Tao Lan

Tao’s significant experience includes representing*:

Oil and Gas

• CNODC on its participation in the ToR+ PSC for Buzios area in Brazil. In this project, CNODC joined the consortium consisting of itself, CNOOC, and Petrobras that acted as the contractor under the PSC for exploration and production of the surplus volume of production in the Buzios area that exceeds the contracted volume under the existing Transfer of Right contract with Petrobras. The deal involves the payment by the consortium to the government of a signature bonus of US$17 billion and a compensation payment to Petrobras by the consortium of approximately US$29 billion. The legal work involves negotiation of a suite of interlinking and highly complex upstream and financing documents, including the first Co-Participation Agreement in the history of Brazil. This transaction was named as “Project & Energy Deal of the Year” by China Law & Practice Awards 2022.
• CNODC on the joint operating agreement in connection with the ARAM block in the Santos basin of Brazil.
• A large Chinese state-owned petrochemical company on its proposed acquisition through an auction process of various refinery assets in a Latin American country.
• A large Chinese state-owned petrochemical company on its proposal acquisition and joint venture projects in Southeast Asian countries.
• A large Chinese state-owned energy company on its proposed acquisition of a power plant in the U.S.
• A Chinese government-sponsored fund on its joint acquisition (as member of an international consortium led by an international PE fund) of a majority stake of the pipeline assets based in a Latin American country.
• United Energy Group on its acquisition from OMV through auction process of the upstream natural gas interests and the associated processing facilities in Pakistan.
• A China-based PE firm on its proposed acquisition through auction process of the upstream natural gas interests and the associated pipeline interests in Myanmar from Chevron.
• A China-based independent oil company on its proposed acquisition of the upstream natural gas interests in Romania.
• A Chinese energy company in connection with disputes involving upstream oil and gas assets and operations in various African countries.
• A large Chinese state-owned petrochemical company on the development of multibillion-dollar petrochemical complex in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States utilizing natural gas liquids produced from the Appalachian supply basin.
• CMEC as the lead sponsor on the joint development with the Sri Lanka government of a gas-to-power project at the port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka that includes an LNG receiving terminal and a gas-fired power plant.
• A large U.S. company on the proposed joint development with a Chinese investor of an LNG exporting terminal in the U.S.
• CNPC’s joint acquisition with Kazakh state oil company Kazmunaigas to of JSC Mangistaumunaigas for AUS$3.3 billion.
• CNPCI on its proposed acquisition of Verenex (a TSE listed company with oil and gas interests in Libya). The deal contemplates acquisition of 100% of the shares of Venex by way of takeover offer.
• CNOOC on its joint bid with Sinopec to acquire from Marathon a 20% participating interest in Block 32 in Angola.

Others

• A Chinese state-owned energy company on its proposed acquisition of the majority interest in a coal-fired power project in the U.S.
• A Chinese SOE on its proposed acquisition of a minority interest in the geothermal power project in Kenya.
• A Chinese SOE on its investment in a solar power project in Maldives.
• A private equity fund in its proposed divesture of wind and solar power projects in China.
• PowerChina Real Estate on the establishment of a joint venture company with EcoWorld to develop an industrial park project in Malaysia.
• A Chinese SOE on the establishment of a joint venture company with a leading Singapore-based developer to develop an industrial park project in India.
• HNA Tourism on its sale of Radisson Hotel (with operations in Europe and U.S.) to the consortium led by Jinjiang Group.
• GE on the sale of its global home appliance business to Haier for US$5.4 billion.
• ICBC on its acquisition of the majority interest of the global commodities trading platform from Standard Bank for US$700 million.
• ICBC on its proposed acquisition of a minority interest of a Taiwan-based bank and financial holding company.
• The Chinese consortium led by Minmetals on its acquisition of Lasbambas project in Peru from Glencore for US$7 billion.
• A Chinese company on its large-scale integrated bauxite-alumina project in Guinea.

*Includes matters worked on prior to joining Sidley.