K&L Gates Continues Growth of Energy Practice with Taipei Partner Addition

Taipei - Global law firm K&L Gates LLP continues to bolster its energy, infrastructure and resources practice area with the hire of Owen Chio as a partner in the Taipei office. Chio joins K&L Gates from KPMG Law Firm, where he was a global co-leader of the compliance practice.

Jacqueline Fu, administrative partner of the Taipei office, stated: “Owen’s extensive experience in oil and gas and the clean-tech industry sector will be a great addition to our Taipei office’s energy practice, an area we anticipate expanding in light of the Taiwan government’s energy policy to substantially increase the portion of renewable energy in the power supply.”

Chio’s experience includes advising on cross-border M&As, investments, and related corporate/official approvals, as well as on general corporate and commercial matters and compliance issues. He has been involved in some of the most significant deals for major multinational corporations and state-owned enterprises in Taiwan, and has substantial experience acting for MNCs on a long-term basis in post-acquisition/investment corporate commercial matters.

“Owen brings a high level of entrepreneurialism, client focus, and energy to his regional transactional practice, traits that fit well with our overall Asia practice and are most welcome,” said David Tang, K&L Gates’ managing partner, Asia.

Chio’s arrival follows the addition of nearly 20 other lawyers to K&L Gates’ energy, infrastructure and resources practice area over the past year, including a five-lawyer team in Texas (partners Jeff King, Jamie Bryan, Chris Brown, Elizabeth Tiblets, and counsel Mitchell Murphy) this March and Melbourne partners Luke Westmore and Zac Kerr, Milan partner Luca Sommariva, and London partners Jeremy Farr, Charles Lockwood, and Clare Kempkens in January, as well as other lawyers in Texas, New York, and Washington, D.C., during 2017.

K&L Gates’ global oil, gas and resources practice is built on a deep, practical understanding of the international oil and gas business and the interplay between the legal and commercial aspects of exploring for, producing, transporting, storing, marketing, and processing crude oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGLs), and other petroleum products. The firm represents participants in every segment of the oil and gas industry, including the related manufacturing, service, and supply sectors.