White & Case, an international law firm, is strengthening its project finance practice in Southeast Asia.
Partner Steve Payne has relocated to the firm’s Singapore office from Beijing to lead the practice, while David Gartside has joined the team from Allen & Overy. The practice will focus on energy, infrastructure, project and asset finance.
Payne had been based in Beijing for the past seven years. White & Case says the decision to move him to Singapore reflects demand from its clients for support in Southeast Asia.
“There has been an upturn in cross-border project financing activity in Southeast Asia in recent years,” said Art Scavone, head of the firm’s global project finance practice.
Gartside will add further experience to the team. He spent 18 months on secondment at Korea Eximbank in Seoul before joining White & Case and has also advised other Japanese and Korean financial institutions, trading houses and contractors on international projects. He recently advised the lenders on OM Holdings’ $215 million financing for a ferrosilicon smelter plant in Malaysia.
“Energy and infrastructure projects are key to the development of Southeast Asia’s thriving economies,” said Barrye Wall, head of White & Case’s Asia practice.
Payne has been with the firm for more than 15 years, advising sponsors and lenders on conventional and renewable power, oil and gas, petrochemical, telecoms, and water and wastewater projects.
The two lawyers will work closely with MD & Partners, an Indonesian law firm associated with White & Case.
