Cross-Border Investment Green Horizons: Navigating the Global Energy Transition through Clean Technologies and Strategic Mineral Resources

Date
Saturday, April 27
Time
9:00-10:30
Location (Room)
Le soleil

The shift to a clean energy system is set to drive a dramatic increase in the supply of critical materials. As countries accelerate their efforts to reduce emissions, they also need to make sure their energy systems remain resilient and secure. Today’s international energy security mechanisms are designed to provide insurance against the risks of disruptions or price spikes in supplies of hydrocarbons, particularly oil. Minerals offer a different and distinct set of challenges, but their rising importance in a decarbonising energy system requires energy policy makers to expand their horizons and consider potential new vulnerabilities. Concerns about price volatility and security of supply do not disappear in an electrified, renewables-rich energy system. The supply and investment plans for many critical minerals fall well short of what is needed to support an accelerated deployment of solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles. Many minerals come from a small number of producers. This creates both opportunities and the spectre of geopolitical risks. Further, production and processing of mineral resources gives rise to a variety of environmental and social issues that, if poorly managed, can harm local communities and disrupt supply. Consumers and investors are increasingly calling for companies to source minerals that are sustainably and responsibly produced. A renewables-based energy transition provides a chance to rewrite the script for extractive commodities and ensure their value chains are more inclusive, ethical and sustainable.

Moderator

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Sean A Muggah

Sean Muggah is a partner with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, and is based out of the firm’s Vancouver office. He represents and advises clients on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, with a particular focus on highly regulated industries and sectors that include clean tech and energy, and electricity procurement. He has significant experience with cross-border transactions, corporate reorganizations, joint ventures, partnership agreements and energy projects. He has been involved in some of the largest and most prominent projects in Canada as well as high value projects with international components.

Speaker

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Michael Chang

Michael has broad ranging commercial law experience across a number of jurisdictions, including Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Peru, USA, Canada and Vietnam. He has acted for banks, infrastructure funds, strategic investors and governmental agencies in a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, media, power, mining, property development, hotels and transport. His clients have included Macquarie Bank, The Walt Disney Company, Shinhan Bank, Kohler Co., John Deere & Co., Kookmin Bank, Thomson Reuters, ACE Insurance, Standard Chartered, Australia and New Zealand Banking Corporation, Woori Bank and Volvo Financial Services.

He began practice in Melbourne with Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks in 1996 (now known as Allens). Michael was seconded as a senior associate to Shin & Kim from 2002 to 2008, before returning to Allens Arthur Robinson’s Singapore office. He returned to Shin & Kim in 2010 as a senior foreign attorney. During his time in Korea, he has advised numerous foreign clients in investments in Korea. His in-depth experience in different sectors and different aspects of Korean law allows him to provide commercial and integrated advice, whether it be to a strategic investor in the manufacturing or media sector or a financial investor in the infrastructure sector, Michael has the depth of experience and expertise to assist a client in reaching its commercial objectives in Korea.

Professional Career

  • 2022-Present Member, Investment Committee, Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND)
  • 2016-Present Convener of Law Council of Australia, Seoul Chapter
  • 2016-Present Board Member, Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea 2002-
  • Present Shin & Kim LLC, Seoul
  • 996-2010 Allens, Melbourne, Singapore

Education

  • 1995 University of Melbourne (LL.B.(Hons) and B.Com., Major in accounting and submajor in finance)

Bar Admissions

  • 1997 Supreme Court of Victoria and High Court of Australia

Languages

  • English, Korean

Professional Activities

  • Korea Chapter in Fintech, Global Legal Insights(GLI), 4th Edition, 2022 (co-authored)
  • Korea Chapter in Getting the Deal Through – Project Finance 2022, Law Business Research 2021 (co-authored)
  • Korea Chapter in Getting the Deal Through – Project Finance 2021, Law Business Research 2020 (co-authored)
  • Korea Chapter in Chambers Alternative Energy & Power 2020 Guide, Chambers & Partners, 2020 (co-authored)
  • Korea Chapter in Getting the Deal Through – Project Finance 2019, Law Business Research 2018 (co-authored)
  • South Korea: Project Finance Report 2014, IFLR, November 2014 (co-authored)
  • Financial regulatory changes in Korea, IFLR1000 2015 Edition, October 2014 (co-authored)
  • Korean Employers Face Tough Task of Restructuring Salary Scheme, Asia Legal Business(ALB), March 2014 (co- authored)
  • What Constitutes “Ordinary Wage” in Korea?, Invest Korea Bulletin, February 2014 (co-authored)
  • Korea Chapter in The Projects and Construction Review, Second Edition, Law Business Research, 2012-2016 (co- authored)
  • A Korean Takeovers Panel? A Look at the Australian Model, The Asian Business Lawyer Vol 9 Spring 2012, The Korea University Legal Research Institute

