Projects & Infrastructure: International | Asia-Pacific

A&O Shearman is widely recognised as a market leader in projects and infrastructure, regularly cooperating with its regional and global law offices to handle major multi-jurisdictional mandates. The team represents a range of prominent financial institutions in project investments and regularly oversees large-scale acquisitions in the energy sphere. The law firm takes on a range of sponsor work and project finance in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure industries. A&O Shearman acts for domestic and foreign clients such as the Export-Import Bank of Korea, Crédit Agricole CIB and the Green Investment Group. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

The Linklaters team remains one of the most highly regarded in this field. Much sought after for its renowned project finance offering, it typically advises consortiums of major international and Korean lenders on energy and infrastructure projects around the globe, and also regularly assists Korean sponsor clients. The law firm has considerable expertise in oil and gas and power mandates in particular, advising on such matters as concession agreements, the market entry of renewable energy clients and the acquisition of energy assets. The team is further noted for its representation of Korean export credit agencies. Linklaters' clients include Lotte Chemical, KEPCO and ING Bank.

Milbank houses a team of specialists who primarily handle project financing on behalf of Korean and international lenders, advising on investments in South-East Asia and beyond. The team offers broad-ranging sector expertise across the energy, resources and petrochemical sectors and is also experienced in infrastructure projects in the telecoms infrastructure and real estate projects. Its presence on the ground in Seoul is also appreciated, both for its accessibility and as an indication of the firm's commitment to the local market. Its clients include the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE), ING Bank, and the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.

White & Case fields a growing projects practice that draws on the resources both of a Seoul office and of an impressive global network to provide a broad offering for Korean clients, including prominent ECAs. The team frequently picks up Korean sponsor-side mandates on high-value power and infrastructure developments in Central Asia and the Middle East. It regularly advises leading Korean lenders on outbound projects both across the region and further afield, including matters in Europe and the USA. The firm complements its transactional offering with multi-sector global disputes capability. The Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE), Brite Energy Partners and China Development Bank are examples of its clients.

Latham & Watkins is known for its ability to tackle large-scale multi-jurisdictional matters, both within the region and beyond it, in the Middle East, Africa and the USA. The team undertakes mandates in the energy and natural resources sphere and has a strong track record in related project finance transactions, where it works closely with major developers and construction companies as well as ECAs and commercial banks. Latham & Watkins' long-standing expertise in Korean projects and infrastructure matters is enhanced by its presence on the ground in Seoul, and the team forms part of a global network which includes a number of lawyers with Korean language capabilities.