About

Supporting a dynamic business on the rise, Julian Hicks has successfully negotiated multibillion-dollar foreign direct investments amid the MENA and FSU regions’ political instability. ‘Negotiating, implementing and defending very large capital intensive projects in developing jurisdictions in times of political and social change’ is among his biggest challenges, Hicks says. Dual-listed in London and Dubai, exploration company Dragon Oil has undertaken several strategic transactions in recent times, making headlines over its aborted $500m purchase of Petroceltic in 2014. Leading an eight-strong team, Hicks has made a number of internal changes during his time as general counsel, in efforts to improve performance and crystalise the function’s remit across the business. ‘We have defined our role, clarified accountabilities, publicised clear focal points for work streams and introduced agreed KPIs to manage expectations and measure delivery’.