You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

//
//
Energy

Energy

Key Contacts

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Myanmar

Thailand

Vietnam

OVERVIEW

Powering Southeast Asia.

Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional energy team advises domestic and international clients in the oil and gas, power, and renewable energy sectors on all phases of major investments in Southeast Asia, including deal structuring, project financing, project development and construction, and operation.

We support the activities of domestic and international energy producers in onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and related upstream and downstream operations, along with affiliated petrochemical and transportation operations. In the clean energy and renewables sector, we represent leading and exciting new companies in solar and wind energy, as well as important biomass and hydroelectric projects across the region. We also have extensive experience advising on cross-border energy transmission and energy storage projects across the region from start to finish.

We offer unparalleled advice on a full range of energy matters, including concession agreements, EPC contracts, environmental compliance, financing transactions, O&M agreements, production sharing agreements, supply agreements, public-private partnerships, and tax.

Experience

  • Represented a multinational supplier to the petroleum industry in the establishment of their Thailand operations. In establishing their base of operations in Southeast Asia, we developed a flexible approach to provide for continued growth of the business in the region, and to minimize tax exposure for the company.
  • Advised one of the largest biogas EPC contractors in Thailand on its fuel projects. The client develops, designs, finances, implements, and operates biogas projects, and we act as counsel on the full range of legal matters.
  • Assisted a Malaysian company in the oil and gas sector in an arbitration case before the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) in Ho Chi Minh City related to performance of contract in a well plugging and abandonment project.
  • Assisted a construction company specializing in wind and photovoltaic power stations to set up their operations in Thailand. Our team advised on BOI approval, including forms of legal entities for the project; relevant tax benefits and ramifications; import duties; customs; employment; licenses for construction and property ownership; government policy; availability of financial facilities; and competition.
  • Advised an engineering, construction, and petrochemical company in its pursuit of a renewable energy opportunity in Thailand. We assisted with land acquisition, contracting, permitting, environmental regulatory matters, financing, and construction contracting.
  • Advised a subsidiary of a major Chinese state-owned energy company on an engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) contract for an oil and gas pipeline compressor project valued at about THB 6.5 billion (about USD 198 million) in Thailand with one of Thailand’s largest oil and gas companies.
  • Assisted multinational oil and gas traders with assessing exposure to environmental regulations.
  • Advised a global supplier in the heavy industries sector on various matters relating to the supply and installation of a production platform, bridges, and a flare tower in development of a petroleum concession, with a focus on tax matters (total contract price was approximately USD 1 billion).
  • Advised a fully integrated oil and gas conglomerate on various tax matters, arising from the sale and distribution of petroleum products in Thailand, with a focus on tax and corporate restructuring.
  • Assisted a major U.S. oil company in obtaining a license for a 100% foreign-owned enterprise in LPG production in Vietnam.
  • Assisted a major U.S. oil company in negotiations and contracts for a four-party joint venture oil refinery in Vietnam.
  • Represented a major Japanese oil and gas/energy and infrastructure company in joint venture negotiations and licensing of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage facility project in Vietnam.
  • Advised a fully integrated oil and gas conglomerate on advertising and marketing activities in Vietnam.
  • Represented a module builder in Project Zawtika, a natural gas extraction project off the coast of Myanmar (Burma), in its construction of processing platforms and living quarters. These modules were built at a Thai shipyard and are now in use in the field.
  • Assisted the Thai subsidiary of a leading Japanese energy equipment manufacturer in formulating standard form contracts for the client’s rooftop engineering, procurement, and construction installation business in Thailand. Our firm assisted the client in preparing agreements for solar rooftop projects, sales and supply agreements, purchase agreements, and commissioning agreements.

