United Kingdom > London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
Index of tables
Oil and gas
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Leading individuals
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- Andrew Grenville Clifford Chance
- Paul Griffin Allen & Overy LLP
- Antony Higginson Baker Botts (UK) LLP
- Charles Morrison DLA Piper UK LLP
- Kenneth MacRitchie Shearman & Sterling LLP
- Bob Palmer CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
- Garry Pegg King & Spalding International LLP
- Geoffrey Picton-Turbervill Ashurst LLP
- Clive Ransome Linklaters LLP
- Jonathan Rees Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
- Bob Ruddiman McGrigors LLP
- Mark Saunders Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Philip Stopford White & Case LLP
- Richard Temple McCarthy Tétrault
- Penelope Warne CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
- Charles Wood SNR Denton
Allen & Overy LLP ramped up its capability through the hire of ‘corporate oil and gas doyen’ Paul Griffin and John Geraghty from Herbert Smith LLP in early 2010; it has ‘unrivalled strength-in-depth’, ‘consistency of quality’ and ‘strong experience of the industry’. On the upstream side, Dominic Morris advised Dana Petroleum on its €328m acquisition of Petro-Canada Netherlands, while downstream highlights included advising SATORP, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TOTAL, on the $14.2bn Jubail refinery and petrochemical project. Project finance partner Andrew Castle is recommended for his ‘in-depth knowledge and good negotiation skills’.
At Clifford Chance, banking and finance partner Russell Wells is highlighted as ‘simply outstanding’, and is working alongside colleagues in several of the firm’s international offices in advising the export credit agencies and commercial lenders on the financing of the €7.2bn Nord Stream pipeline. John Wilkins is also recommended, and advised TOTAL on all aspects of its joint venture with Saudi Aramco to develop the Jubail Refinery and Petrochemical project in Saudi Arabia.
Herbert Smith LLP provides a ‘balance of business and legal support’ and ‘effective and extremely thoughtful advice’, under global head of oil and gas Stephen Murray. Among the firm’s recent transactions, it advised BG Group on its acquisition of petroleum licence blocks off southern Tanzania, and also acted for BP International on the $300m disposal of its downstream businesses in several African countries. Contentious work is also a noted specialism. Simon Tysoe is ‘very knowledgeable and commercially minded’, and senior associate Alastair Young is ‘easy to work with, and thorough in his approach’.
Linklaters LLP offers ‘an exceptional combination of market-leading corporate, finance and commercial capability’, and ‘always provides excellent professionals, which makes the level of service impressively homogenous’. Recommended partners include Matthew Hagopian (‘very experienced and knowledgeable in project finance’); Manzer Ijaz (noted for his ‘profound sector knowledge’); Fiona Hobbs (‘very experienced in energy in the Middle East’); and Clive Ransome (who gives ‘sensible and commercially focused advice’). The firm advised the finance parties on the $14bn Jubail refinery and petrochemical project in Saudi Arabia.
White & Case LLP has ‘market-leading knowledge of the project finance product and the industry’. Team head Philip Stopford has ‘outstanding knowledge of project finance and the oil and gas sector’; Ellis Baker has ‘outstanding construction contract expertise and negotiation skills’; and David Baker has an ‘excellent understanding of energy projects, and is able to bring this wider knowledge to the table’. The firm acts across the gamut of project finance, corporate and litigation matters. Among its recent work, it advised the sponsors and the project company on the construction and financing of the Nord Stream pipeline.
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP draws admiring glances for its ‘leading North Sea practice’, with team head Penelope Warne and oil and gas specialist Bob Palmer well known in the market for this type of work, but also garners instructions from all over the world. It recently advised trophy client BP on the $7bn sale of international oil and gas assets to Apache Corporation.
Hogan Lovells International LLP saw the move of Garry Pegg to King & Spalding International LLP and also the departure of energy and infrastructure head John Cooper, while Matthew Williams joined from Hunton and Williams as head of the firm's energy industry group. David Moss is recommended for his ‘extensive industry experience’, and advised Petrobras on the establishment of a joint venture to develop a calcined petroleum coke plant in Saudi Arabia.
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP signature project finance practice dominates the firm’s oil and gas work, but it also handles corporate matters under Stuart Harray. John Dewar advised the lenders on the provision of a $225m facility to Reliance Industries for the acquisition of a 40% interest in the Marcellus Shale reserve.
Norton Rose LLP’s team is led by Nick Prowse, and specialises in advising oil and gas companies on the full life-cycle of matters. In a major coup, 2010 saw the firm advise OLT Offshore Livorno Toscana on the financing of the world’s first major floating storage and regasification unit.
SNR Denton continues to act for some top-drawer clients, and is advising Total on the disposal of its UK downstream business. Danielle Beggs ‘always provides well-balanced advice’; and Charles Wood is also recommended, recently advising the government of Cyprus on the development of an LNG import terminal and the first importation of LNG to Cyprus.
