Most Highly Regarded Firms: UAE 2008 - Oil & Gas
Hydrocarbons remain the predominant source of public revenue in the UAE, accounting for one-third of the country's gross national product. Government estimates indicate that the region's reserves account for roughly 9.5 per cent (98.2 billion barrels) of the world's crude oil and 4 per cent (5.8 billion cubic metres) of its natural gas. With this in mind it is unsurprising that a number of major international law firms have set up shop in the region, all 16 nominees in the following pages hail from subsidiary offices of multinational firms.
Shearman & Sterling LLP opened its Abu Dhabi office in 1975 to service the region's emerging oil and gas industry. Today the office has developed into the firm's major Middle East headquarters with a portfolio of clients including International Power, Chubu Electric Power and Dolphin Energy. The "great" Phillip Dundas, managing partner in charge of the firm's Middle East practice, has substantial experience of working with the state-managed Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), which commands around 90 per cent of the market share of oil and gas in the UAE. Dundas counselled ADNOC in its US$1.5 billion joint venture with Borealis, and its US$4 billion expansion of the ADGAS LNG project, as well as representing Qatar General Petroleum and International Petroleum Investment in recent major transactions. Tim Pick is also highly nominated in the chapter, possessing lengthy experience of representing clients throughout the Middle East, and a heavyweight client list including Woodside Petroleum, BP and Total. Renowned for his project finance work, Matthew Kidwell also received considerable praise from respondents. Kidwell's energies experience comprises exploration and production, refining, transportation, regulation and transmission, and he has worked with major internationals throughout the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe.
Rightfully considered "top" by one source, Sean Korney was the most highly nominated individual in this chapter. The sole representative of Baker Botts LLP in the oil and gas section, Korney has represented numerous international energy companies developing operations in the Middle East, as well as Africa and South and Cental Asia. His clients include Shell, Virgin Resources, Sharjah Gas and the government of Puntland, Somalia and respondents praised his "very good, broad knowledge of the oil and gas business" and his "impressive presence in the region".
Allen & Overy boosted its presence in the UAE last year with the opening of an office in Abu Dhabi to complement the long-established Dubai office: both handle cases involving high-profile energy companies such as Aabar Investment Petroleum Company, Abu Dhabi National Energy and Dolphin Energy. The "technically excellent" Bimal Desai is praised as a "fantastic finance lawyer" within the energies sector, advising the project company in the recent Qalhat Liquefied natural gas project in Oman. Consultant Emil Pellicer is also well regarded in the region and counts government agencies as well as corporations among his clients.
LNG specialist Peter Weems of King & Spalding LLP also placed very highly in this chapter. Relocating from Houston to Dubai in 2007, Weems's impressive experience, gained from counselling companies such as El Paso Energy and Cheniere Energy, secured his "excellent" reputation in the UAE and earned him the position as counsel to Dubai Energy in an upcoming gas import project.
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP established its Dubai office in December 2005, in tandem with the opening of its office in Riyadh, and places two partners in the following chapter. Randel Young is another Texan oil and gas expert who has relocated to the UAE, and received wholehearted praise during our research. A former general counsel at Enron, Young advises US and multinational corporations in energy, natural resources and electrical power transactions, with particular focus on emerging markets. Richard Devine "really knows his stuff" according to sources, and he appears alongside Young in the chapter. Devine recently advised a national oil company on its bid for an upstream exploration asset in Nigeria
Vinson & Elkins LLP added to its "very active presence" in the UAE last year by opening an Abu Dhabi office to complement its established presence in Dubai. Representing the Abu Dhabi office is the highly nominated Christopher Strong, who has practised in the region since 2003 and has recently devoted time to a local renewable hydrogen power project, alongside an energy development project in Pakistan. Gary Kotara is in charge of the Dubai office and specialises in Asian, African and Middle Eastern gas project development. He is considered "a leader" by sources. Completing the firm's impressive performance in this chapter is Lewis Jones, a partner in the Abu Dhabi office whose recent engagements included the representation of several international developers in connection with the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project.
The "exceptional" George Booth of Simmons & Simmons earns a prominent position in this chapter, having advised Aabar Energy on its recent sales of Dalma Energy and Pearl Energy. Booth's extensive portfolio of clients also encompasses Shell, BP, ExxonMobil and the Abu Dhabi water and electricity authority. A presence at the firm's Abu Dhabi office since 2002, he also helped to establish the Dubai office in 2006.
Denton Wilde Sapte LLP has maintained an office in Dubai since 1969 and has seen the region develop through unification and into its current economic boom, cultivating an expert knowledge of the local energy market and its international potential. Firm chairman James Dallas enjoys a "formidable" reputation in the region for his "exhaustive" work in this field. Dallas's recent engagements include the negotiations for a major gas field development in the North Sea, and collaboration with the Greek state gas company, DEPA, on the financing of distribution networks.
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP opened its Dubai office in January 2008. The office houses 14 attorneys with a dedicated corporate finance focus, a large part of which is accounted for by project finance and energy. Gavin Watson is praised by respondents for his "comprehensive" knowledge of the oil and gas field, with a particular emphasis on downstream projects, LNG, energy infrastructure and cross border commercial transactions, he has handled cases for major energy companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Clifford Chance LLP has one of the oldest and largest practices in the Middle East and North Africa region, with 75 attorneys staffing its Dubai office and a network of professional associations and preferred counsel relationships with numerous firms in several jurisdictions. Robin Abraham brings his considerable project finance, banking and Islamic finance expertise to the petrochemicals arena, and represents the firm in this chapter.