurisdictional transactions as well as some of the most high-profile commercial disputes. Lovells (the "firm") is an international legal practice comprising Lovells LLP and its affiliated businesses. Lovells LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC323639. Registered office and principal place of business: Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2FG.
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