PROFESSIONALS

RELATED INSIGHTS

September 25, 2025
Tilleke & Gibbins’ labor and employment team in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has contributed the Vietnam chapter to Labor and Employment Disputes 2026. Drawing on the expertise of three of the firm’s employment specialists, the chapter provides practical guidance for navigating employment disputes in Vietnam and covers: Pre-action considerations: key requirements, third-party funding, contingency fee arrangements Issuing a claim: forum, territorial jurisdiction, standing, commencing claims, fees, service, defendants and legal personality, types of claims, time limits, counterclaims Case management: procedure, rules, amendments to claims, adding parties, consolidating proceedings, class and collective actions, evidence, witnesses, tactical considerations Interim relief: availability, requirements Trial: hearings conduct and time frames, confidentiality and public access, media reporting, elements of successful claims and burden of proof Alternative dispute resolution: available types, requirements and expectations, enforcement Collective employment and labor rights: enforcement and standing Remedies and enforcement: available remedies, assessing compensation, enforcement mechanisms Appeals: procedure, time frames, other means of challenge Updates and trends: recent cases and developments, technology developments, other issues The Vietnam chapter is available for download below. Tilleke & Gibbins also contributed the Cambodia and Thailand chapters to Labor and Employment Disputes 2026. Readers can also gain 30 days of complementary access to the full Labor and Employment Disputes 2026 guide and the rest of Lexology Panoramic’s varied offerings through this link.
July 18, 2025
Vietnam’s electric vehicle (EV) industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by a strong wave of new legislation, strategic plans, and government incentives. The government’s clear commitment to electrification is attracting foreign investment, supporting advanced production, and reducing reliance on internal combustion engine (ICE) imports. Recent national strategies, sector regulations, and technical standards demonstrate a rare level of regulatory momentum in Southeast Asia, positioning Vietnam as a competitive player in the global EV supply chain and an attractive market for foreign investors. An overview of legal developments for the EV sector in Vietnam is presented below. National Action Program for Green Transportation A key driver of Vietnam’s EV growth has been the National Action Program for Green Transportation through 2050 stipulated in Decision No. 876/QD-TTg of the prime minister dated July 22, 2022. The National Action Program sets a detailed roadmap for the green energy transition in road transport. For the period 2022–2030, the focus is on promoting the manufacturing, assembly, import, and conversion of road motor vehicles to electric power, expanding the use of 100% E5 gasoline for road vehicles, developing charging infrastructure to meet the needs of residents and businesses, and encouraging both new and existing bus stations and rest stops to meet green criteria. For the period 2031–2050, the roadmap aims to gradually restrict and ultimately cease by 2040 the manufacturing, assembly, and import of fossil fuel-powered cars, motorcycles, and mopeds for domestic use. By 2050, the goal is for 100% of road motor vehicles and construction vehicles participating in traffic to use electricity or green energy, for all bus stations and rest stops to meet green criteria, and for all machinery and equipment for loading and unloading to transition from fossil fuels to electricity or green energy. The program also calls for the completion of nationwide
July 16, 2025
On June 27, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially passed the amended Law on Atomic Energy, which will take effect on January 1, 2026. This legislative milestone follows the release of the fourth draft in June 2025, which was circulated for public consultation and builds upon earlier drafts from February, April, and early June. (See our previous article on the draft version here), Many provisions have been retained or refined to ensure greater specificity and alignment with Vietnam’s current legal framework. Once in force, the amended law will replace the 2008 Law on Atomic Energy (No. 18/2008/QH12), marking a significant step forward in modernizing Vietnam’s legal infrastructure for nuclear energy. The new law aims to harmonize with international standards, promote the safe and sustainable development of nuclear power, and facilitate future nuclear projects in the country. Noteworthy Updates in the Final Legislation Definition of National Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (NRNSA): The law introduces a clear definition of the NRNSA, outlining its roles and responsibilities in line with IAEA standards. Currently, this function is performed by the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Digital Transformation Requirements: New provisions mandate the development of an integrated digital platform for data management, administrative procedures, and safety oversight, enhancing transparency and security. Policy Support for Training and Privatization: The law sets out principles for workforce incentives and sector privatization, with detailed regulations to be issued by the government. Dedicated Safety and Security Mechanism: A new section outlines inspection, supervision, violation handling, and enforcement procedures in the field of atomic energy, particularly for nuclear power plants. The NRNSA is empowered to conduct unscheduled inspections, suspend operations, and recommend license revocation when safety risks are identified. Key Provisions Retained or Clarified from the Draft Licensing
AWARDS & RANKINGS
March 19, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized in 17 categories at the 2026 Thailand Law Firm Awards from Asia Business Law Journal (ABLJ), up from 10 categories in 2025. The awards highlight leading law firms in Thailand across a broad range of practice areas, as well as overall firm performance. This year, Tilleke & Gibbins was named a co-winner in the Best Overall Law Firm category as well as in the following practice-specific categories: Artificial Intelligence Aviation Blockchain & Digital Assets Competition & Antitrust Data Compliance & Cyber Security E-Commerce, Digital Trade & Platform Regulation ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Fintech Healthcare & Life Sciences Insurance & Reinsurance IP Litigation IP Prosecution Labour & Employment Private Equity & Venture Capital Shipping & Maritime Technology, Media & Telecommunications The awards are determined through ABLJ’s independent research, which considers recent work, client feedback, and market standing. The annual Thailand Law Firm Awards recognize firms demonstrating strong performance and breadth of expertise across key practice areas. For more details and the full list of winners, please visit the ABLJ website.
March 9, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted in multiple firmwide and individual categories at the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026, including Regional Firm of the Year, reflecting the firm’s work across Southeast Asia and the continued development of its regional practices. In the individual categories, Aye Thuzar Hlaing has been shortlisted for Myanmar Associate of the Year (Corporate and M&A), and Linh Duy Mai has been shortlisted for Vietnam Associate of the Year (Intellectual Property). Tilleke & Gibbins has also been shortlisted in the following firm categories: Regional Firm of the Year Thailand – Law Firm of the Year Thailand – Law Firm of the Year (Litigation) Myanmar – Law Firm of the Year Vietnam – Law Firm of the Year Vietnam – Law Firm of the Year (Labor and Employment) Laos – Law Firm of the Year The winners will be announced on April 30, 2026, at the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards ceremony in Singapore. To browse the full shortlist for the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026, please see the Legal 500 website.
March 2, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted for two prestigious recognitions in the Chambers Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region Honours 2026. The firm received nominations for both Thailand Firm of the Year and Vietnam Firm of the Year. The Chambers Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region Honours recognize preeminent law firms demonstrating outstanding work, impressive strategic growth, and excellence in client service across the region. The Thailand nomination marks the firm’s sixth consecutive shortlisting and twelfth since 2010. For Vietnam, this is the third consecutive year the firm has been recognized. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Hong Kong on May 28, 2026. To learn more about the Chambers Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region Honours 2026 and browse the full list of nominations, please visit the Chambers and Partners website.
January 15, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has demonstrated continued excellence across all six jurisdictions where the firm operates in the 2026 edition of the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific rankings. The recently released rankings showcase the firm’s outstanding performance with 29 practice area recognitions and 34 individual rankings—an increase from 30 individual recognitions in 2025.