LAWYER
Maria Tan Pedersen
Partner | Singapore
Maria Tan Pedersen

Maria Tan Pedersen, co-head of Dechert's Emerging Markets product line and leader of Dechert's EMEA Energy Initiative, focuses her practice on international and domestic corporate M&A, joint ventures, projects, capital markets and financing transactions, as well as cross-border disputes.  Ms. Pedersen has extensive experience advising private and public corporates, ultra-high net worth individuals, and governments in more than 35 countries worldwide and has practiced in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Pedersen has advised on many high-profile inbound and outbound commercial and project-related transactions throughout Asia, Europe and the United States and across a number of industries, including energy and infrastructure, consumer goods, technology and real estate.

Ms. Pedersen has been recognized as a top-ranking lawyer by publications such as, Chambers Global, Chambers Asia Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and IFLR 1000.  She has consistently been recognized as a “highly regarded” legal practitioner for banking and energy in Singapore by IFLR 1000.  In 2021, Ms. Pedersen has been named “Equity Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year” by Euromoney/Legal Media Group in the Asia-Pacific Women in Business Law Awards. In the latest editions of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, clients recognized her work in corporate and M&A, noting that she exhibits 'exceptional knowledge of the renewable energy field', provided them with 'very timely and practical advice' and 'potential strategies and structures that address commercial concerns', was 'very accessible' and was 'quick to provide solutions to issues' they were facing. Clients have also praised her work in international arbitration, noting that she is 'a superstar' who is 'very engaged, motivating, and a key player'.

Mergers and Acquisitions/Private Equity

  • A Japanese petroleum company in relation to its renewable energy joint development arrangements in Southeast Asia.
  • A Southeast Asian solar energy company in connection with its proposed strategic regional joint venture.
  • A Chinese state-owned oil & gas entity in relation to its potential investment in a landmark Middle East LNG project.
  • An Indonesian industrial group in connection with the potential establishment of CPO refinery.
  • An Indonesian group in relation to a potential acquisition of Texas-based power assets.
  • PT Saka Energi Indonesia (Saka), a member of Indonesian state-owned entity PGN, in its acquisition of a 37.825 percent working interest from BP Plc in the Sanga-Sanga gas production block in Indonesia.
  • Saka Energi Fasken LLC, a subsidiary of Saka, in its acquisition of a 36 percent working interest in the Eagle Ford and Olmos shale formation rights to approximately 8,300 acres in Webb County, Texas.
  • Saka and its affiliate companies in the acquisition of the Ujung Pangkah assets from the Hess Corporation.
  • Saka on gas supply arrangements in both operational and transactional contexts.
  • BP Migas (former Indonesia energy regulator) on structure and renegotiation of LNG supply agreements with Japanese purchasers.
  • A Chinese investment firm in a potential investment in a coal-fired power plant in Pakistan as part of the One Belt One Road initiative.
  • An Indonesian conglomerate in a potential geothermal project joint venture in Indonesia with a U.S.-based geothermal project developer and operator.
  • A significant Asia-based publicly-listed technology group in the potential sale to a U.S. public-listed buyer of a major multinational technology entity having global operations, with a multi-billion valuation.
  • A Hong Kong-based industrial group on the potential acquisition of an e-commerce retail entity.
  • A U.S.-based alternative investment group on potential sale of European media assets.
  • A Europe-based electric vehicle (EV) startup on the acquisition of Asia-based assets.
  • A listed Chinese technology company in relation to its US$367 million strategic financing to an investment consortium and related downstream capital infusion to its U.S. operating subsidiary.
  • A listed Chinese technology company in relation to its US$257 million leveraged share repurchase transactions from private equity investors.
  • GEM Global Yield LLC SCS in connection with its SGD135 million investment in Vending Machines International Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based eco-tech business.
  • Ayala Corporation in its acquisition by a subsidiary, Integrated Micro Electronics, Inc. (IMI), of U.K.-based STI Enterprises Limited.
  • Xurpas, Inc., a Philippine technology company, in its acquisition of a 23.53 percent stake in Micro Benefits Limited, a Hong Kong-based company providing innovative mobile HR solutions to Fortune 500 companies in China.
  • GEMS III, one of the GEMS group of funds, in the restructuring of its investment in Bemobile Limited, the Papua New Guinean mobile telephone operator.
  • A Southeast Asian state-owned entity in its innovative mixed-use real estate development project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Recapital Investment Pte Ltd., an Indonesian investment group with interests in energy, property, and infrastructure, in connection with its acquisition and related financing of a controlling interest in Ninh Van Bay, a Vietnam-based luxury hotel and property group.
  • An Indonesian investment holding company in connection with the acquisition and related financing of a five-star hotel and spa in Málaga, land for expansion and the development of residential units and villas, and an 18-hole championship golf course.
  • The Global Emerging Markets (GEM) Group, in multiple PIPE transactions across Asia-Pacific and other emerging matter jurisdictions.
  • A Singapore-based private equity group in connection with the potential investment in African mining assets.
  • An Indonesian industrial group in connection with the potential investment in a Dutch transport project.

