Technological development, innovation in contract structures, greater availability of financing, and environmental and geopolitical constraints on alternative energy sources have helped LNG evolve from a niche fuel to one of the world's fastest-growing energy sources.

LNG is a core practice area for White & Case. After playing an integral role in the initial development of the LNG industry decades ago, we have continued to advise leading participants as the industry has expanded and evolved. Our offices in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, London, Mexico City, Moscow, New York, Washington, DC, Singapore, Tokyo and elsewhere actively assist clients with LNG matters. As a result, lawyers in our LNG practice group are widely recognized as some of the most experienced and respected LNG specialists in the world. The practice group has unusual depth of understanding of the industry, and is exceptional in having LNG practitioners in offices in all regions around the world where the industry is active.

Our LNG Practice
Developers, sponsors, contractors, lenders and equity investors have worked with us to develop commercially viable and innovative solutions for the largest and most complex LNG plant developments and project financings in recent years. We have recently guided:

• LNG project developers in structuring and negotiating project contracts and financing for greenfield liquefaction and expansion LNG projects in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia and the Middle East
• Lenders to LNG projects, and LNG projects as borrowers, to complete complex, multitranche project financings
• LNG offtakers on LNG sale and purchase agreements and upstream investments in LNG production and shipping
• Industry participants in negotiating and carrying out LNG shipping arrangements, developers of and lenders to LNG regasification terminal projects, and participants in LNG spot, swap and other trading transactions.

LNG Production Plant Development and Financing
For more than 25 years, we have advised operators, lenders and borrowers on LNG project development and financing. For example, we have recently represented:

• The export credit agencies, multi-lateral lenders and commercial bank lenders in connection with the US$20 billion Sakhalin II (Phase 2) LNG Project in Russia which includes the construction and installation of over 1000km of pipelines both onshore and offshore Sakhalin Island, as well as three offshore platforms, onshore processing facilities and an oil export terminal and a two train LNG production facility
• The project sponsors in the financing of the Tangguh LNG Project in Indonesia, the largest private sector project in Indonesia since the Asian financial crisis
• The project sponsor in connection with the US$1.02 billion refinancing, on a non-recourse project financing basis, of the Damietta LNG plant and related infrastructure in Egypt. This project was named "Middle East Refinancing Deal of the Year" by Project Finance Magazine 2007.
• A leading Japanese electric and gas utility on in relation to its equity interest in the greenfield Pluto LNG Project in Western Australia, as well as in regard to its foundation LNG offtake arrangements
• The project sponsors in relation to the US$6 billion Qatargas 4 LNG project. It is expected that when completed the project's production capacity of 7.8 million metric tonnes of LNG per annum will be mainly available to the North American markets. This project was named "Middle East Oil & Gas Deal of the Year 2007" by Project Finance Magazine
• The project sponsors in relation to the US$5.8 billion Qatargas 3 LNG project in Qatar. The project involves the construction of gas liquefaction facilities in Qatar's North Field, a 7.8 million metric tonne per annum LNG train at Ras Laffan Industrial City
• The project sponsors in connection with the US$11.2 billion Qatargas II LNG project. The Qatargas II transaction involves the construction of two LNG trains supplied with gas from the offshore development of new blocks in Qatar's North Field, the acquisition of a fleet of large LNG carriers and the construction of an LNG receiving / regasification terminal in the UK. This project was named Europe, Middle East and Africa Gas Deal of the Year 2004 by Project Finance International and Middle East Gas Deal of the Year by Project Finance Magazine
• The lenders in the US$1.06 billion financing for the construction of two additional trains for the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas plant (NLNG) in Nigeria. The transaction was awarded "Oil and Gas Deal of Year 2002" by Project Finance International

LNG Facilities & Terminals
Sponsors, lenders, contractors and other participants rely on our advice in the development, construction and financing of LNG receiving, storage and regasification terminals. Recently this has included advising:

• The sponsors in relation to the South Hook LNG receiving terminal in the UK as part of the US$11.2 billion Qatargas II LNG project.
• Hess LNG in the development of the Weaver's Cove LNG receiving and regasification terminal in the United States
• Parties to the development, construction and financing of India's first LNG receiving terminal projects
• A syndicate of lenders in the project financing of the first LNG receiving terminal and pipeline project in China

LNG Sale & Purchase Agreements
LNG sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) form the principal source of revenue for every LNG project. Clients rely on our experience to help them make key decisions about the structuring of LNG purchase arrangements, the risks and benefits of alternative contracting formats and negotiating strategies. We have advised on a broad scope of LNG SPAs, including long-term SPAs, expansion SPAs, DES SPAs, FOB SPAs, short-term SPAs, spot SPAs, master spot SPAs, and innovative cargo swap and time swap transactions.

Recent transactions include representing:

• ITOCHU Corporation, a major Japanese trading company, on a long-term LNG SPA with Oman LNG and resale SPA arrangements
• Several leading Japanese electric and gas utilities in negotiating strategic long-term LNG SPAs (ex-Ship and FOB) from the Australian North West Shelf Project
• Japanese and other Asian buyers in negotiating innovative LNG cargo and time swaps
• Buyers in the negotiation of new generation SPAs with multiple Australian greenfield LNG projects, including upstream equity investment and shipping arrangements

LNG Transportation
Clients value the experience White & Case is able to bring to structuring LNG ship ownership arrangements, shipbuilding contracts, financing agreements, bareboat and time charters, contracts of affreightment, ship management agreements and related documentation. Our work has also included a variety of short-term charters, ship swaps, and master charter agreements for occasional chartering. We advise on conventional financing, project financing and the use of tax leases for LNG tankers. Our lawyers work with expert insurance specialists to advise on complex risk mitigation and insurance matters.

We recognize the complexity in LNG transportation arrangements of allocating and mitigating risks while meeting bankability, vessel control and cost objectives.

For example, we advise Tokyo Electric Power and its partners Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kaisha on projects to construct, own and operate a fleet of LNG tankers. With respect to each tanker in the fleet, we advised on the structuring of the arrangements, shipbuilding, ship management and financing. Four vessels were financed on a non-recourse project finance basis.

Awards

• "Project Finance Team of the Year" Legal Business Awards 2008
• "Oil & Gas Legal Advisor of the Year 2007" Infrastructure Journal
• "Project Finance Law Firm of the Year 2007" Who's Who Legal
• "Project Finance Team of the Year 2007" IFLR Asian Awards
• "Client Service Firm of the Year 2006" Chambers Global Awards
• "Global Law Firm of the Year 2005" Project Finance International
• "Infrastructure Team of the Year 2005" and "US Law Firm of the Year 2005" The Lawyer Magazine
• "Transportation & Infrastructure Legal Adviser of the Year 2005" Infrastructure Journal

White & Case LNG Practice Group
The following is a listing of senior White & Case lawyers worldwide active in LNG matters. Please click on the lawyers' names to obtain biographical and contact information.

Americas
Wendell Maddrey, Partner – New York
Troy Alexander, Partner – New York
George Crozer, Of Counsel – Washington, DC
Ariel Ramos, Partner – Mexico City

Asia Pacific
Hendrik Gordenker, Partner – Tokyo
Hallam Chow, Partner – Hong Kong
Alexander Woody, Counsel – Tokyo

EMEA
Philip Stopford, Partner – London
Jason Kerr, Partner – London
Peter Finlay, Partner – London
Doug Peel, Partner – Abu Dhabi
Jennifer Josefson, Local Partner – Moscow