Share LinkedIn Facebook Twitter

Energy and natural resources

Energy and resources is a matter of strategic focus for us. We house a heavyweight practice, which particularly stands out for its very strong depth of practice and industry knowledge with the firm at the forefront of a number of major projects.

Our dedicated group of specialist energy lawyers is one of the most experienced in the Vietnam market with an impressive client list that includes some of the best-known names in the industry.

Able to tap into the expertise of partners throughout its national network of offices, Lexcomm represents an array of clients across a broad spectrum of complex upstream, midstream, power, petrochemicals, mining exploration projects.

International energy companies are increasingly looking for Vietnamese counsels that have the breadth and depth of expertise in all regulatory aspects of the energy sector value chain in emerging markets that we offer.

We know the upstream oil and gas industry inside-out. In addition, the development, financing and acquisition of gas-fired and coal-fired BOT power projects has been a strategically important foothold for the firm.

Our energy and natural resources practice covers:

  • upstream oil and gas
  • LNG and pipelines
  • power and utilities
  • renewable energy
  • refining and petrochemicals
  • mining and metals

The firm has an established track record for handling energy work, and has been steadily growing in prominence when it comes to advising the renewables sector and particularly the financing, development and regulatory issues in relation to wind and solar energy projects. We also have particular expetise in mining and minerals exploration, development and production agreements.

We are committed to building on our market-leading position in Vietnam with the ability to handle complex high-value mandates in these highly regulated industries.

Managing Partner Pham Ba Linh heads the energy, infrastructure and project finance group out of the HCMC office. The practice also has a strong Hanoi presence, where Nguyen Viet Ha and Nguyen Hong Hai are both key contacts. 

Recent transactions

Our lawyers’ recent transactions include:

  • advising international oil companies on a complex “first of its kind” multi-billion US Dollar oil and gas development project
  • advising a leading international energy company on various regulatory matters in relation to its proposed oil and gas farm-in and joint venture arrangements
  • advising an international client on project documents and bankability reviews of the US$2.3 billion 1,200MW Nam Dinh 1 coal-fired BOT power project
  • advising on the construction aspects of the 1200MW Duyen Hai 2 BOT coal-fired power project in Tra Vinh province
  • advising the sponsors in connection with Duyen Hai 1 (1,245MW), Nghi Son 1 (600MW), Vinh Tan 2 (1,244MW), Uong Bi 2 (330MW), Thai Binh 1 (600MW) coal-fired thermal power projects
  • advising BP Exploration on the development of the US$1.3 billion Nam Con Son gas project
  • advising Chevron Vietnam entities on the development of its upstream assets and project documentation in Vietnam
  • advising JX Nippon and PTTEP in relation to their bid to acquire several upstream oil and gas assets from ConocoPhillips in Vietnam
  • advising Premier Oil on the divestment of interest in Block 07/03 offshore Vietnam
  • advising Santos Vietnam on the documentation of a complex EPC Contract in relation to the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of upstream facilities in an offshore block in Vietnam
  • advising Santos Vietnam on its 2D seismic acquisition services and offshore exploration drilling programs
  • advising BHP Billiton Petroleum on drilling approvals and issues
  • advising Talisman Energy in relation to sea surface rents
  • advising a leading UK oil company on the enforcement of its proposed farm-out arrangement relating to one of its upstream exploration assets in Vietnam, and the triggering of PetroVietnam’s statutory pre-emptive right
  • advising international lenders on the project financing of the Nghi Son 2 1200MW BOT coal fired power project
  • advising the borrower on the project financing of the US$412 million 717 MW gas-fired Phu My 3 BOT power project
  • advising Japanese investors in relation to a proposed PPP (public private partnership) water treatment project in Vietnam 
  • advising an international investor in its renewable wind farm projects in the South of Vietnam
  • advising a Japanese multinational company on a farm waste methane-gas-recapture project for fueling a nearby power plant near HCMC, Vietnam (CDM carbon-credits project)
  • advising on a coal-fired power plant project in Vietnam through reviewing, commenting project documentation
  • advising a Japanese energy company on the financing aspect of a project to design, build, commission and operate a waste to power facility in Vietnam