Elaine Chao

Elaine Chao is a partner in the Singapore office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is a member of the firm’s Projects and Infrastructure, Power and Renewables, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Environmental, Social and Governance Practice Groups. Her areas of practice include infrastructure and energy transition projects, oil and gas, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and a broad range of general corporate and commercial transactions.

Elaine has significant experience advising developers, investors and government agencies on the development, financing, construction and operation of infrastructure and energy-related projects, with a particular focus on green and renewable energy projects. She has advised on the acquisition and development of a number of biomass, fuel cell technology, energy storage, solar and wind power projects in Asia, Africa, the United States and the Caribbean. Her extensive experience extends to drafting and negotiating project development agreements, front end engineering design (FEED) contracts, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, direct agreements, procurement and equipment supply agreements, power purchase agreements, consultancy agreements, turbine supply agreements, balance of plant (BOP) agreements, asset management agreements and operation and maintenance agreements. 

Elaine’s representative transactions include advising on a clean fuels refinery expansion project in Singapore, a Jet Merox refinery expansion project in Thailand, a methanol export facilities project in Brunei, the Goethals Bridge replacement project in the United States, upstream oil and gas acquisitions and divestments in the Middle East and North Africa, an integrated steel mill project in Ethiopia, two pipeline projects in Djibouti, the divestment of a portfolio of solar assets in India, various investments in wind and solar projects in the United States, and the development of a new licensing regime in the Caribbean for renewable energy projects and energy storage.

In addition, she also advises on joint ventures, Singapore-related corporate, regulatory and compliance matters, and commercial transactions in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Elaine is recommended as a key lawyer in Corporate and M&A, and Energy for Singapore by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.  She is also recommended as a leading lawyer in The Legal 500’s Asia Pacific Green Guide which recognizes law firms and lawyers in the region advising clients on emerging opportunities within the green transition. 

Capabilities

• Power and Renewables
• Energy and Infrastructure
• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
• Fashion, Retail, and Consumer Products
• Infrastructure
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Private Equity
• Projects
• Strategic Sourcing and Commercial Transactions

Credentials

Education:

• King's College London - 2000 Master of Laws (LL.M.)
• King's College London - 1995 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)

Admissions:

• England & Wales - Solicitor
• Singapore – Advocate and Solicitor