Brad Roach is Co-Chair of the firm’s Oil and Gas Practice Group and a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Projects and Infrastructure, and Power and Renewables Practice Groups.  He has more than 25 years’ experience advising clients in the energy, upstream oil and gas/LNG, infrastructure and project finance industry throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and has been based in Singapore since 1996.

He is a strategic advisor who is recognized for his negotiation skills and a commercial and pragmatic approach to counselling clients on their investments in the oil and gas, LNG and energy sectors.  He advises on the exploration, appraisal, development and operation of oil and gas, LNG and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects and is currently advising on the development of several major hydrocarbon discoveries in Asia.  He has extensive experience advising companies on asset and share sale and purchase agreements, joint venture and shareholder agreements, gas and LNG sale and purchase agreements, joint operating agreements, farmout agreements, production sharing contracts, unitization agreements, abandonment and decommissioning agreements, and financing agreements.

Brad is a leader in his field and was recognized by his peers as Best Lawyers’ 2023 Energy Lawyer of the Year in Singapore and in 2022 was named as one of the top 30 legal practitioners in the world for energy and natural resources by Euromoney Expert Guide’s Best of the Best Global 2022.

He is ranked “Band 1” in Chambers & Partners for Energy & Natural Resources in Singapore and has maintained this ranking for 10 consecutive years.  He is ranked “Band 1” for Projects & Energy in Indonesia by Chambers & Partners and has been ranked in this tier for over a decade, and Chambers & Partners notes he is “an eminent oil and gas expert sought out for advice on the most significant energy and natural resources deals” and is “the leading authority for oil and gas in the region.”

He is the only lawyer from Singapore included in the Energy section of Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders – Global Elite 2019 and one of two lawyers recognized as a “most highly regarded” leader for Southeast Asia in Who’s Who Legal: Southeast Asia – Energy 2021, which notes he is “revered for his expert knowledge of oil and gas investments.”

He has advised the sponsors of several greenfield LNG projects, including the sponsors of the Mozambique LNG project, the Donggi-Senoro LNG project (Indonesia) and the Tangguh LNG project (Indonesia).  He advised Murphy Oil on the divestment of its Malaysian operations to PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) for a consideration of US$2.127 billion, which is the largest upstream M&A transaction undertaken in Southeast Asia in the past 8 years.  His clients include Chevron, Murphy Oil, Jadestone Energy, PTTEP and PGN Saka, among others.

Brad has a particular interest in low carbon solutions and is advising on the regulatory framework required for cross-border transportation of CO2 and the implementation and development of voluntary carbon markets in Asia. In addition, he has been actively participating in various regional CCS initiatives.  He is a member of the steering committee for Singapore and carbon capture and storage taskforce of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN).

He has advised the developers of power projects and LNG regasification terminals in various countries throughout Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.

Brad gained his Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honors) and his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.  He is admitted to practice in England and Wales.  He has served as a director of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) for several years and is the pro-bono advisor to, and a member of, the Southeast Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX).

