WALSON and Sunshine Law sign strategic cooperation agreement for energy legal services in Southeast and South Asia

I. Professional collaboration connecting China with energy markets in the Global South

On 23 May 2026, the first “Sunshine Rendezvous” Energy Lawyers Forum took place in Hangzhou. During the forum, a signing ceremony was held for the first group of cooperating law firms in the energy legal services network. Sunshine Law established strategic partnerships with five regional law firms from Tibet, Qinghai, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hunan, further advancing cross-regional collaboration among China's energy legal professionals.

Building on this initiative, Sunshine Law and WALSON Law Firm (Laos) formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

The agreement establishes a long-term, stable strategic partnership and extends the “Sunshine Rendezvous” energy legal services network into Southeast and South Asia.

Drawing on Sunshine Law's expertise in energy, environment and infrastructure, and WALSON's local strengths in country-specific legal services, cross-border investment and project implementation in Laos, Southeast Asia and South Asia, the firms will enhance integrated legal support for Chinese enterprises' overseas energy, mineral resources and infrastructure projects.

II. Complementary strengths for coordinated cross-border energy legal services

Founded in 1995, Sunshine Law is headquartered in Hangzhou, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing. It has long focused on energy, environmental and infrastructure legal services. Its projects span more than 70 countries and regions across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas, with extensive experience in hydropower, oil and gas, coal, ports and energy infrastructure.

WALSON Law Firm (Laos) is headquartered in Vientiane and has a northern branch in Luang Prabang. It has long served energy, mineral resources and infrastructure projects and is an important local professional services provider for Chinese investment in Laos. In recent years, WALSON has continued building country-specific legal capabilities across Southeast and South Asia, gradually forming a cross-border professional network centred on Laos and connected with Myanmar, Bangladesh and other countries in the two regions.

The cooperation combines Sunshine Law's deep energy-sector capabilities with WALSON's country research, local delivery and cross-border investment services, providing more systematic and execution-focused support for Chinese energy and natural resources investment in Southeast and South Asia.

III. From individual project cooperation to long-term capability building

Chinese energy companies' overseas expansion is moving beyond individual construction contracts and equipment exports towards project development, equity investment, financing and construction, long-term operations and industrial-chain collaboration.

Energy projects involve investment access, government approvals, land and concessions, power purchase and sale, financing and security, engineering and construction, environmental and social responsibilities, tax, foreign exchange, employment and dispute resolution.

The strategic cooperation is a long-term collaboration encompassing professional capabilities, knowledge systems, client resources, talent development and local service networks.

Sunshine Law will contribute energy-sector depth, complex-project experience and knowledge management. WALSON will bring country-specific research, local resource coordination, government communication and project implementation capabilities in Southeast and South Asia. Together, the firms will explore a cross-border energy legal services model combining Chinese professional expertise, country-specific legal capabilities and local delivery.

IV. Building a collaborative energy legal services network

The firms will uphold equality and voluntary cooperation, complementary strengths, professional collaboration and mutual benefit. They will continue refining their cooperation mechanisms and facilitating the efficient exchange of expertise across regions and countries.

Starting with energy and natural resources projects, the cooperation will gradually extend to infrastructure, special economic zones, manufacturing and related cross-border investment. It aims to provide stable, professional and sustainable legal support for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Global South. WALSON will use this partnership as a new starting point to work with Sunshine Law in bringing China's energy legal expertise to broader international markets.