Shearman & Sterling LLP’s lawyers have a ‘deep knowledge of market practice and precedents’ and are ‘team players with superb technical skills’, making the firm ‘top of the list for project finance’. Recent highlights include advising Citadel Capital and Egyptian Refining Company on the $3.5bn financing for the redevelopment of a hydrocracking refinery project. Kenneth MacRitchie and Nicholas Buckworth are well known in the market.
Ashurst LLP provides ‘practical advice backed up by energy industry knowledge’. Geoffrey Picton-Turbervill’s team was recently boosted by the hire of Peter Roberts, formerly general counsel at Centrica, and other noted names include Anthony Patten (‘a strong adviser on LNG-related matters’), and Ronnie King (‘a leader in energy litigation’). Highlights included advising Jubilant Energy on the largest oil and gas AIM IPO of 2010.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ‘excellent on corporate’, with Mark Rawlinson recommended as ‘responsive, creative and approachable’. BP is a major client, and instructed the firm on several matters including its strategic response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and the divestment of all its upstream interests in Pakistan to United Energy Group.
Simmons & Simmons is establishing a strong record under team head Charles Bankes, who ‘impresses with his skilful and effective probing and steering at meetings with regulatory authorities’; and project finance specialist Patrick Wallace, whose ‘charming and quintessential “British gentleman” style is a great asset in difficult negotiations’. The firm continues to advise the project company on the complex €8bn Nabucco gas pipeline project.
Slaughter and May ‘knows the pulse of the market’, and is consistently ‘superb’. Its corporate highlights are numerous, but it also secures a good flow of project and contentious work; it recently advised several lenders on the provision of a $2.6bn debt package to the Egyptian Refining Company to finance its construction of an oil refinery.
Vinson & Elkins RLLP is ‘more client-focused’ than other firms, and ‘treats all clients, big or small, like platinum clients’, offering ‘a true “Rolls-Royce” service’. Team head Alexander Msimang is highly recommended for his ‘expert knowledge and user-friendly approach’, and recently led the team in advising Statoil on the $3.1bn sale of companies holding a 40% interest in the Peregrino oilfield.
At Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Douglas Glass heads a team that has ‘rich and in-depth knowledge of the industry’, with Gregory Hammond noted for his ‘invaluable market knowledge’. The firm advised Bridas Corporation on its $7.1bn acquisition of a 60% interest in Pan American Energy from BP.
Baker & McKenzie LLP advised Sonangol, the state-owned oil company of Angola, on the development of a $12bn refinery on a greenfield site north of Lobito, Angola, while other representative clients include Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries and China National Offshore Oil Corporation. Neil Donoghue co-heads the firm’s oil and gas group, and is recommended.
Baker Botts (UK) LLP is ‘one of the most qualified oil and gas firms’, with one of the strongest global reputations in the sector. The London team is headed by managing partner Antony Higginson, and acted for GdF Suez on several acquisitions as well as on the sale of assets in the UK and Qatar.
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has ‘quality that can be put before a board of international oil companies with confidence’. Mark Saunders is ‘very knowledgeable and reliable’, and Adam Dann is ‘very sound technically and easy to deal with’. The firm advised Gateway Storage Company on the sale of a 20% stake in the Gateway Gas Storage project.
Clyde & Co LLP is ‘outstanding in every respect’, and made a hat-trick of partner hires to cement its position: Sandra Sinclair-Hughes from Watson, Farley & Williams LLP; David Leckie from Maclay Murray & Spens LLP; and George Booth from Simmons & Simmons. Marine-related matters, insurance and corporate work are all strong areas.
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP provides ‘consistently high-quality advice’ under global oil and gas head John LaMaster, who is praised for his ‘wealth of knowledge and experience of the industry’. The team worked alongside colleagues in the Almaty office in advising KazMunaiGas on the issuance of $2.75bn of Eurobonds through its global medium term note programme.
King & Spalding International LLP’s London managing partner Garry Pegg is considered a ‘leader in the field’. He continues to advise Gazprom on all aspects of the proposed multibillion-dollar South Stream pipeline project.
Latham & Watkins LLP promoted Matthew Brown to partner in 2011, bringing the number of partners in the London team to six. Project finance remains the main strength of the practice, with recent work including advising the lead arrangers on the $1.8bn financing of four ultra deep-water drill ships.
McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP advised Shell on the $640m disposal of its downstream business in Sweden and Finland. It also continues to advise an oil major on the project financing of the $1bn Chad-Cameroon pipeline. Andrew Watson heads the team.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP handles a healthy mix of project finance, M&A and capital markets work. On the projects side, it is acting as sole international finance counsel to the project company on the development of the $3.9bn Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
Chadbourne & Parke (London) LLP’s Agnieszka Klich advised GDF Suez on the bid to build and finance the Barka 3 and Sohar 2 projects, two greenfield natural gas-fired power plants in Oman.
