People

Michael Walton
Michael Walton
Senior Associate

Overview

Michael Walton represents energy companies in respect of a broad range of matters globally, with a particular focus on the development and operation of energy projects from upstream / midstream oil & gas to green hydrogen and e-fuels projects.

Michael also advises clients in relation to upstream M&A transactions, asset level acquisitions and divestments and joint venture arrangements, as well as being a specialist in key energy industry contracts such as JOAs, commodity offtake agreements, EPCs and granting instruments.

Michael also has experience advising on conventional power and renewable energy projects, particularly relating to CCGT, wind, solar and biomass, as well as digital infrastructure projects regarding subsea fiber-optic cable systems.

Michael has spent time on secondment to Qatar Energy where he advised on various upstream ventures including asset acquisitions and joint venture arrangements.

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Qualified Solicitor, England & Wales, 2015
  • Committee Member of the Young Negotiator's division of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)

Education

  • Legal Practice Course, The University of Law 2013
  • Bachelor of Laws, English Law with Spanish, University of Dundee 2011

Experience

Hydrogen, Ammonia, E-Fuels & CCUS

  • Air Products in relation to the construction and development of the world’s largest green hydrogen project in NEOM, Saudi Arabia.
  • Neom Green Hydrogen Company in relation to various project development matters including project financing, joint venture arrangements and contracting with respect to its ownership of the NEOM green hydrogen project.
  • E-Fuels Producer on the development of two large-scale green methanol production facilities, including drafting offtake agreements and advising on the EU’s RFNBO legislation.
  • North Sea Transition Authority as secondee to the UK’s energy industry regulator advising on the delivery of various energy transition initiatives, including CCUS developments.*

Oil & Gas (M&A/A&D)

  • Qatar Energy as secondee to the upstream and new ventures team advising on various acquisitions and, joint venture arrangements.
  • LNG Japan on its US$1 billion acquisition of a participating interest in the Scarborough offshore gas field from Woodside, including related liquefaction arrangements and equity LNG sales.
  • TotalEnergies on the acquisition of Anadarko’s entire African business which included a 26.5% operated interest in the Mozambique LNG project for a purchase price of US$3.9 billion, as well as assets across Algeria, Ghana and South Africa with a proposed purchase price of +US$1.1 billion.*
  • Petronas on its +US$1billion sale of an interest in the Shah Deniz natural gas project in Azerbaijan. *
  • Romgaz on its US$1 billion acquisition of the entire issued share capital of an ExxonMobil subsidiary which held a 50% interest in the XIX Neptune Deep Block in the Black Sea, Romania.*
  • Harbour Energy on the oil and gas aspects of its US$3 billion acquisition of a package of UKCS assets from Shell.*
  • Qatar Energy on the acquisition of a participating interest from TotalEnergies in Block 15 Mexico.
  • Noble Energy on a pipeline project to support delivery of natural gas from the Leviathan and Tamar fields, including the purchase of a 10% interest in Eastern Mediterranean Gas Company.*
  • Wintershall Dea on its acquisition of a stake in the Ghasha concession alongside the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.*
  • Petronas on the sale of its 50% shareholding in the Dragon LNG facility at Milford Haven to Ancala Partners LLP.*
  • Petronas on the sale of Petronas Energy Trading's entire shareholding in Humbly Grove Energy Limited and related interest in the gas storage facility and onshore oilfield at Humbly Grove.*
  • A potential investor on the proposed acquisition of a participating interest in the Duyung PSC.
  • A bidder in relation to the potential acquisition of all of TotalEnergies’ interest in Block B, offshore Brunei.
  • Petrogas on the acquisition of interests from Cornerstone in the Abbey and Baker prospects on the UKCS.*
  • Petrogas on its proposed farm-out of a participating interest in the UK North Sea.*
  • Independent E&P Company in relation to the 100% share acquisition of a joint venture party in West Africa.*
  • TotalEnergies on the acquisition of assets from Tullow Oil plc in Uganda.*
  • National Oil Company on the proposed acquisition of assets from TotalEnergies offshore West Africa.*
  • ExxonMobil on its proposed sale of its entire interest in the ACG field. *
  • Serica Energy on its purchase of BP's interests in the Bruce, Keith and Rhum Fields.*
  • ONGC Videsh on its proposed acquisition of FAR Limited's entire interest in the RSSD oilfield development offshore Senegal.*
  • National Oil Company on its proposed acquisition of interests in Nigeria from Total*
  • National Oil Company on its proposed acquisition of Sierra Oil & Gas' assets in Mexico*
  • National Oil Company on its proposed acquisition of Premier Oil's assets in Mexico.*

