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  • This webinar is about practical challenges to CCUS projects.

    Natalie Nowiski, Principal Legal-New Energy, Woodside Energy
    Nathanial Scott, VP BD North America, Storrega
    Nicholas J Fulford, Senior Director Energy Transition, GaffneyCline
    Moderator: Parker Lee, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

    Carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS) is an increasingly important part of the energy industry in the United States and globally as we progress to net zero objectives. There is no shortage of enthusiasm, development planning, proposed tax incentives and relevant guidance, with a broadening public awareness of the importance of CCUS projects. There is also a markedly slow off the mark progress for the actual development of a CCUS project since the latest tax incentives were announced in 2022. One cause of that delay is the EPA approval process for Class VI permits for injection wells that underly any CCUS projects. 

    Our panel of experts will generally discussed the CCUS environment, the function and importance of Class VI injection wells, the role of EPA and the states in granting permits for Class VI injection wells, and what may be causing the current logjam of CCUS project development.

    Natalie Nowiski, Principal Legal-New Energy, Woodside Energy

    Natalie Nowiski, is an experienced legal counsel focused on the energy transition and commercial development of lower carbon hydrogen, ammonia, and CCS projects. She currently is a lead counsel with Woodside Energy and supports the development of Woodside’s new energy projects in the United States.

    Previously, Natalie was a CCS Legal Counsel and Business Developer with SLB New Energy where she advised on legal, regulatory, permitting and policy issues for CCS projects. She also worked on developing strategic partnerships and business models for participants on the CCS value chain.

    Natalie obtained an LL.M. specializing in Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources Law from the University of Houston, and a J.D. from the University of Toronto. She has been a guest speaker and panelist on topics related to CCS, energy transition, climate risk disclosure and sustainability issues.

    Nathanial Scott, VP BD North America, Storrega

    Nathanial Scott, is the International Business Development Manager for Noble Energy’s operations in West Africa with principle focus on Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. Prior to his current role, he was an advisor for Noble’s Corporate Business Development team, which focused on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures both in the United States and internationally. Mr. Scott has experience in government and commercial negotiations concerning operated and non-operated assets, new ventures and farmout efforts in West Africa and other international locations. Prior to his time at Noble, Mr. Scott gained extensive experience in assembling, developing and divesting conventional and unconventional land plays in various basins across the United States. Mr. Scott is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

    Nick Fulford, Senior Director Energy Transition, GaffneyCline

    Nicholas Fulford, is Gas/LNG and Carbon Management Senior Director – Americas for GaffneyCline, with over 40 years of experience in the natural gas sector working on all aspects of the gas value chain from complex upstream projects, midstream and LNG export projects, LNG imports and gas to power, wholesale and retail market management, regulatory policy and trading. He is renowned as a leading Global LNG expert who has closely been involved in the US gas markets since the late 1980s and again more deeply since 2008 with the rise of the US shale gas boom. In recent years, Nick has engaged with the emerging Energy Transition impacts on energy markets globally, including CCS, offsets and net-zero LNG.

    Parker Lee, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP (Moderator)

    Parker A. Lee, advises companies and investors in evaluating and executing transactions and commercial contracts in the energy and infrastructure industries. He represents clients in various domestic and international oil & gas, renewable fuels, power, water, petrochemical and infrastructure M&A, project development and joint venture transactions.

  • Recorded On: 09/20/2023

    This webinar will explore the future of hydrogen in Colombia.

    Monica Gasca, Executive Director, H2 Colombia
    Lorena G. Moscardelli, Ph.D., Research Scientist & Principal Investigator, State of Texas Advanced Resource Recovery Program, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin
    Moderator: Claudia Hooker Archbold, Senior Legal Counsel, Ecopetrol

    Colombia enjoys a wealth of renewable resources, including solar, wind, and water. These resources could be used to produce hydrogen, a clean and efficient fuel that has the potential to revolutionize the country's energy sector.

    Organized by the Latin America & Caribbean Chapter, this webinar explores the future of hydrogen in Colombia.

    Speakers will discuss:

    • The potential of hydrogen to power transportation, industry, and homes
    • The challenges and opportunities for the hydrogen industry in Colombia
    • The role of hydrogen in achieving a cleaner, more sustainable future



    Monica Gasca

    Executive Director, H2 Colombia

    Monica Gasca has more than eight years of experience analyzing and developing regulations and public policies related to renewable energies and energy transition. Monica worked in the Ministry of Mines and Energy between 2019 and 2022 where she was in charge of leading the strategies for the Energy Transition of the country; she was coordinator of the Energy Transformation Mission for the modernization of the sector, the Geothermal initiative and the hydrogen strategy. She has also worked in companies such as Sercolombia, Ernst & Young, Fedesarrollo and ANDEG.

