John Dick, Principal

Contact

Mobile: +61 408 208 896

Email: john.dick@austaseanlaw.com

Education 

Bachelor of Jurisprudence (UWA),1984 

Bachelor of Laws (UWA), 1985 

Bachelor of Commerce (UWA) 1988

Admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor in Western Australia, 1985 

Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2011. 

Career 

John has practiced as a lawyer for over 35 years. He was based in South East Asia from 1989 until August 2020 (Singapore 1989-2004 and 2000-2020, and Vietnam 1994-2000) and now advises businesses on projects across ASEAN, from Perth under his own legal practice,  AustAsean Law.    

John has vast experience in business establishment in South East Asia, having established and run legal practices in Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar as well as overseeing relationships in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. He continues advising as a foreign law consultant to Dentons Rodyk, the Singapore office of global law firm, Dentons, where immediately before his return to Australia, he was a partner.   

John has also been active in Australian business chambers across ASEAN. He helped to establish AusCham Vietnam and was the inaugural President. He was President of AustCham Singapore in 1994 and again in 2004-2008. John was also involved in the formation of AustCham ASEAN, a grouping of 9 ASEAN based Australian business chambers focused on advancing Australian business within ASEAN.   He is currently the Honorary Secretary.    

John is listed on the International Who’s Who of Mining Lawyers, as well as the Energy and Project Finance & Infrastructure Sections of Best Lawyers. 

Practice focus  

John’s legal practice is focused on foreign investment into ASEAN countries, particularly in the energy, resources and infrastructure sectors. John has advised on projects throughout South East Asia. He was a pioneer advising on investments into Vietnam and has significant experience in Indonesia and Myanmar. 

John:   

• advises on investment projects in every country across ASEAN. This includes advising on greenfield development of projects, as well as acquisitions and disposals. John seeks to provide clients with a full life cycle service, advising on licensing, international and in-country project structuring, investment approvals, financing, construction and development, operational issues (contracting), sales and marketing. He also provides strategic advice in relation to disputes. 
• advises on upstream oil and gas projects from grant of production sharing contracts through to gas offtake. He has also been involved in the development of captive, IPP and merchant power projects, mine mouth coal fired power plants, renewables, acquisition and sale of interests in power projects and joint venture arrangements, power sales and purchase agreements, construction and procurement contracts. 
• has a strong reputation in the resources area where he has been involved in some of the largest mining transactions in Indonesia. He has advised on mining rights in various countries in South East Asia, structuring of investments in the resources sector (including joint ventures), licensing and approvals, public listed and private acquisitions and sales, financing of mining projects, commodity offtake agreements, contract mining agreements and mine development including construction and equipment procurement. 
• has been involved in development of infrastructure projects throughout Asia, including Government/Private project development (including PPP, PFI, BOT and BOOT); waste projects including incineration concession agreements and waste to energy projects; water projects including desalination, water purification NEWater and sewerage projects; road and rail projects; port development and telecom projects.