Professional Accolades

  • "Leading Individual" for Projects and Energy, Legal500, 2018-2024
  • "Leading Individual" for Banking and Finance, Chambers Global/Chambers Asia, 2014-2024
  • "Leading Individual" for Projects and Energy, Chambers Asia, 2016-2024
  • "Leading Lawyer" for Banking & Finance, Asialaw Profiles, 2018-2024
  • "Leading Lawyer" for M&A, Project Development, IFLR1000, 2015-2023
  • ALB Korean Super 30 Lawyers, Asia Legal Business, 2021
  • "Recommended Lawyer" for Employment, Legal500, 2019
  • "Leading Lawyer" for Banking and Finance, IFLR1000, 2019
  • "Leading Lawyer" for Corporate/M&A, Asialaw Profiles, 2018
  • "Recommended Lawyer" for Banking and Finance, Legal500, 2014, 2016, 2017
  • "Foreign Expert" for Banking and Finance – South Korea (Foreign Experts-Australia), Chambers Global, 2015
  • "Leading Individual" for Corporate/M&A, Chambers Global/Chambers Asia, 2013

Speaker

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Pablo Honatrio

Pablo Hontoria joined Pérez-Llorca in 2011. In 2015 he participated in the opening of Pérez-Llorca’s New York office, where he worked until 2017. Between 2018 and 2020 Pablo worked as an international associate in the New York office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. In 2020 he returned to the Madrid office and since the beginning of 2023, after its opening, he has been in charge of Pérez-Llorca’s Singapore office. He holds a degree in Law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain, 2011) and a Master of Laws from the Columbia University, New York (US, 2018).

Pablo specializes in advising domestic and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, transfers of assets and business units, as well as corporate law and corporate governance matters. He advises both funds and industrial groups on transnational transactions in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, software and food.

He is admitted to practice law in Madrid and New York and is registered as a Foreign Legal Consultant in New York and as a Foreign Lawyer in Singapore.

Speaker

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Mihiko Shima

Ms. Mihoko Shima handles the infrastructure/energy sector from multiple perspectives. She has experience advising governments, public institutions, developers, and financial institutions at all stages of project development, including feasibility studies, negotiations with host governments, preparation of bid documents, formation of JVs, financing, and restructuring/exit strategies.

Work Highlights

  • Assisted a geothermal power project developer in managing a geothermal blowout in Japan (covering environmental regulations including the waste management act, the soil contamination prevention act, the air pollution prevention act, the water pollution prevention act, etc.)
  • Advised on formation of a JV between a Japan and US oil exploration companies for a geothermal power project in Japan
  • Advised an UK company in its commencement of the grid storage battery business in Japan
  • Advised a public-private infrastructure fund on its investment in a SAF production project in Norway
  • Advised a public-private infrastructure fund on its bid for a waste-to-energy project in Abu Dhabi
  • Advised a public-private infrastructure fund on its investment in and divestment from a railway maintenance, repair and overhaul business in Canada
  • Advised a Japanese mining company on the sale of its interest in a copper mining project in Canada
  • Advised a Japanese mining company on the “swap” of its interest in copper mining projects in Brazil with a Japanese trading house

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers (recognized since 2021), Banking and Finance Law & Energy Law
  • IFLR1000 (recognized since 2020), Project finance, Notable practitioner)

Professional Background

  • with Nishimura & Asahi (2003-2019)
  • with Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (NY) (2008-2009)
  • seconded to Mizuho Bank, Project Finance Division (formerly, Global Project Finance Division)(part-time basis) (2009-2021)
  • with Atsumi Sakai Law Office, Foreign Law Joint Enterprise (2019-2021)
  • with Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (2022-)

Service on Government Council

  • ollowing committees with Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Japan
  • ember, Resources and Fuels Subcommittee (2019-)
  • ember, Subcommittee on Resources Development and Fuel Supply (formerly known as the “Subcommittee on Petroleum and Natural Gas”) of the same (2019-)
  • ember, Subcommittee on Ammonia and Other Decarbonized Fuels Policy (2022-)
  • ember, the Working Group to Study CCS Projects and Domestic Laws CCS Long-term Roadmap Study Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2022-2023)
  • ember, Industrial Safety Basic System Subcommittee, Safety and Consumer Product Safety, Industrial Structure Council, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2023-)
  • ember, Council for International Development of Aviation Infrastructure, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (2016-)

Admissions

  • Japan (Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association) (2003)
  • State of New York (2009)

Education

  • The University of Tokyo (LL.B.) (1999)
  • New York University, School of Law (LL.M.) (Class 2007)