Mallesons partner James Fahey is the lead partner advising BG Group on its sale of LNG from its Queensland Curtis project to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and CNOOC's equity investment in that project. Herbert Smith is the primary advisor to CNOOC while Freehills also is providing advice to CNOOC.

The mammoth deal, potentially worth up to A$80bn, is likely to eclipse last year's A$50bn ExxonMobil - PetroChina deal and follows PetroChina's joint bid with Royal Dutch Shell for Arrow Energy. Gilbert + Tobin is advising Arrow on that deal following the withdrawal of Mallesons for conflict reasons.