Representative Experience

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Chevron in connection with the sale of its 95% shareholding in PT Mandau Cipta Tenaga Nusantara, which owns the North Duri 300 MW cogeneration facility to PT PLN (Persero), Indonesia’s state-owned electricity company.
• Murphy Oil in connection with the sale of its participating interests in the Block K, Block H, SK 309, SK 311, SK 314A and SK 405B PSCs in Malaysia to PTTEP for a consideration of US$2.127 billion.
• Murphy Oil in connection with the sale of its 30% participating interest in Block CA-2 in Brunei to PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd.
• Jadestone Energy in connection with the acquisition of SapuraOMV’s participating interests in four offshore producing PSCs in Malaysia.
• Murphy Oil in connection with the sale of 30% of its participating interests in several PSCs in Malaysia to PT Pertamina (Persero) for a consideration of US$2 billion.
• ExxonMobil in connection with the proposed divestment of its upstream operations in Malaysia.
• Jadestone Energy in connection with the acquisition of a 90% participating interest in the Lemang PSC in Indonesia from Mandala Energy.
• Repsol in connection with the sale of its 42.4% participating interest in the Wiriagar PSC and 3.06% interest in the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia to BP for a consideration of US$313 million.
• PT Pertamina (Persero) in connection with its acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ assets in Algeria for a consideration of US$1.75 billion, including a 65% participating interest and operatorship in Block 405a and a 3.7% and 16.9% unit participating interest in the Ourhoud and EMK fields.*
• Talisman Energy in connection with the acquisition of a 30% participating interest in the Block 07/03 PSC in Vietnam from Premier Oil.
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. in connection with the acquisition of the shares in Lundin Indonesia Holding B.V., which held interests in several PSCs in Indonesia.
• Jadestone Energy in connection with its acquisition of Talisman (Ogan Komering) Ltd., which holds a 50% participating interest in the Ogan Komering PSC in Indonesia, from Repsol.
• PT Saka Energi Indonesia in connection with its acquisition of a 100% participating interest in the South Sesulu PSC in Indonesia from Hess Corporation and the acquisition of a 100% participating interest in the Wokam II PSC in Indonesia from Murphy Oil.
• Murphy Oil in connection with the acquisition of a 20% participating interest in the Block 13/03 PSC in Vietnam from Santos.
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. in connection with its acquisition of 100% of the shares of Storm Ventures International (Barbados) Limited, which has interests in several petroleum concessions and permits in Tunisia.
• Murphy Oil in connection with its acquisition of a 40% participating interest and operatorship in the Deepwater Block 2A PSC in Malaysia from BHP.
• Mitra Energy Limited in connection with a farmout of a 75% participating interest in Service Contract No. 56 in the Philippines to Total and its farmout of an interest in Blocks 45 and 46/07 in Vietnam to Talisman Energy.*
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. in connection with the acquisition of a 21.25% participating interest in Block 9 in Yemen from Reliance Exploration & Production DMCC for a consideration of US$90 million.*
• Talisman Energy in connection with the sale of a 5.03% participating interest in the Offshore North West Java PSC in Indonesia to PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore Northwest Java.*
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. in connection with the sale of a 20% participating interest in the Senoro-Toili PSC in Indonesia to Mitsubishi Corporation for a consideration of US$260 million.*
• INPEX in connection with the transfer of a 15% participating interest in the Babar Selaru PSC in Indonesia to PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Babar Selaru.*

Oil & Gas – Upstream

• Chevron in connection with its operations in the Rokan PSC in Indonesia, the single largest producing contract area in Indonesia, with cumulative production in excess of 11.5 billion barrels, and advising on environmental, operational and transitional issues relating to petroleum operations in connection with the expiry of the Rokan PSC, including:
  • advising on an agreement entered into between Chevron, SKK Migas and the Government of Indonesia to enable drilling activities in the Rokan PSC and the establishment of an abandonment and site restoration fund; and
  • advising on the well program and well transition agreement entered into between Chevron and PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan.

• Chevron in connection with various matters relating to its operations in Thailand.
• Murphy Oil in connection with the proposed development of the Lac Da Vang oil field in Vietnam.
• EnQuest in connection with certain of its operations in Malaysia.
• Murphy Oil in connection with the international unitisation arrangements between Malaysia and Brunei in respect of the Geronggong/Jagus-East/Gumusut-Kakap field.
• Murphy Oil in connection with its operations in the CA-1 and CA-2 Production Sharing Agreements in Brunei.
• PTTEP in connection with certain of its operations in Malaysia.
• Talisman Energy in connection with the unitisation of oil fields in Malaysia and Vietnam, various joint bidding and study agreements and joint operating agreements in Indonesia, and its farm-in to the Block 133 and 134 PSC in Vietnam.*
• Murphy Oil in connection with its farm-in to a 50% participating interest and operatorship in the Deepwater Block 2C PSC in Malaysia from SapuraKencana, Mitsubishi Corporation and PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd.
• Murphy Oil in connection with its negotiations with PetroVietnam on the Block 144 and 145 and Block 11/2-11 PSCs in Vietnam and the negotiation of the Block W PSC in Equatorial Guinea and associated joint operating agreements.*
• Murphy Oil in connection with the award of the Semai II PSC, located offshore Papua, Indonesia and associated joint operating agreement with PTTEP and INPEX and the first exercise by PT Pertamina (Persero) of its right to back-in to a 15% participating interest in connection with the Semai II PSC.*
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. in connection with an exploration and production sharing agreement in Libya.*
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. on an exploration joint venture agreement with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in relation to 13 production sharing contracts in Indonesia.*
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. in connection with the farmout of a 60% participating interest in the Nunukan PSC in Indonesia to Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.*

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

• PTTEP in connection with the development of the multi-tcf Lang Lebah gas field/carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Malaysia, which is the largest offshore gas discovery in Malaysia’s recent history and one of the largest offshore CCS projects in the world and the proposed gas sales arrangements to the PETRONAS LNG complex in Bintulu, Sarawak (in progress).
• Advising on the regulatory framework required for cross-border transportation of CO₂ and the implementation and development of voluntary carbon markets in Asia.
• Advising on the allocation of liability for abandonment of facilities in injection fields and risks associated with injection and storage facilities and the surrounding environment.

