Current practice

John Dick is Freehills' managing partner, South-East Asia, and is based in Singapore. John has spent 15 years in South-East Asia (Singapore 1989–1994, 2000 onwards, and Vietnam 1994–2000) advising on regional investment projects, particularly in infrastructure and energy and resources.

Industry experience

With a focus on cross-border regional investment projects, John has represented clients in a number of industries and investment destinations.

Energy and resources
John has advised on all aspects of a variety of energy, oil and gas projects and resources projects including:

• upstream PSC contracts in Indonesia and Vietnam
• gas sales, supply and transportation arrangements
• power purchase and fuel supply agreements
• acquisitions and greenfield developments, and
• contract of work issues in Indonesia.

Water
In the past five years, John has been involved in water projects in Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, India and China. This has included working on:

• government and private water project development
• BOT and DBOO development, and
• desalination, drinking and waste water developments.

Telecom
For the life of its Business Cooperation Contract (BCC) in Vietnam, John has advised Telstra on a variety of projects in developing the Vietnamese telecommunication system (including the BCC itself). He has also worked on paging and mobile ventures throughout the region for other clients.

Industry
John has advised clients on numerous projects across the manufacturing and services industries, including CarnaudMetalBox, Foster's, RMIT, Keppel, Lend Lease and IFC.

Projects have involved dealing with:

• foreign investment approvals and other regulatory requirements
• structuring of debt and equity investment including taxation advice
• establishment of investment vehicles including offshore holding companies
• joint venture documentation and negotiation
• acquisition and divestment agreements
• intellectual property registration and licensing
• labour issues
• land—leasing and acquisition issues
• construction contracts
• financing documentation and negotiation, and
• liquidation of investments and restructuring.

Financing and capital markets
John has advised on:

• contested and uncontested ASX takeovers
• fund establishment in Vietnam and Singapore
• bank and leasing company establishment and licensing in Vietnam, and
• project and corporate financing transactions throughout South-East Asia.
  
  

Professional background

John is a graduate of the University of Western Australia holding B Juris, BCom and LLB degrees. He joined Freehills in January 1985 and became a partner in January 1993. He is admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Western Australia.
John is currently President of AustCham Singapore. He was also the first President of (the now) AustCham Vietnam and was made a life member of that body in September 2000.

John was named as a leading individual for project finance and energy in the Singapore section of Asia-Pacific Legal 500 (2002–2003 edition) and in 2003 received a Legal Who's Who Singapore award in the project finance category.