International law firm McDermott Will & Emery announced the appointment of Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi as the Asia Chair of the Transactions Practice to lead the Pan-Asian build out of its energy and infrastructure practice. Based in Singapore, Clarinda adds a wealth of experience in projects and finance to a strong pre-existing corporate and finance team covering the entire region.
She joins from Latham & Watkins where she was a former Global Co-Chair of the firm’s Power Industry Group and launched its Women Enhancing Business initiative across Asia.
Clarinda specialises in international project development and finance and has over two decades of experience in advising, developers, sponsors, commercial lenders, multilateral agencies, export credit agencies and governments on a wide range of projects, including many of Asia’s landmark power, oil & gas, petrochemicals, infrastructure and mining projects.
“We are excited to welcome Clarinda into our fast-growing team as we strengthen the breadth and depth of our offer in Singapore and across Asia. In the region’s vibrant and competitive projects market it is crucial that we provide sophisticated, Pan-Asian expertise to our clients.” said Michael S. Poulos, McDermott’s Partner in Charge of Firm Strategy. “Clarinda has outstanding experience in driving some of the largest project development and finance transactions in Asia and will take a lead role in driving our Corporate practice forward. As one of the top professionals in her field, she will be instrumental in helping our clients achieve their objectives across this thriving region.”
Clarinda has exceptional expertise in the Indonesian oil and gas sector, having advised oil majors, foreign investors, the Indonesian government, state-owned entities, PT Pertamina (Persero), the Indonesian Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Indonesian oil and gas upstream regulatory agency, SKKMIGAS, on Indonesia’s largest oil and gas, LNG and petrochemical projects. At the forefront of power and renewables in Indonesia, she has advised sponsors, developers and lenders on the most ground-breaking projects in the sector since the inception of Indonesia’s IPP program.
Clarinda also has deep regional corporate experience from Singapore to Japan and has been involved in structuring and completing cross border joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and private entity investments for US and other international clients on a variety of structured transactions involving multiple jurisdictions. She has also advised debtors and creditors on several of the largest and most complex debt restructurings in Asia.
Clarinda said, “I am very pleased to be joining a dynamic team of industry-leading talent, with a particular strength in opportunities surrounding the energy transition, and excited to bring together the firm’s elite capabilities across practices and industries to lead the build out of an energy and infrastructure platform across Asia under the McDermott brand. The firm’s ambitious strategy for the region, its reputation for excellence and its truly international mindset will be a considerable asset to my clients looking for sophisticated legal solutions on their most complex and consequential matters.”
Clarinda is consistently recognized in legal and financial publications as a leading lawyer for project development and finance work. She is ranked in the top tier for projects in Indonesia, Singapore and across Asia-Pacific. The American Lawyer has named her Project Finance Lawyer of the Year in its Emerging Markets Awards and Euromoney has twice her named Best in Energy & Natural Resources in its Women in Business Law Awards.
With the energy market poised for growth, McDermott has bolstered its renewable and conventional energy practices globally. Notable partner appointments over the last year include Ignatius Hwang, Merrick White and Alfred Chia in Singapore, Kevin Brophy, Jack Langlois, Denmon Sigler and Jibin Luke in Houston, James Salerno, Emeka Chinwuba, Lee Parker and Robert da Silva in New York/Miami.