Brendan Lai

Oil and Gas

• Advising Pertamina, the national oil company of Indonesia, in relation to its purchase of a participating interest in Masela gas field, from which gas will be exported as LNG, and is a project of national strategic importance for Indonesia.
• Advising Pertamina in relation to its purchase of participating interest in West Qurna-1, a super oil field in Iraq.
• Advising an Indonesian national oil company (NOC) on the acquisition of participating interests in several oil fields located in the Corona Ridge area, a development that will provide energy security and investment in the UK while supporting the UK’s net zero target.
• Advising a national oil company on an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) master agreement with over a dozen counterparties, in connection with the rollout of its hedging programme.
• Advising a major Chinese joint venture (JV) specialising in offshore and onshore engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects on its bid to develop a gas field located in the Gulf of Martaban as part of the Zawtika Development Project.
• Advising Pertamina in relation to the fiscal terms in production sharing contracts for oil and gas fields in Iraq, Algeria, Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Advising an Indonesian state-owned energy company on its proposed supplier-held stock structure for trading and supplying LNG with a Dutch multinational energy and commodity trading company.
• Advising a trading company on its proposed supplier-held stock structure for trading and supplying of petroleum products.
• Advising on the proposed entry of clients into the Singapore bunkering industry, including the bunkering licence regime in Singapore, and acquisition of bunkering vessels or equity in bunkering licence holders.
• Advising a global supplier of offshore floating platforms on a freight forwarding services agreement to be used in connection with its procurement and supply of goods to shipyards.
• Advising the Singapore subsidiary of an Indonesian state-owned entity on the legal requirement for signatures in contracts under English and Singapore law, to assist it with modernising its contract system to follow best practices in the commodities trading industry.
• Advising a Spanish multinational oil and gas company on regulatory compliance matters in establishing a commodity trading outpost in Singapore.
• Advising on Singapore employment and corporate law in connection with claims for bonuses and retrenchment benefits by employees of the client’s Singapore oil and gas trading subsidiary that has been liquidated and been under investigation for corruption and bribery.
• Advising Pertamina on the duties and liabilities of non-executive directors in a Singapore incorporated company.
• Advising a Chinese JV company in relation to a consultancy services frame agreement with an energy consultancy company headquartered in UAE to expand its business in Europe.

LNG

• Advising Pertamina in relation to its purchase obligations under three long-term LNG contracts that supplied LNG from global sources, including Australia and the US.
• Advising Pertamina on the novation of a dozen LNG sale and purchase agreements (SPAs).
• Advising a Chinese LNG trader on its strategic two-year deal to sell 14 LNG cargoes on a free on board (FOB) basis to, and to purchase 14 cargoes on a delivered ex ship (DES) basis from, a German multinational energy company.
• Advising a NOC on a long-term LNG SPA with the Mozambique LNG1 Company for supplies of LNG from Mozambique Area 1.
• Advising Mitsui O.S.K. Line in relation to the long-term charter of four newbuilding LNG carriers as part of QatarEnergy’s North Field expansion project.
• Advising an NOC in connection with its LNG cargo scheduling dispute with a major LNG trader under their LNG master sale and purchase agreement (MSPA).
• Advising a Chinese state-owned energy company on a potential dispute further to a series of events disrupting production and delivery of multiple LNG cargoes from its LNG supplier.
• Advising on the legal status and termination options for an Asian NOC’s LNG SPA concerning an East African LNG Project.
• Advising the Singapore subsidiary of one of China’s biggest gas suppliers in their LNG MSPA with a seaborne energy trader headquartered in Singapore.
• Advising a Chinese state-owned gas supplier on its long-term LNG MSPA with Shell.
• Advising a Chinese buyer on its long-term LNG SPA with Qatargas Operating Company Limited.
• Advising an LNG trader on its long-term LNG SPA with Sinochem Corporation.
• Advising a Chinese energy company on the amendment of its long-term LNG SPA with its trading partners.
• Advising an Asian buyer in connection with price review clauses and other issues under its LNG SPA with TotalEnergies.
• Advising a subsidiary of one of China’s biggest gas suppliers on its tenancy agreement in connection with its LNG trading activities.
• Advising a Chinese energy company on several confidentiality agreements as part of its trading programme with counterparties in the energy and financial industry.
• Advising an LNG trader on its letter of undertaking to be issued in connection with its purchase of LNG from a Chinese national oil company and trader.
• Advising a subsidiary of one of China’s biggest gas suppliers on its trade facilities with several international banks, including Societe Generale, Citibank and OCBC.

