James K. Lockett is highly knowledgeable in matters relating to WTO and international trade law, and has extensive experience advising clients in Europe, North America and Asia. He has authored various articles for a number of legal publications — including the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business — and is a frequent speaker in a broad range of international conferences. Mr. Lockett is a visiting lecturer at the University of Indonesia Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Law of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. He is also a member of the Vietnam Business Forum and the International Bar Association, and serves as secretary of the Board of Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi. Mr. Lockett is a registered foreign lawyer in Vietnam.

Practice Focus

Mr. Lockett advises mainly in international commercial, trade, financial and regulatory law. He is also well-versed in mergers and acquisitions, energy and major projects, dispute resolution, as well as other matters relevant to corporate and commercial law.

Representative Legal Matters

• Acting for an Australian company regarding a three country farmout agreement involving five oil and gas exploration blocks in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.
• Acting for an international delivery company on negotiations of contracts and regulatory issues.
• Acting for a US company regarding strategic supply chain issues, including use of ASEAN investment and customs rules for strategic advantages.
• Acting for an Australian company regarding an assignment of its interest in a Petroleum Production Sharing Contract (PSC) in Vietnam.
• Acting for an Asian energy company in relation to the impact of new petroleum regulations on PSCs with Petrovietnam, including tax and royalty issues.
• Acting for a European company seeking to optimize customs strategies by utilizing ASEAN FTA structures.
• Acting for an Asian company in relation to its interests in a Business Cooperation Contract involving a coal mining project in Vietnam.
• Assisting an Asian company regarding negotiation of its interest in a PSC in Vietnam and verification that the interest was in offshore waters not claimed by countries other than Vietnam.
• Acting for a European company regarding a joint venture in port development in Vietnam.
• Acting for US company on the US$50 million project financing of a Port Park Project.
• Acting for US company on the project financing of an Industrial Park Project.
• Advising a foreign automobile producer on localization requirements relating to a Vietnamese joint venture Investment Certificate.
• Acting for a foreign manufacturer relating to obtaining an Investment Certificate to include distribution rights under Vietnam’s WTO Accession commitments.
• Advising a European telecommunications equipment supplier on bidding and government procurement processes on Vietnamese bid.
• Acting for an American high technology company regarding Vietnamese investment in LED research and production.
• Advising the Government of Indonesia on its 2007 Investment Law and various implementing regulations, as well as court challenges thereto.
• Advising the U.S. Government on major trade cases involving imports of low-enriched uranium from France and Russia, including complex issues involving pricing of electricity in the production of uranium.
• Advising the U.S. Government on the legality of tax incentives and related investment incentives for steel industries in Thailand and Korea, including electricity pricing issues.
• Advising an American power generation company on bidding for a power generation facility project in the EC.
• Advising Latin American petrochemical company on European trade restrictions relating to urea.
• Advising a Korean power company on possible European investments and regulatory issues involved in the European grid system.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Vietnam Business Forum
• American Chamber of Commerce, Vietnam
• International Bar Association

Admission

Virginia~United States (1999)
Washington~United States (1981)

Education

University of London  (LL.M. International) (1983)
Gonzaga University  (J.D.) (1980)
University of Washington  (B.A.) (1977)
Oxford University  (Post Graduate Studies)