Practice Areas

010917

MLSL and our legal team collectively,

Have experience in a broad range of practice areas including the structuring, negotiating and documenting of foreign direct investment transactions in Myanmar. Our team also has expertise in other related areas of law such as, general commercial/corporate, taxation, customs, employment, commercial litigation, land law, etc. Further, our legal team is recognised for expertise in more specialised industry areas in Myanmar, such as, telecommunications, mining, energy, and oil and gas. The following are brief descriptions of selected MLSL project work. Myanmar counsel to an international telecommunications company
  • assisting in award and issue of telecommunications license
  • conducting due diligence on tower sites and negotiations with telecommunications tower companies
Acting for sponsors in construction, financing, commissioning and operation of a 25,000 tonne per annum copper mine. This mining operation comprised a 50% ̶ 50% Joint Venture Company between the Ministry of Mines (MoM) and our client.
  •  providing legal support for the disposition of the client’s interests in the mine
  • contracting for construction, financing and operation of a 25,000 tonne per annum copper mine, including an environmental and social (E&S) programme and local permits and licenses with the involved community
  • providing company secretary work and assistance in sale of shares and other corporate restructuring issues
  • acting for buyer of the mine
Lead counsel in connection with construction of an onshore pipeline project
  • development and implementation of a pipeline land acquisition process in accordance with Myanmar laws: (acquiring the pipeline land from local villagers and land holders under the Land Acquisition Act of Myanmar, compensation process, legal registration, etc., including site visits)
  • translation of all oil and gas legislation of Myanmar
  • drafting Environmental Legal Manual
  • providing legal opinion and clarification on tax issues, including double taxation issues
  • assisting HR Department on labour and employment law issues
  • advising on company incorporation procedures and translating correspondence between Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) and Government Departments, from Myanmar to English language
Advocacy for debtor/creditor proceedings in Myanmar Supreme Court
  • obtaining decree (over US$ 7 million) from the court for recovery of company debt for its hotel construction charges
  • assisting in corporate matters
  • attending meetings with the Client’s Landlord, Ministry of Railways, on issues of payment of rent
Project counsel engaged by a foreign services entity for construction of a gas pipeline
  • drafting and reviewing service contracts and lease agreements, giving legal opinions on tax issues, attending contract negotiations with contractors
Establishment of a Myanmar Services Company for software engineering
  • drafting and reviewing service contracts, and assisting by giving legal opinions as required. Assisting on labour and employment law matters and appointment of programmers
Lead counsel for creation and ongoing operations of a foreign-owned large scale fishing enterprise
  • attending meetings on negotiations with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, and Myanmar Investment Commission. Attending to ongoing corporate matters
Legal advisor to a services company working on mining, pearl farming, and in the petroleum sector
  • drafting and reviewing contracts with contractors
  • conducting share transfer processes, giving legal opinions as required
Counsel to Korean multinational company established in Myanmar
  • giving legal opinions on tax issues from time to time, assisting by giving legal opinion in relation to a security assignment of a certain project reviewing documents from a Myanmar legal perspective, and handling issues relating to the labour and employment laws of Myanmar
Counsel to Thai multinational building supplies manufacturer with a trading company in Yangon
  • attending meetings and discussing doing business in Myanmar, particularly regarding trade issues. Giving legal opinion on labour law issues, drafting employment contracts, etc.
Advisor to foreign law firm on a Myanmar hydropower project
  • giving legal opinions on tax issues, and providing legal opinions under Myanmar law on issues of suspending the project; breach of contract, environmental issues, etc.
Legal advisor to a Thai international airline
  • providing legal opinion on tax issues and money exchange issues under the existing laws of Myanmar
Retained by an Australian oil company for due diligence relating to a public securities offering
  • conducting due diligence since 2008 on various legal aspects of assets in which the client directly or indirectly holds an interest, and which are located in Myanmar. Results of the due diligence report are for inclusion in a prospectus to be lodged by the client with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
  • providing report updates from time to time
Provide legal opinions and ongoing counsel to a prominent Myanmar hotel chain
  • reviewing all relevant laws relating to land use to assess potential for project renewals under a joint venture with the Ministry of Tourism
  • reviewing all project documents to assess potential for negotiating lease extensions
  • advising on requirements relating to obtaining foreign investment for construction financing
Multilateral foundations and financial institutions, multinational private enterprises, foreign embassies, etc.
  • providing legal advice on an as-requested basis
Legal advisor to Yangon Branch of Thai bank
  • providing legal advice on multiple project financings, including drafting and registration of Myanmar law security documents
Legal advisor to Thai banks re solar project
  • provided legal advice on project and finance documents for 170 MW solar power project in Minbu
Myanmar Investment Laws
  • providing advice to foreign and domestic investors on applications to Myanmar Investment Commission and DICA