Rajiv Vijayanathan

Rajiv Vijayanathan is a Senior Partner at Zain & Co., specializing in Oil and Gas Law with a focus on petrochemical contracts, infrastructure projects, and joint ventures. He also handles mergers and acquisitions, inward investments, and construction contracts.

Rajiv has advised Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and its related companies on the development of the RAPID project in Pengerang, including shareholders' agreements, licensing, terminal and jetty usage, operations and maintenance, and various utilities supply contracts. He acted for Petronas in its acquisition of Dow Chemical's equity in the Optimal Group of Companies, and led Zain & Co.'s team as external counsel to the Optimal Group from 2000 to 2010. He also advised Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd on concession agreements, design and build contracts, and EPC contracts for the KLIA–KL Sentral link, and has advised companies within the Sime Darby Group on joint ventures in aerospace, oil and gas, and shipping.

Rajiv holds an LL.B (Hons) and an LL.M with Merit from University College London (1990 and 1992, respectively), where he was awarded the Joseph Hume Scholarship. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1991, admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of the Middle Temple, and called to the Malaysian Bar in 1994.

He is consistently ranked as a leading individual in Projects, Infrastructure and Energy by Chambers Asia-Pacific and The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, and as a Notable Practitioner in Energy by Asialaw. Clients commend his negotiation and drafting skills, attention to detail, and prompt responsiveness.