Milbank has established a robust presence in representing both commercial banks and state-owned entities, including acting for Chinese export credit agencies in projects spanning Latin America, Africa, and Europe, and acting for project companies and contractors across regions like Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Shepard Liu, a ‘true leader’ renowned for his work with Chinese lenders and export credit agencies, heads the practice. Desiree Woo, operating from the Hong Kong office, handles matters involving Chinese sponsors and financial institutions across Asia with ’professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness’, and extends her expertise to sponsors in Southeast Asia. Associate Jenny Zhang brings to the table her vast experience in advising various project participants in large-scale infrastructure projects across oil and gas, transportation and other sectors. Recent addition Associate Marco Ying, formerly of White & Case Hong Kong, has a strong background in infrastructure finance, representing a wide spectrum of clients from international banks to private equity sponsors.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Milbank has a set of team members across various specialisations like corporate financing, project financing, EPC projects in mining, power and its related infrastructure. This helps clients with such diverse needs access legal advice in one place. This helps in sharpening the various agreements, documentation leading to effective results.’
  • ‘These individuals uniquely stand out as they are able to precisely identify the client needs and work to provide high-quality solutions in the shortest possible time.’

  • 'Shepard Liu and his team have been working with us for many years. The team is capable, diligent and considerate. The team is responsive to our requests and needs. We are very impressed with the team's creativity in resolving difficult legal and commercial issues.’

  • ‘Shepard Liu is one of the few top legal experts we have ever worked with. He is a true leader in acting for our interest and resolving difficult issues creatively. He is commercially wise, legally able, and hands-on.’

  • ‘Excellent quality of legal work, responsiveness on requests, and combined high legal skills and sound commercial sense.’

  • ‘Desiree Woo has been working with us with her professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness for many years.’

  • ‘The work is efficient, the partners and team lawyers are very professional, and they can quickly respond to customer needs and provide legal advice and services.’

  • ‘I have worked with Shephard Liu and associate Marco Yang. The team's strengths include high work efficiency, strong comprehension ability, and well-developed local law firm resources, all of which enable them to quickly respond to our needs and provide professional legal services.’

Key clients

  • The Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM)
  • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
  • Shandong Electric Power 3 (SEPCOIII)
  • Asian Development Bank
  • PT Amman Mineral Industri
  • GNPower Ltd
  • BOC (Central and Eastern Europe)
  • PT Supreme Energy Rantau Dedap (SERD)
  • HTG Development Group
  • S. Alam Group
  • Nebras Power

Work highlights

  • Advising CEXIM in connection with EUR 190 million financing of the Dabar hydropower project in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Advising Asian Development Bank and other lenders in connection with the Monsoon 600 MW wind project, a greenfield wind power project which will sell power from Laos into Vietnam under a long-term PPA with EVN as offtaker. The EPC contractor is PowerChina International.
  • Advising The Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) on the US$200mln term loan facility to Banco do Brasil S.A..

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Shepard Liu

Other key lawyers

Desiree Woo, Jenny Zhang, Marco Yang