Renewables

• Advising the development finance institution of the UK government in their strategic investment in climate finance and solar projects in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Advising Seafox Consulting Service on its joint venture with a Chinese new energy vehicle company to invest in, operate and provide EPC general contractor services, for electric and hybrid harbour crafts.
• Advising a Singapore subsidiary of an Asian renewable energy supplier on its mutual termination and asset transfer agreement to support its transfer of solar assets.
• Advising client on the acquisition of an interest in a 50MW wind power project in Kazakhstan.
• Advising the renewable energy subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned energy company on its purchase of equity interest in a 70MW solar power plant located in Malaysia.
• Advising an international oil company on its activities that are intended to form the basis for carbon capture, carbon credit extraction and carbon trading framework in Indonesia.

Sanctions

• Advising a national oil company on the effects of US trade sanctions on a trading of Nile Blend crude oil to be supplied from Sudan.
• Advising one of China’s largest gas companies on US, UK and EU sanctions in relation to the purchase of LNG from a Russian energy conglomerate.
• Advising a subsidiary of Pertamina on US, UK and EU sanctions in relation to the purchase of petroleum products with a Russian origin.
• Advising a state-linked LNG trader on Singapore, US and EU trade sanctions for the proposed usage of dividends (in Russian roubles) from its investment in Russia.
• Advising a Chinese state-owned energy company on the Singapore trade sanctions against Russia in its purchase of Russian crude oil.
• Advising a major Japanese shipping company on UK and EU sanctions in relation to their Russian projects.

Mining and Minerals

• Advising ANTAM (ASX:ATM; IDX:ANTM) on its US$250 million EPC contract for the construction by an unincorporated consortium of Wijaya Karya (WIKA) (IDX: WIKA) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7012), of ferronickel smelter, producing 13,500 metric tons per annum of nickel in high carbon ferronickel shots, in East Halmahera, Maluku, Indonesia.
• Advising a Spanish multinational oil and gas company on the trading of biofuels.
• Advising a publicly listed French company in the restructuring of its subsidiaries and business assets in the paper and Capim business.

Asset Financing

• Advising one of the world’s largest independent charter owners and managers of containerships in relation to financing 15 newbuilding vessels being constructed by Chinese shipyards and backed by the Chinese Export Credit Agency (ECA), with sale-leaseback arrangements under the Japanese operating lease with call option (JOLCO) financing.
• Advising a global asset management company headquartered in Hong Kong in relation to the financing of eight vessels built in China through a Japanese operating lease structure and 10 vessels built in Korea through a JOLCO structure.
• Advising a global shipping conglomerate in relation to the transition of various facilities entered into between its subsidiaries and financiers to term secured overnight financing rate (SOFR).
• Refinancing of a Moss CS60 semisubmersible drilling rig with a senior secured term loan facility of approximately US$100 million.
• Advising an Australian global financial services group in relation to its investment in several floating production storage and offloading projects for the development of the Dorado and Barossa gas/condensate fields in Australia.
• Advising Ta San Shang Marine Co. Ltd. and its sponsors in relation to the financing of a construction service offshore vessel to serve offshore wind farms in Taiwan.
• Advising a multinational bank headquartered in Japan with the financing of three LNG Tankers.
• Advised a Liberian shipping company on the sale and purchase of a J-19 Chemical Tanker.
• Advising one of the largest shipping companies headquartered in Tokyo in relation to the financing of three Arctic 2 LNG vessels, each owned by a segregated portfolio company (SPC) entity established in Hong Kong.
• Advising a Japanese shipping company on the procurement of 3 LNG vessels from a Chinese shipbuilder and chartering it.
• Advising a Japanese shipping conglomerate in relation to financing 6 special purpose entities of six LNG carriers.

Banking and Finance

• Advising a UAE private equity firm in relation to a term loan of US$70 million to the international arm of a Dubai real estate developer.
• Advising Trafigura in relation to a prepayment arrangement with a listed Malaysian oil and gas exploration company and its affiliates for the purchase of crude oil.
• Advising Trafigura in relation to advance payments of up to US$80 million pursuant to a prepayment agreement for the sale of oil.
• Advising PGNiG in connection with its ISDA master agreement and credit support annex.

Fintech, e-Commerce and Technology

• Conducted a data privacy risk assessment on the global operations of an international biopharmaceutical company and provided recommendations to ensure compliance with local regulations.
• Advising an American multinational wireless telecommunications company in the restructuring of its business assets.
• Advising an Indonesia-based wireless network operator in relation to a Singapore law share charge granted to China Development Bank, Shenzhen branch.
• Advising one of the world’s largest multinational telecommunications companies on a lease agreement.