    Lorena G. Moscardelli Ph.D.,

    Research Scientist & Principal Investigator, State of Texas Advanced Resource Recovery Program, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin

    Dr. Lorena Moscardelli is a Research Scientist and leader of the State of Texas Advanced Resource Recovery (STARR) program at BEG. Her expertise is in seismic geomorphology and interpretation, sedimentology and stratigraphy and geoscience data integration. She received a degree in Geological Engineering from Central University of Venezuela (2000) and a PhD in Geological Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin (2007).

    She specializes in the study of deep-water deposits with emphasis on subaqueous landslides, deep-water mixed siliciclastic-carbonate systems and planetary geology. She started her career as an exploration geologist working for PDVSA (2000 – 2003). Prior to her current position at STARR, Dr. Moscardelli was a Principal Researcher at Equinor (2013 – 2021) where she performed a wide range of activities from research in the Americas to field development in the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Her BEG career includes the co-funding and co-direction of the Quantitative Clastic Laboratory (QCL) (2007-2013) and her actual involvement as leader of STARR.

    Most recently, Dr. Moscardelli has taken a strong interest in understanding the role of geoscience research as part of the ongoing energy transition while contributing to STARR’s main mission of conducting geologic research resulting in the increase of production and profitability of energy resources in the State of Texas.

  • Recorded On: 10/13/2022

    This webinar's panelists discuss the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) that is intended to transport crude oil from oil fields in Uganda to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania.

    Elison Karuhanga, Partner, Kampala Associated Advocates
    Barbara Daisy Nabuweke, Head, Contracts and Negotiations, Uganda National Oil Company 
    Ali Ssekatawa, Director, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Petroleum Authority of Uganda
    Moderator: Shakwa Nyambe, Founder & MD, SNC Incorporated, Lawyers & Business Advisors

    The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is intended to transport crude oil from oil fields in Uganda to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania. The EACOP project is expected to drive energy security, empower local communities and create jobs across the region.

    Viewers will leave with a better understanding of:

    • How EACOP will allow Uganda to unlock value from its natural resources
    • EACOP project value creation to the Tanzanian and Ugandan economies
    • Key strategies and policies involved in the development of infrastructure and transfer of technology involved in the Project


    Elison Karuhanga

    Partner, Kampala Associated Advocates

    Elison Karuhanga is a Partner at Kampala Associated Advocates, working in the Litigation and Energy law departments. He has and continues to successfully represent several local and international clients in varied sectors including oil and gas companies, telecommunications, construction, banking, as well as public bodies and government agencies.

    He holds a Masters of Law (LLM) in Oil and Gas Law, University of Aberdeen, Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Law Development Centre and a Bachelors Degree in Law from University of Kent

    He is a trained Oil and Gas lawyer, a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and a member of GOXI which is part of the World Bank Institutes Governance for Extractive Industries Program which brings together practitioners from government, private sector, NGO’s and think tanks with the aim of strengthening governance in the extractive industries’ sector. He is also a member of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum.

    Elison was recently asked by the Oxford Energy Institute to contribute to a paper comparing the legal regime in Uganda governing oil and gas law with the one in Brazil together with the Director of the Institute Dr. Eduardo Guedes Pereira. He was elected by his peers at the University of Aberdeen as the student representative for the LLM (Oil and Gas) Law Class 2010-2011. He was invited by Ugandan Women Lawyers under their umbrella organization (FIDA) to do a presentation on “Oil and Gas Law in Uganda”.

    Elison has experience in the Banking sector as well, having worked with a leading bank for over three years. While in the bank’s legal department, he was responsible for the preparation and perfection of legal documentation, the recovery of non-performing assets and provision of legal advice.

    He also worked in the Ministry of Justice for over five years as a state attorney and rendered legal advice on diverse subjects to the Government of Uganda. He also handled matters on behalf of the State House of Uganda, Ministry of Defense, The Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces, the Uganda Police Force, The Ministry of Local Government, The Ministry of Lands, The Registrar of Titles of Uganda, the Ministry of Finance, Parliament of Uganda and the Ministry of Water and Environment to mention but a few.

    He has an excellent appreciation of public and regulatory law and extensive litigation experience having appeared before all the courts of record in Uganda as well as the East African Court of Justice. He is an adept litigator and is effective, efficient and expeditious in court.

    Barbara Daisy Nabuweke

    Head, Contracts and Negotiations, Uganda National Oil Company

    Barbara Daisy Nabuweke is an advocate of the high court of Uganda and a member of the Uganda law society, and the East African law society.  She holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Cambridge, UK, a Diploma in Legal Practice from Law Development Centre, Kampala, and a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Makerere University.

