Energy and M&A advisory powerhouse Vinson & Elkins recently promoted three energy and projects lawyers to partnership in Greater China, as it bids to capture cross border transactions stemming from China’s rising demand for fuel from overseas.
Nicholas Song was promoted to partnership in Vinson & Elkins’ Beijing office, while David Lang and Tju Liang Chua were promoted in Hong Kong and Shanghai respectively. They were part of a total of 14 partner promotions worldwide in eight offices, and across seven practice areas spanning three continents.
The new partner appointments in Greater China have increased the firm’s total number of partners in Asia from nine to 12.
Vinson earned the number one title at the Thomson Reuters Legal Advisors annual league table for the Emerging Markets M&A for 2011 in the categories of Asia-Pacific emerging market deals announced (by value), and China deals announced and completed (by value). It was also at the number one position at the Thomson Reuters Legal Advisors Emerging Markets M&A Review for energy and power industry deals in Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) by value.
The three promotions in China and Hong Kong help the firm better position itself to capture energy deals emanating from China.
Shanghai-based Chua specialises in cross border mergers and acquisitions, and international energy transactions. He has advised clients extensively on a wide array of energy deals such as major energy M&As, project developments, LNG supply agreements, and oilfield services.
One of the major deals he advised on was Sinopec’s C$10.3 billion ($10.11 billion) acquisition of Addax Petroleum and its $7.1 billion investment in Repsol Brasil in 2010, which was then the biggest global energy takeover by PRC enterprises.
Chua graduated from the National University of Singapore’s law school in 2000. Prior to working in Shanghai, he was based in Singapore, Jakarta and London.
Hong Kong-based Lang has advised clients in various sectors including upstream, natural gas transmission and storage, LNG, power, mining, renewable energy, and petrochemicals. His core practice areas are energy infrastructure development and M&As.
Lang earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a law degree from the University of Texas in 1998 and 2003 respectively. Prior to attending law school, he was a reservoir engineer with Exxon Mobil.
Song, based at the Beijing office, is a member of the firm’s International Dispute Resolution practice group. His key practice areas include corporate and commercial, M&As, and global joint transactions mostly in the oil and gas sector.
He has advised many PRC state-owned enterprises on international M&As. He has also advised clients on international arbitrations under the HKIAC, ICC, LCIA, and LMAA rules.
Song graduated from the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law in 1996; the New York University School of Law in 1999; and Queen Mary, University of London in 2008 with a distinction in International and Comparative Dispute Resolution.
He has received his qualifications in Singapore, New York, England and Wales. Prior to working at Vinson’s Beijing office, Song worked at the firm’s New York and London branches. ALB
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