James Downie > Stronachs LLP > Aberdeen, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Stronachs LLP
28 ALBYN PLACE
ABERDEEN
AB10 1YL
United Kingdom

Work Department

Energy and Natural Resources-Oil & Gas; corporate

Position

Head of Energy at Stronachs LLP. Dual qualified in Scotland and England & Wales. Specialises in energy issues (midstream, upstream, energy transition and renewables). Work includes acquisition and disposal of exploration and producing assets and energy companies, field developments, transportation & processing agreements, gas sales agreements, supply chain and contractual issues. He is regularly instructed on complex decommissioning issues. Energy transition work includes advising on CO2 storage and offshore wind. Current clients include Ithaca, Harbour Energy, Petrofac & TotalEnergies.

Career

Law Degree & Diploma in Legal Practice (University of Aberdeen 1989-1994). Joined Stronachs as a trainee in 1994. Qualified in 1996 and joined corporate team working on commercial property, general contractual issues and M&A. Appointed associate in 1998 working on corporate and energy projects. Appointed partner in 2000. Appointed Head of Energy at Stronachs LLP in 2022.

Languages

Basic French and Spanish.

Memberships

Law Society of Scotland; Law Society; Law Society of Scotland Energy Policy Committee; Association of International Energy Negotiators, Offshore Energy UK Legal Issues Decommissioning Work Group.

Education

Fraserburgh Academy; University of Aberdeen (1993 LLB Hons; 1994 Dip LP).

Leisure

Reading, travel, MOOC’s and attending the gym.

Lawyer Rankings

Scotland > Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas

(Leading individuals)

James DownieStronachs LLP

Stronachs LLP is notable for its strength advising on domestic and international upstream acquisitions and disposals, field developments and the energy transition. James Downie, who is dual-qualified in England and Wales, and Scotland, was appointed as team head this year, and is particularly sought after by UK companies for his expertise regarding decommissioning. He is supported by James Muir, who focuses heavily on transactional and projects work, both in the UK and internationally.