Emerging markets

Bracewell (UK) LLP

Energy and natural resources are the principal focus of Bracewell (UK) LLP, where the emerging markets group is ‘technically very good, always available and easy to work with’. Lead partner Jason Fox is currently acting for the senior lenders in the financing of a proposed acquisition involving major hydrocarbon interests in Nigeria, alongside Oliver Irwin, who advises lenders and sponsors on cross-border projects across a broad range of industries. Transactional lawyer Eimear Murphy, who focuses on upstream oil and gas financing, is among the firm’s many talented practitioners, as is newly promoted corporate partner Nicholas Neuberger, who frequently advises on energy transition projects. Olivia Caddy and Tom Jamieson also have significant project development and finance experience in the energy sector. For Adam Blythe, upstream, midstream, and downstream M&A, and project development are the main areas of activity. Solicitor advocate John Gilbert focuses on litigation and arbitration.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The team is very experienced and extremely skilled and offers full legal support and advice on every aspect of the transaction.’
‘The individuals are always available and ready to give full support to the client in order to successfully close the transaction. Special mention to Adam Blythe and Alexandra Smith.’
‘The team is technically very good, always available and easy to work with.’
‘Jason Fox, Adam Blythe, Sam Philips and Rory Wilson are all very friendly, personable - but intellectually rigorous and technically adept.’

Key clients

Absa Bank and The Mauritius Commercial Bank
Citibank N.A. and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (as documentation banks) on behalf of the senior lenders
Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Établissements Maurel et Prom S.A.
Egyptian Refining Company (Takrir) S.A.E.
Impact Oil & Gas Limited
Savannah Energy Plc
Sungara Energies Limited
Eni S.p.A.
New Age (African Global Energy) Ltd.
Qalaa Holdings and Egyptian Company for Solid Waste Recycling
Consortium of: Vision International Investment Company, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) and Gulf Investment Corporation

Work highlights

Advised lenders Absa Bank and The Mauritius Commercial Bank on the acquisition by Infinity Power of the pan-African wind power developer, Lekela Power.
Advising Impact Oil & Gas on the farm down to TotalEnergies of its interests in the two blocks offshore Namibia that contain the Venus discovery, which is believed to be sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest ever oil discovery.
Advising Eni S.p.A. on its sale of NAOC Ltd (owning upstream oil and gas interests in Nigeria) to Oando plc. This mandate is notable because it would be one of the largest M&A deals in Nigeria.