新兴煤炭出口企业Metrocoal Limited近期与中煤集团旗下全资子公司中煤进出口公司签订3000万澳元合作协议，双方将共同进行煤矿勘探开采业务。

中煤进出口由欧华提供法律服务而Metrocoal则由HopgoodGanim提供法律咨询。

DLA Piper and Australian firms DLA Phillips Fox and HopgoodGanim have advised on a A$30m joint venture between China Coal Import & Export Company (CCIEC) and Australian junior miner MetroCoal.  DLA, along with its alliance firm advised CCIEC and HopgoodGanim advised MetroCoal.

In addition to being an example of an Australia-China collaboration between DLA Phillips Fox and DLA Piper, the deal is also notable in that the Chinese side is taking a lead role as the joint venture manager. DLA Phillips Fox partner Eugene Fung said that  the deal could potentially flag a more "hands on" approach to future Chinese investments.

HopgoodGanim partner Michael Hansel said that the transaction also represented a shift in foreign mining investment interest in Australia. "It shows how green field projects like MetroCoal's exploration are gaining interest from cashed up overseas producers, whereas before they were looking at more mature projects and or mature assets," he said.