Corporate Finance and Capital Markets

  • A major Hong Kong-based diversified financial services group in its corporate restructuring and US$600 million deSPAC transaction on Nasdaq.
  • Manila Water Company, Inc. in its debut issuance of US$500 million 4.375% Senior Sustainability Notes to be listed on the Singapore Exchange.  This transaction was the first ASEAN sustainability bond by a corporate issuer out of the Philippines and was awarded "Best Sustainability Bond - Corporate" in the Philippines by The Asset Country Awards 2020.
  • AREIT in conjunction with its PHP13.5 billion initial public offering on the Philippine Stock Exchange. This transaction was the first REIT listing in the Philippines and was awarded "Best of South East Asia" by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2020, "Equity Market Deal of the Year" by ALB Philippine Law Awards 2020, "Best IPO" in the Philippines by The Asset Country Awards 2020 as well as "Equity Deal of the Year" by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2021.
  • D.M. Wenceslao and Associates, Incorporated (“DMWAI”), a Philippine real estate and property development group, in connection with the company’s PHP8 billion initial public offering on the Philippine Stock Exchange. 
  • Global Emerging Markets North America Inc. in its PHP700 million investment in Abra Mining and Industrial Corporation, a company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange.
  • SSI Group, Inc., a leading specialty retailer in the Philippines, in connection with its PHP7.4 billion initial public offering on the Philippine Stock Exchange. 
  • PT Exploitasi Energi Indonesia Tbk, an Indonesia-based energy company, in its IDR2.7 trillion rights offering.
  • Bank of the Philippine Islands in its US$200 million credit facility for the Electricity Generating Public Company (EGCO) of Thailand.
  • JinkoSolar in a US$40 million secured term loan facility and US$30 million greenshoe facility arranged by Credit Suisse AG, Singapore Branch for the financing of four photovoltaic solar projects in Argentina and Mexico.
  • A U.S.-based alternative investment group in connection with the issuance of a convertible debenture by a Hong Kong-listed company.

Projects/PPP

  • Asian Development Bank in connection with a project, "Improving for Legal Framework for PPP in Kazakhstan".
  • Asian Development Bank and the Kazakh KPPF in connection with the proposed approx. US$500 million Turkestan Highway Network Public-Private Partnership Project. 
  • Asian Development Bank in connection with a proposed framework for small-hydropower PPP projects in Kyrgyzstan.
  • The Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines and the Department of Public Works and Highways in connection with the proposed US$2.82 billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway-Dike project. 
  • MTR Corporation in consortium activities in connection with tenders for Philippine PPP infrastructure projects, including the consortium for the LRT1 Rail Project.

Cross-Border Disputes

  • A major Philippine conglomerate in connection with potential HKIAC arbitration cases for power plant operators.
  • A U.S.-based alternative investment group in its commercial disputes with investment targets and partners.
  • An Indonesian energy group in its LCIA arbitration arising from a gas block acquisition case against a U.S. oil major in connection with a contractual dispute in excess of US$200 million.
  • An Indonesian energy group in its potential SIAC dispute proceedings arising from an upstream oil & gas acquisition transaction with a Middle East-based oil major.
  • A major Southeast Asian property group in a SIAC Arbitration involving breach of contract claims valued in excess of US$500 million.
  • Latin America Industrial group in New York-seated ICC arbitration arising from customer product liability claims.
  • An international Asian-based investment bank and certain of its current and former employees in connection with a landmark lawsuit brought by a consortium of Asian banks for alleged contractual and fiduciary breaches arises from syndicated loan transactions.

Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.

  • ACEN Renewables’ investment in the US$1 billion Monsoon Wind project – Won ESG Deal of the Year by Law.com Asia Legal Awards 2024, Project Finance Deal of the Year by IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024, and Highly Commended by FT Innovative Lawyers Awards for Asia-Pacific 2024
  • Finalist for Energy and Infrastructure Lawyer of the Year - Law.com Asia Legal Awards 2024
  • AGBA’s US$555 million SPAC merger with TAG – Finalist for Cross-border M&A Deal of the Year (0-$2 billion) by The Asian Lawyer Asia Legal Awards 2023 and finalist for M&A Deal of the Year by Asian Legal Business ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2023
  • Equity Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year by Euromoney Asia-Pacific Women in Business Law Awards, 2021
  • AREIT, Inc.’s US$253 million IPO and listing, the first REIT listing in the Philippines – Recognized in the “Innovation in Liquidity & Finance” category and Maria was personally commended by FT Innovative Lawyers Awards for Asia-Pacific 2021, and won Equity Deal of the Year by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2021, Equity Market Deal of the Year by Asian Legal Business ALB Philippine Law Awards 2020, Best Philippine IPO by The Asset Triple A Country Awards 2020, and Deal of the Year for Southeast Asia by FinanceAsia Deals of the Year Awards 2020
  • Manila Water Company’s US$500 million debut international bond – Won Best Corporate Sustainability Bond in the Philippines by The Asset Triple A Country Awards 2020
Services Industries
    • University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1987, cum laude
    • University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D., 1990, Associate Editor, California Law Review; Associate Editor, International Tax and Business Lawyer; Co-president, International Law Society
    • Registered Foreign Lawyer, Singapore
    • Registered Foreign Lawyer, Hong Kong
    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • English
    • French
    • Tagalog
    • Council Member, Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC)
    • Member, Finance & Administration Committee, HKIAC
    • Member, Belt & Road Committee, HKIAC