    She is a commercial, projects and an oil & gas lawyer with experience of over 10+years in both private practice and as an in-house lawyer. She is currently the Head of Contracts and Negotiations at Uganda National Oil Company and was part of the team that negotiated the recently concluded agreements for the oil and gas sector including the Uganda National Oil Company Back-in agreements, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Shareholders Agreement, Host government agreement for the EACOP and participated in pursuing enabling legislation. These efforts led to taking of the Final Investment Decision for the Upstream and Pipeline Project in Uganda.

    Previously, Barbara worked with Tullow Uganda Operations Pty Limited as a Legal & Compliance Advisor and with Standard Chartered Bank as the Assistant Company Secretary/ Head Legal and Compliance for the Consumer Banking Division.

    She was a Pegasus scholar in 2010 giving her an opportunity to work at different UK barrister law firms and courts. Barbara has also had placements at Denton Wilde Sapte and Clyde & Co LLP. 

    Outside formal work, Barbara is a wife and mother. She is extremely passionate about sharing knowledge and mentoring the youth.

    Ali Ssekatawa

    Director, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Petroleum Authority of Uganda

    Ali Ssekatawa is the Director for Legal and Corporate Affairs in the Petroleum Authority of Uganda since 2017, and has over 11 years’ experience, specializing in tax and oil and gas law. He previously served Uganda Revenue Authority as Head of the Litigation portfolio and a public tax prosecutor. He litigated and won groundbreaking cases in Uganda and other International Tribunals.

    Mr. Ssekatawa is an advocate of the High Court of Uganda. He holds an MBA from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), an LLM in Oil and Gas Law & Policy from the University of Dundee, and an LLB (Hons) from Makerere University. He was part of the Uganda negotiation team that negotiated the Intergovernmental Agreements (treaty), Host Government Agreement, Tariff and Transportation Agreement, and other Commercial Agreements for the EACOP. He also advised on the EACOP (Special Provisions) Act 2021.

    Shakwa Nyambe

    Founder and Managing Partner, SNC Incorporated

    Shakwa Nyambe is the Founder and Managing Partner of the law firm SNC Incorporated, with offices in Windhoek, Namibia. He is a specialised Energy, Natural Resources and Commercial Lawyer. He is also specialised in drafting, reviewing and negotiations of contracts. He has advised International Corporations, State Owned Enterprises, Governments and individuals in Energy, Natural Resources, Commercial and Dispute Resolution matters.  He has provided legal and business advisory services to foreign investors in various matters ranging from mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, corporate governance and project financing. His clients include some of the oil and gas companies, renewable energy companies, mining companies, construction and infrastructure companies, State Owned Enterprises, Governments, and corporate entities.

    Nyambe previously worked as a Legal Counsel at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia, as a Chief Legal Officer at the Ministry of Justice, Namibia and as a State Advocate at the High Court of Namibia. He is the current Director for the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)’s African Chapter. He serves on the drafting committees for the AIPN JOA Committee, LNG, SPA Committee, Asset Sale and Purchase Agreement Committee and the Drilling Contract Committee. He also serves as a Board of Director at Debmarine Namibia and NAMDEB Holdings (50-50 joint venture diamond mining between the Government of Namibia and De Beers).

    Nyambe holds a Baccalaureus Juris degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree, both from the University of Namibia. In addition, he also holds a postgraduate degree of Master of Laws in Oil & Gas Law with Professional Skills (LLM) from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom and a Postgraduate Diploma in Drafting and Interpretation of Contracts from the University of Johannesburg. He is an admitted legal practitioner of the High Court and Supreme Court of Namibia.

  • Recorded On: 09/29/2022

    Our expert panelists discuss how the energy transition and the increased focus on energy security changes how investors, institutions, and companies make decisions about financing the future.

    Originally presented at the AIEN 2022 International Energy Summit in London

    James Janoskey, Managing Director, Global Co-Head Energy Group and Head of EMEA EPRM, JP Morgan 
    Samuel Merlin, Partner, Head of Energy, Hannam & Partners 
    Giacomo Rossi, Managing Director & CEO, Snam UK 
    Christof Rühl, ex-bp Chief Economist; Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University 
    Moderator: Joe Levin, Partner, Watson Farley & Williams

    Changing investing metrics affect the energy industry and has precipitated the divestiture of assets to parties who may not be subject to similar regulatory or environmental scrutiny. Our expert panelists discuss how the energy transition and the increased focus on energy security changes how investors, institutions, and companies make decisions about financing the future. 

    James Janoskey

    Managing Director, Global Co-Head Energy Group and Head of EMEA EPRM, JP Morgan

    James Janoskey (JJ) is a Managing Director of JP Morgan in the Investment Banking division, based in London. He is Global Co-Head of the Energy Group.  JJ has over 20 years of international advisory and capital markets experience and has worked on a wide range of assignments, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic advisory, and lead managed equity, debt, and leveraged finance transactions.

