David Clinch is Of Counsel based in Singapore and advises clients on energy, infrastructure and natural resources transactions and projects around the world.  His practice covers M&A, joint ventures, project development, and project finance within the oil and gas (including LNG), power, other infrastructure, chemical/petrochemical and mining sectors.

David has advised on M&A, joint ventures, projects, and other transactions in more than 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Australasia, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, South America and the United Kingdom, as well as on restructurings in Asia.

• A confidential client in relation to investment into, development of and joint venture and financing arrangements for a refining and petrochemical complex in Indonesia with Pertamina
• Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO) on its strategic alliance with PT Medco Power Indonesia to acquire interests in existing power project projects of Medco and jointly develop new gas-fired power plants and expand power plant operation and maintenance businesses in Indonesia
• China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) on the acquisition of Mexican renewable power producer Zuma Energia with an installed capacity of 818 MW (plus development assets) from funds Actis and Mesoamerica (the largest M&A deal in Mexico in 2020; the second largest renewables transaction to date in Mexico and the largest ever investment by a Chinese company into Mexico)
• Chevron on the sale of its upstream interests in the Malampaya Gas Project in the Philippines to Udenna Corporation
• A confidential client in relation to the development of a greenfield LNG FSRU project in Bangladesh and the sale of gas to Petrobangla
• AC Energy on its structuring and agreement of a joint venture with UPC Renewables to develop and build over 1 GW of renewable energy plants across Asia Pacific
• Santos in connection with the sale of its upstream assets in Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh to Ophir Energy plc
• AMPOL / Caltex Australia in relation to its purchase of interests in and strategic joint venture arrangements with Seaoil (the largest independent fuels company in the Philippines)
• A confidential client in relation to the acquisition of interests in (and a joint venture for) a portfolio of wind and solar power projects and development platform in India
• Armstrong Asset Management on the disposal of Vietnamese renewable energy company Dam Nai Wind to SN Power (one of the first international wind energy acquisitions in Vietnam)
• A confidential client in relation to its interests in and funding for a refined products storage facility in Asia
• AC Energy on its acquisition of an interest in PT UPC Sidrap Bayu Energi, which holds the rights to the 75MW Sidrap wind power plant Indonesia (Indonesia’s first utility scale wind farm)
• Chevron on the disposal of its geothermal assets and related power business interests in Indonesia and the Philippines to Star Energy, AC Energy and Electricity Generating Public Company. The assets include the Darajat and Salak geothermal fields in West Java and Tiwi and Mak-Ban geothermal concessions in Southern Luzon, some of the world's largest geothermal power assets
• A confidential client in relation to its interests in a downstream fuels business in SE Asia
• Woodside in connection with its acquisition of upstream interests in Myanmar from CNPC
• A confidential client on its bid for upstream interests (and the related operatorship) in Malaysia
• Chevron in relation to various of its upstream interests in Asia
• Brunei Economic Development Board (a Brunei Governmental body) in relation to multiple aspects of the Pulau Muara Besar integrated refining and petrochemical project in Brunei
• The Japanese bidder consortium in relation to the potential Singapore-KL High Speed Rail Project
• A confidential client in relation to its oil sales agreement (including partially on Shell General Terms and Conditions) in connection with a prepayment financing
• A confidential client in relation to a greenfield power project in Indonesia and the new form of PLN PPA
• Beibu Gulf in relation to its investment in the Muara Port in Brunei and the joint venture operation of the port with the Brunei Government
• Woodside in relation to multiple matters related to its upstream assets/operations in Myanmar
• A confidential client in relation to a bid for PTTEP's Montara upstream assets in Australia
• Petroleum Brunei in relation to its upstream interests in Myanmar
• A confidential client in relation to its potential acquisition of ConocoPhillip's Natuna Block B and related interests in Indonesia
• CGN Group on its US$2.3 billion acquisition of the Edra Group in Malaysia with a portfolio of 13 power projects located in Malaysia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the UAE. This was one of the largest energy sector deals in Asia in 2016 and one of the largest ever foreign direct investments into Malaysia
• Diamond Gas (Mitsubishi) in relation to various LNG SPA/trading matters
• KOGAS in relation to its interests in the Rovuma LNG Project
• A confidential bidder for BG's interests in the Bongkot field in Thailand
• A confidential bidder for an operating power plant in Sri Lanka
• A confidential client in relation to its offtake arrangements for refined products from a petrochemical plant in Vietnam
• A confidential client in relation to joint venture arrangements for a potential greenfield refining project in Asia
• CNPC on its acquisition of a 28.57% stake in Eni East Africa Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eni SpA, for US$4.2 billion. As a result of this transaction, CNPC indirectly holds a 20% stake in Rovuma Offshore Area 4 in Mozambique
• Sinopec in relation to its acquisition from Talisman Energy of 49% of Talisman's UK North Sea business for approximately US$1.5 billion, including on the sale and purchase and joint venture arrangements
• Sumitomo Chemical on multiple aspects of the Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Complex in Saudi Arabia (project cost over US$10 billion), including the joint venture, development and US$5.8 billion project financing
• Numerous international companies in relation to acquisitions of upstream oil and gas assets in Africa, including CNOOC on its US$1.5 billion acquisition of a 33.3% stake in various upstream blocks in Uganda from Tullow Oil; Mitsui & Co. on its acquisition of interests in the Rovuma block in Mozambique; and bidders for Marathon's Angola assets
• A confidential Asian company acquiring an interest in a precious metals mining business in Africa, and the structuring of its equity investment and financing
• A confidential Asian company in relation to its acquisition of significant coal mining assets in Africa
• BG Group on the disposal of its interests in the Quintero regasification terminal in Chile
• Mitsubishi Corporation on multiple aspects of the Donggi-Senoro liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Indonesia, including the joint venture, development and financing and on the acquisition of upstream interests in the Senoro-Toili block
• BG Group in relation to a restructuring and renegotiation of complex LNG offtake arrangements in North Africa

Professional Affiliations

• Member, The Association of International Petroleum Negotiators

Awards & Accolades

• Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" for Energy & Natural Resources in Singapore by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2015-2023)
• Ranked in “Spotlight Table” for Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas in Singapore by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2022-2023)
• Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" for Energy in Singapore by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2017-2023)
• Recognized as "Highly Regarded" for M&A, Project Development, Project Finance and Banking in Singapore by IFLR1000 (2023)
• Clients comment in Chambers Asia-Pacific that "What I really appreciate with David is that he is very involved in all aspects. He knows the industry very well and is very good at navigating clients through matters." (2023)
• Clients comment in Chambers Asia-Pacific that David "is a fantastic practitioner: user-friendly, legally astute and commercially savvy. I know that when I ask him a question I will get a well-considered and practically useful answer." (2021)
• Clients comment in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific that "Without doubt, David Clinch is the person we always contact as we know that what he delivers is undoubtedly what the trends are in the market." (2020)