Concentration

Summary

Representative Engagements

• Russian oil company – structuring shareholder arrangements for the Burgas Alexandropoulos pipeline and drafting the initial agreement between investors
• Russian gas company – leading team in relation to the acquisition of a blocking minority stake in the Sakhalin II LNG development
• Russian gas company – representation as team leader in relation to the acquisition of TNK-BP's stake in the Kovykta gas field
• The electricity trading administrator in Russia (ATS) on the redrafting of its capacity agreements, and on an alternative structure for licensed generation
• Russian oil company on 20-year oil supply contract with CNPC
• MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Company – acquisition of an oil production company in Siberia
• MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Company – acquisition of a portfolio of seven exploration and production companies
• Russian gas company – renegotiation of LNG sales contracts for the Sakhalin II project
• Russian company – acquisition of certain Yukos assets at auction, including restructuring and financing
• ONGC Videsh Limited – bid for a listed U.S. company holding assets in Russia and Kazakhstan
• Russian bank – assisted on bid for the Russian TGK2 power generation company
• Russian gas company – acquisition of Caspian assets from Nordic/Swiss gas company by way of option agreement
• Russian oil company – general advice on shipping and freighting for oil, including portfolio restructuring, international shipping practice, and portfolio liabilities
• Hydril Company LP – establishment of a manufacturing joint venture in relation to steel pipes
• Russian oil company – establishment of a Chinese joint venture to construct and operate a refinery in mainland China
• Russian bank – acquisition of 51 per cent of major gold deposit from Canadian mining company 
• LUKOIL Uzbekistan – tender documentation and drilling contract for the Kandym site
• LUKOIL Uzbekistan – negotiation of a construction contract for gas wells, pipelines and associated infrastructure
• AES – counsel on strategic entry into the Russian power market
• Consortium of international oil and gas companies – counsel regarding the construction and operation of the Shah Deniz gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Turkey, including advice on gas sales, security structures and government treaty issues

Russia/CIS Construction and Real Estate

• Russian investment company – advice on the construction contracts and tender process for a new Olympic ski resort in Sochi
• U.S. developer – advice on the construction contracts (and amendments) for an office complex development in Moscow
• U.S. developer – advice on mediation and insurance claims related to a contractor dispute
• U.S. developer – advice on construction and management agreement of commercial retail sites in Moscow
• Russian developer – advice on a FIDIC-based construction contract for renovation and further construction of offices in central Moscow
• Russian developer – advice on numerous financing arrangements and security in relation to construction of commercial sites and related financings

Russia/CIS Finance Work

• Russian gas company – advice on its participation in the Sakhalin II project financing
• Russian oil company on $15bn loan from the Chinese Development Bank
• Russian oil transportation company on $10bn loan from the Chinese Development Bank
• Russian investment fund – fund management and ancillary agreements
• Russian investment fund – asset management agreements and investment remuneration
• Russian gas company – advising on $720m loan facility
• Russian gas company – advising on $300m loan facility and related security

Other Russia/CIS Work

• International chemical company – acquisition of paint manufacturing company in Lipetsk
• Venture capital fund – acquisition of branded Russian vodka company
• U.S. forestry company – inward investment into a new timber production joint venture in Siberia
• Russian conglomerate – import and construction contracts for a major new cement-producing venture
• Individual client – purchase of the Moscow Polo Club
• Russian aluminum producer – advising on and drafting the new free enterprise zone regulations for a CIS country
• Various commercial contracts and distribution agreements

Other Energy Matters

• Kuwait Petroleum – representation as lead partner on the suspended acquisition of a stake in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
• Marathon Oil – representation as project counsel on the Equatorial Guinea LNG Project involving the construction and operation of a new LNG plant in Malabo, to be financed by sales of LNG to British Gas
• BP – LNG sale agreement for the Tangguh LNG project
• Dynegy – three acquisitions of gas-fired and coal-fired power plants in the U.K.
• National government – construction of its internal gas infrastructure, and creation and operation of a regulated competitive market
• Government of Croatia – counsel regarding the privatization and liberalization of its oil and gas sector and compliance with EU law
• Gaz de France – acquisition of shares and capacity in the U.K./Belgian gas interconnector
• Reliant Energy Europe – acquisition of a major Dutch generator, including drafting its trading and commercial documentation Europewide
• Chief Executive's Office of the Electricity Pool of England and Wales – advice regarding the continuous revision of its rules and operating structure; negotiation of the software replacement agreement in relation to its price-scheduling software; renegotiation of the terms of the settlement system administrator's contract; advice on the structures and legal aspects of the disenfranchisement of the Regional Electricity Companies in 1998

Publications, Speeches and Presentations

• "The Purchase of a Brand Company in Russia: Protecting the Intangible," Financier Worldwide, February 2008 (Ekaterina Akkush, co-author)
• "Changing the Game," Energy Risk, April 2007 (Byron Romain, co-author)
• "International Hire of Mobile Drilling Units: Pitfalls and Protections," ROGTEC, March 2007 (Ekaterina Akkush, co-author)
• "Examining the Russia-China Line," PipeLine and Gas Technology, June 2006 (John Kuzmik, co-author)
• "Examining the Russia-China Line," Russia Investment Review, January 2006 (John Kuzmik, co-author)
• "Russia's New Concession Law: A Step in the Right Direction?" AmCham News, November 2005
• "Up the Learning Curve, Down the Cost Curve: Financial and Legal Implications for the LNG Sector," Petroleum Economist, November 2004 (Pooya Alai, PricewaterhouseCoopers, co-author)
• "Grinding Start: What Do Power Companies Need to Be Aware of for Contracts Resurrecting Iraq's Infrastructure?" Power Economics, May 2004 (Matthew Williams, co-author)
• "Testing the Waters: Mitigating Risk in Commercial Contracts," Petroleum Economist, May 2004 (Matthew Williams, co-author)
• "Central and Eastern Europe," LegalWeek Global, May 2003 (Georgy Borisov, co-author)
• "The March of European Power Companies into the U.S." Power Economics, August 2002
• "Regenerating a Region: Comparison Gas Overview," Petroleum Economist, June 2002

Speeches and Presentations

• "Investments in Russian Gas - managing volatility" Keynote presentation given at FLAME 2009, Amsterdam, March 2009
• Chairman of the Opening Session, Spotlight Presentation "Effective Management of External Counsel," Russian In-House Counsel Summit, Moscow, June 2008
• Chairman, "Dancing with the Russian Bear," International Bar Association Energy Sector Conference, Copenhagen, May 2008
• Spotlight Presentation "Maintaining Internal and External Legal Teams," Russian In-House Counsel Summit, Moscow, June 2007
• Chairman, EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Baker Botts Seminar, London, March 2005
• "Cross-Border Pipelines in the Broader Context," European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London, February 2005
• "International Boundary Disputes and Unitization Agreements: Pipelines Master Class," Oil & Gas IQPC, London, June 2004
• "Seeking Legal Certainty and Mitigating Risk for Investment and Operations in Iraq," Electrical Power in Iraq: The Way Forward, CWC Conference, London, February 2004
• "Successfully Negotiating Robust Contracts to Give You Maximum Protection Whilst Ensuring You Have the Flexibility to Respond to Changing Market Forces," Renewable Energy, Institute for International Research (IIR), London, June 2000
• "Successfully Negotiating and Renegotiating Flexibility Into Contracts to Effectively Deal With NETA and the Long-Term Power Market," Developing Practice CHP Strategies, London, May 2000