LNG Projects

• Mozambique LNG, whose sponsors include Total, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., PTTEP, ONGC Videsh, Bharat PetroResources, Oil India and ENH, on a long term LNG sale and purchase agreement for the sale of 1 million tonnes per annum of LNG to PT Pertamina (Persero).
• An Asian national energy company in connection with a dispute relating to a proposed long term LNG sale and purchase agreement.
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. on the development and financing of a US$2.8 billion, 2.1 million tonne LNG project in Sulawesi, Indonesia, including:
  • the Shareholders’ Agreement entered into with Mitsubishi Corporation, PT Pertamina (Persero) and Korea Gas Corporation to establish the project company, PT Donggi-Senoro LNG;
  • the Gas Sales Agreement for the supply of 250 mmscfd of feedstock gas to PT Donggi-Senoro LNG from the Senoro-Toili PSC;
  • the FEED Contract and EPC Contract with JGC Corporation; and
  • the LNG HOAs and SPAs with Chubu Electric, Kyushu Electric and Korea Gas Corporation.*
• BG in connection with Egypt LNG, a US$900 million LNG export project in Idku, Egypt, including advising on the terms of the concession agreements with EGPC, domestic gas sales agreements, and LNG SPAs.*
• BG on the development of the Tangguh LNG project in Papua, Indonesia including:
  • the joint venture agreement and unitisation agreement between the partners in three PSCs to provide for the unitisation of 14.4 trillion cubic feet of proved reserves and the development of the Tangguh LNG project; and
  • the terms of the LNG SPA between the participants in the Tangguh LNG project, CNOOC and the Fujian Investment Development Corporation, and LNG SPAs with SK Power Limited and POSCO in South Korea.*
• BG in connection with the sale of its 10.73% participating interest in the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia to CNOOC and LNG Japan Corporation for a consideration of US$236 million following the exercise of pre-emption rights.*
• LNG Japan Corporation on the development and financing of the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia.*
• Shizuoka Gas Company, Ltd on the terms of an LNG SPA with The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated.*
• INPEX Corporation on various pre-development activities associated with the proposed Abadi LNG project in Indonesia.*
• Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. in connection with equity arrangements with the Gorgon LNG project in Australia.*

Power

• A consortium of PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk., Korea Electric Power Corporation and Nebras Power in connection with their bid for the Jawa-1 1,600 MW power project in Java, Indonesia.
• PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk. on the development of the US$1.5 billion 330 MW Sarulla geothermal power project, Indonesia.*
• The Bechtel Group, Inc. and Royal Dutch/Shell on the sale of the shares of InterGen N.V., which operated 10 power plants in the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, China, Mexico and the Philippines, to AIG and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board for US$1.75 billion.*
• First Gas Power Corporation in connection with the shared facilities arrangements for the liquid fuel and gas-fired 1000 MW Santa Rita IPP and the 500 MW San Lorenzo IPP in the Philippines.*
• A developer in its purchase of nine barge-mounted diesel fired power barges from National Power Corporation in the Philippines.*

Finance

• An Indonesian petrochemical company in connection with the restructuring of US$190 million of debt, and a lease financing.*
• Macquarie Bank in two defeased Swedish cross border leases of electricity transmission equipment for lessees in Singapore and South Korea.*
• BNP Paribas in connection with the project financing of an interest in an oil and gas concession in Thailand.*
• An Australian independent power producer in a project financing of several landfill gas-fired power stations located in various States in Australia.*

Mining

• PT Amman Mineral Industri in connection with its proposed development of a 2.6 million tonne per annum copper smelter in Sumbawa, Indonesia.

* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Gibson Dunn.