DLA Piper UK LLP brings ‘dedication and sheer commitment to any project’, under recommended oil and gas head Charles Morrison. Notable highlights included advising Puma Energy on the $296m acquisition of BP’s downstream oil businesses in South and East Africa.
Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP is acting alongside Simmons & Simmons in advising the project company on the development of the £9bn Nabucco gas pipeline. Neil Upton heads a prolific team that is also advising Powerfuel Power on the £2.3bn financing and development of a clean coal plant.
Holman Fenwick Willan LLP is ‘prepared to put its neck on the line to deliver no-nonsense, robust advice that clients understand’. Diana France is advising a national oil company on contractual structures for the development and production of hydrocarbons.
At Ince & Co, team head Jeremy Farr is ‘serious, focused and client oriented’, and Renaud Barbier-Emery ‘understands the commercial aspects of clients ’ intentions’. Marine-related work is a strength, and the firm recently advised an offshore drilling contractor on a farm-out assignment.
Jones Day has experience acting for both banks and sponsors on project finance and construction matters. Arman Galledari heads the team and is recommended.
McGrigors LLP delivers a ‘client-focused service with a clear understanding of the issues which matter to an independent operator in the North Sea’. Team head Bob Ruddiman ‘knows his stuff’, and Rosalie Chadwick ‘concentrates on the main points and doesn ’t get hung up on minutiae’. The firm advised global oil services business PSN on its proposed £600m merger with Wood Group.
Douglas Nordlinger’s team at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP specialises on the corporate finance side. It advised Vitol Group and Helios Investment Partners in the $1bn acquisition of parts of Shell’s downstream businesses in Africa.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP continues to advise the government of Jordan on the concession agreement and project structure for Shell’s proposed development of an oil shale project in Jordan. Martin Amison is recommended.
Watson, Farley & Williams LLP’s team is led by Jan Mellmann, and impresses with its ‘proper, client-orientated service’. Highlights included acting for Madagascar Oil on its admission to AIM, which raised over £50m.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s Andrew Petry is ‘an outstanding lawyer with in-depth knowledge of the business’. Rockhopper Exploration instructed the firm on three fundraisings and its hire of the Ocean Guardian drilling rig.
At Fasken Martineau LLP, global energy head Steven Beharrell advised Star Petroleum on the acquisition of an oil concession in South Sudan.
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP acted for JSC KazMunaiGas on the $330m acquisition of a 50% interest in Mangistau Investments.
Fulbright & Jaworski International LLP advised trophy client the International Finance Corporation on numerous matters including its acquisition of an equity stake in a Middle East oil and gas company.
Mayer Brown International LLP’s team, led by Robert Hamill, advised Fulcrum Utility Services on its reverse takeover of the Fulcrum Group from National Grid and subsequent IPO.
Pinsent Masons LLP ‘knows the industry well’, with Adrian Elliott highlighted as ‘tenacious and proactive’. The oil and gas group specialises in contentious construction matters.
Shepherd and Wedderburn advised Cairn Energy on the $8.5bn sale of shares in Cairn India to Vedanta Resources. Kevin McGrory heads the team, which also counts Bord Gáis Éireann and Seven Energy as clients.
Stephenson Harwood attracts praise for its ‘focus, imagination, innovation and determination’. It advised Motor Oil Hellas on its €245m acquisition of several of Shell’s downstream operations.
Bird & Bird is recommended for its construction work, particularly on the pipeline side.
Bond Pearce LLP ‘impresses with the speed and quality of its advice’. It advised Noble Energy on the sale of its entire North Sea business.
Specialist shipping firm Curtis Davis Garrard LLP provides ‘commercially driven advice’ under ‘acclaimed maritime lawyer’ Simon Curtis. The firm recently advised on the $1.2bn acquisition of two semi-submersible drilling rigs.
E&A Law’s Ana Stanic represented an African independent energy company in contentious matters arising from a disputed gas field.
Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP acted for the African Petroleum Producers’ Association in the review and analysis of its oil and gas legislation and regulation.
K&L Gates acted for Jordan Energy and Mining on an upstream oil shale development.
In 2010, Lawrence Graham LLP advised upstream oil and gas company Cove Energy on two placings, which raised a combined £135.7m.
McCarthy Tétrault hired Richard Temple from Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP in 2011. Highlights included advising Heritage Oil on the sale of its Ugandan assets to Tullow.
Memery Crystal LLP secured an instruction from Petro-Canada UK on the £240m sale of a package of UK offshore oil and gas assets to Dana Petroleum.
Osborne Clarke is representing British Gas at the High Court in an energy portfolio trading act dispute with Guardian Industries.
Reed Smith is strong in contentious construction matters, and is acting for Cameron International Corporation in arbitration proceedings against Global Supplies (UAE).
SJ Berwin LLP advised First Calgary Petroleum on its admission to AIM and its eventual £492m takeover by Eni SpA.
At Winston & Strawn London, Zoë Ashcroft advised SEPLAT Petroleum Development on the acquisition of interests in three major oil blocks in the Niger Delta.