Oil & Gas (Commercial)

  • Genting Energy on all aspects of the Kasuri LNG Project, including advising on the development of the midstream and downstream projects, including the gas sales arrangements and all LNG marketing activities.
  • KUFPEC in relation to the development of the Anambas upstream natural gas project in Indonesia.
  • JODCO in relation to the negotiation of an onshore production concession with ADNOC in the UAE.
  • Novatek in relation to LNG marketing and trading activities, including on existing and new LNG SPAs.
  • Independent Indonesian E&P Company in relation to the unitisation of a natural gas field.
  • Sempra LNG in relation to various commercial agreements for an LNG liquefaction project.
  • Petronas in relation to the amendment of an LNG SPA with QatarGas.*
  • Independent Gas Producer on an LNG sale and purchase agreement for the supply of LNG to Asia.
  • Wintershall Dea on the unitisation of a giant oil field offshore Mexico, including negotiating the UUOA with Pemex.*
  • PetroChina on the development of a new combined heat and power plant at the Grangemouth refinery.*
  • Hurricane Energy in relation to a farm-out of North Sea interests to Spirit Energy.*
  • SASOL in relation to a gas aggregation project in Mozambique, including drafting and negotiating a gas storage and processing agreement.*
  • Energy and Commodities Trader: Advising in relation to the development of a crude oil export terminal in Nigeria, including the negotiation of a crude oil lifting agreement and SPAs.*
  • Centrica Storage Limited: Advising on a range of commercial matters relating to the Easington gas terminal, including drafting and negotiating a TPOSA and CTIA for the tie-in of the Tolmount field.*
  • TotalEnergies: Advising on the drafting and negotiation of drilling rig contracts for use on an oil development project in Uganda.*
  • Energy and Commodities Trader in relation to a bid for capacity at a gas storage facility, including providing advice on title and security issues.*
  • TotalEnergies on the negotiation of a suite of commercial agreements regarding its development of the Culzean gas field.*
  • Perenco on various inter-affiliate asset transfers on the UKCS as part of a wider company reorganization.*
  • UK Government (Department of Energy and Climate Change) in relation to its temporary management of Iranian Oil Company's interests in the Rhum Field, including negotiating various commercial agreements.*

Power & Renewables

  • Tenaga in relation to a portfolio of assets which included a CCGT plant, water distribution system and several hydroelectric plants and wind farms.*
  • Statkraft AS on its £120m acquisition of a global portfolio of solar assets from Solarcentury with a 6GW pipeline.*
  • International Financial Institution on its support of the local power utility in the development of 250MW of solar photovoltaic projects in Ethiopia, including the negotiation of PPAs.*
  • Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority on its review of its existing regulatory framework and advising on modifications to allow for bilateral trading to be introduced into market. 
  • National Government and Electricity Commission on the drafting and negotiation of an Implementation Agreement and long-term PPA to support two country-first 100MW solar projects..
  • Independent Power Producer in relation to the development of several windfarm projects across Europe with a pipeline of 1GW, including negotiating shareholders’ agreements and offtake arrangements under PPAs.*
  • Independent Power Producer in relation to the joint venture arrangements (including multiple shareholders’ agreements) and development of three onshore windfarm projects in Romania.*
  • Independent Power Producer in relation to the acquisition of eight development stage anaerobic digestion plants, including advising on the joint venture and co-development arrangements.*

Telecommunications

  • 2Africa Consortium: Advising the cable owners in relation to various aspects of the deployment of the 2Africa cable system, the largest subsea fiber-optic cable system in the world.
  • Ellalink in relation to the negotiation of a supply contract for the installation of subsea cable system branch in Mauritania.
  • Cinturion: Acting for the sponsors of the Trans Europe Asia cable, including advising on certain IRU agreements.
  • Crosslake Fibre: Advising in relation to a Master Services Agreement for a dark fibre lease on the CrossChannel cable.

*Prior to joining Baker Botts