Accolades

Brad is consistently recognized as a pre-eminent lawyer in his fields of practice. Recent awards include:

• Chambers & Partners: Energy & Natural Resources: Singapore – Band 1 (2014-2023); Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas – Singapore: Spotlight Table (2017-2023); Corporate & Finance – Projects & Energy (International Firms) (Expert Based Abroad): Indonesia – Band 1 (2008-2017, 2022-2023);
• Best Lawyers: Energy Lawyer of the Year – Singapore (2023) and (2017);
• Euromoney Expert Guide’s Best of the Best Global (2022);
• Chambers Global: Leaders in Their Field (Corporate/M&A, Projects and Energy) (2012-2023);
• Who’s Who Legal: Global Leader – Energy – Oil & Gas and Power/Electricity (2021-2022) and Project Finance (2020-2022);
• Who’s Who Legal: National Leader – Southeast Asia – Energy (2021-2022) (one of two lawyers recognized as “most highly regarded”) and Project Finance (2022);
• Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders – Global Elite: Energy (2019) (inclusion limited to top 2% of lawyers ranked by peers);
• Who’s Who Legal: Energy (2014-2020); Thought Leader (one of four lawyers) for Asia-Pacific (2018);
• Euromoney Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Energy Lawyers (2005-2023);
• Euromoney Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Banking, Finance and Transactional Lawyers (2008-2022);
• Best Lawyers: Leading Lawyer (Energy Law) (2013-2024); (Mergers and Acquisitions Law) (2018-2024); (Oil and Gas Law) (2024);
• The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Leading Individual (Energy) (2006-2023);
• The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Leading Individual (Indonesia: Foreign Firms) (2017-2023); and
• IFLR1000: Highly Regarded Lawyer (Asia Pacific, Singapore: Banking; Energy and Infrastructure; Project Development; Project Finance; and Oil and Gas) (2015-2022).

Recent commendations based on client and peer feedback include:

• “his knowledge of the upstream transactions in SE Asia is unparalleled” and “a tenacious negotiator.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2023;
• “highly regarded oil and gas expert… with strong expertise in M&A and regulatory matters” and “excellent negotiation, analytical and drafting skills” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2022;
• “extensive experience in upstream M&A transactions and LNG projects.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2022;
• “a highly regarded oil and gas expert. Clients laud his industry knowledge.” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2021;
• “probably unequalled in Asia on his knowledge of upstream agreements and transactions” and “an outstanding reputation in oil and gas M&A.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2021;
• “revered for his expert knowledge of oil and gas investment” and “key player in the market, lauded for his sterling work on transactions and investments across the power sector.” – Who’s Who Legal: Energy, 2021;
• “an eminent oil and gas expert sought out for advice on the most significant energy and natural resources deals” and “his industry knowledge in South-East Asia is top notch and unparalleled” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2020;
• “a particularly formidable record in upstream M&A” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020;
• “peers applaud his sweeping knowledge of upstream oil and gas matters” – Who’s Who Legal: Energy, 2020;
• “commercially savvy” – Chambers Global, 2019;
• “pre-eminent energy lawyer” and “extremely disciplined and thorough in his approach” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2019;
• “the leading authority for oil and gas in the region,” possessing “deep experience in the energy sector, especially in upstream and downstream oil and gas matters” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2017;
• ““a definite inclusion on any list” for his high-level practice advising both exploration and production companies, as well developers of power projects throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.” – Who’s Who Legal: Energy, 2017;
• “the number one upstream energy lawyer in South-East Asia” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2016;
• “a very powerful reputation for upstream oil and gas work” and “widely acknowledged as a heavy hitter in the sector” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2015;
• “widely acknowledged for his deep experience in oil and gas transactions. Clients laud his commercial savvy and experience in negotiations.” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2014;
• ““pre-eminent” in the region for upstream and downstream advice in the oil sector” – Who’s Who Legal: Energy, 2014;
• “peers laud him as a “high-profile operator; a sharp and sensible adviser.”” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2012; and
• “sources agree that Brad Roach is one of the finest oil and gas experts in the market, and his extensive industry experience makes him a lawyer of choice for energy entities” – Chambers Asia Pacific, 2012.

Publications/Client Alerts/Speaking Engagements

• Panel Moderator at the APAC Energy Capital Assembly 2022 on “The changing role of the IOC in Asia from E&P Operator to CSS explorer” with a panel including CCS experts from PETRONAS, ExxonMobil, Shell and Pertamina;
• “Carbon Markets Update – Q4 2022” (December 2022);
• “Carbon-Neutral LNG” (March 2022);
• “Coronavirus and Force Majeure: Addressing Epidemics in LNG and Other Commodities Contracts” (February 2020);
• “The Indonesian PSC” Oxford Journal of World Energy Law and Business (April 2018);
• “The Gross-Split Production Sharing Contract: The End of an Era for Indonesia’s Upstream Oil and Gas Industry and Traditional PSC Model” (May 2017);
• “Private Equity Participation in the Asian Oil & Gas Industry” Expert Guides: Energy (January 2016); and
• “Drilling into new ground” Private Equity International (October 2015).