    His experience includes transactions involving clients across the Oil and Gas sector – Majors, Integrateds, NOCs, E&P, R&M, LNG and OFS. JJ joined JP Morgan in September 2015 after 18 years at Credit Suisse. He had joined Credit Suisse in November 2000 when the firm merged with Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ). In January 2000, he had moved to DLJ’s M&A Group in London from the New York office.  JJ has an M.B.A from the University of Chicago, including a term studying at London Business School, and a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Illinois.

    Samuel Merlin

    Partner, Head of Energy, Hannam & Partners

    Samuel has diverse experience across M&A and capital raising projects in the energy, infrastructure and services sectors globally. He is currently a Partner and Head of Energy at Hannam & Partners, leading the energy and sustainable infrastructure & technology practices, supporting projects across the energy, storage, hydrogen and energy efficiency markets in the US and Europe. He previously served in the U.S. Department of Defense where he worked with Afghanistan’s Minister of Mines & Petroleum to structure, negotiate and manage the implementation of Afghanistan's first-ever oil & gas production sharing contracts and distributed renewable energy projects. 

    Giacomo Rossi

    Managing Director & CEO, Snam UK

    Giacomo leads Snam activities in the UK, Ireland and North Sea - focusing on Hydrogen, CCUS and low carbon energy generation & storage investments and operating activities. Giacomo has a deep and broad experience in the international energy markets as an operator, investor and adviser. Before joining Snam, he worked on expanding and deepening BP’s low carbon power T&S activities through strategic M&A and trading strategies. Previously he formed part of Carlyle's flagship international energy fund (Carlyle International Energy Partners “CIEP”), focusing on private equity investments in the energy industry (outside of North America); preceded by investment banking covering oil & gas, industrials and business services companies.

    Christof Rühl

    ex-bp Chief Economist; Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University

    Christof is an internationally renowned economist, specializing in macroeconomics and energy economics. His skillset has been shaped by senior roles in some of the world’s best institutions across business, policy, and academia. His most recent commercial expertise is in energy, specifically oil and gas, and asset allocation, focused on macroeconomic and geopolitical trends.

    Christof currently is a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University in New York (since 2019); in parallel, he was Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School (2019-21). From 2014-19, Christof served as the Global Head of Research at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, creating and managing ADIA’s first global research team, responsible for economic, energy and geopolitical analysis across asset classes. Earlier, he was Group Chief Economist and Vice President of BP plc (2005- 14), credited with a significant contribution to the global debate on energy, climate change, and the various links between energy and economic development. Christof joined BP from the world of global economic policy, having served at the World Bank (1998– 2005), including as the Bank’s Chief Economist in Russia and in Brazil; and at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1996-98). He started his career in academia, first as a Research Associate in Germany; and from 1991-96, as an Assistant Professor in economics at the University of California, Los Angeles.

    Christof serves as a global advisor and board director to companies in energy, finance and private equity. He is well published and a sought-after commentator and public speaker.

    Joe Levin (Moderator)

    Partner, Watson Farley & Williams

    Joe Levin is a partner in the London Projects Group at Watson Farley & Williams.

    Joe advises lenders and sponsors on a number of project finance, acquisition finance, reserve-based lending and other structured financings and has a particularly impressive track record in the upstream oil and gas sector, advising E&P companies, traders and both multilateral and commercial lenders.
     
    Joe advises on transactions across Europe and Africa and has most recently advised lenders on the acquisition financings of assets from oil majors in the UK North Sea, Egypt, Cameroon, Angola and Chad.
     
    He is recommended for his trade finance and oil and gas expertise by leading directories Legal 500 UK and IFLR 1000.

  • Recorded On: 09/29/2022

    With a geographically diverse asset base and views, this panel has a truly international perspective on the energy industry and all of its current challenges.

    Originally presented at the AIEN 2022 International Energy Summit in London

    Nopasit Chaiwanakupt, SVP, New Business, PTTEP
    Alex Volkov, VP Commercial & Power, ExxonMobil Upstream Company
    Christian Wilms, Senior Vice President Subsurface & Field Development, MOL Group
    Moderator: Benjamín Torres-Barrón, Partner, Baker McKenzie 

    Senior Executives in upstream oil and gas have a unique global perspective on our complex and dynamic industry. With a geographically diverse asset base and views, this panel has a truly international perspective on the energy industry and all of its current challenges.

    Nopasit Chaiwanakupt

    SVP, New Business, PTTEP

    Nopasit Chaiwanakupt is Senior Vice President of New Business Division at PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP).  Under this role, he leads PTTEP’s business expansion into the future energy and decarbonization sectors, as well as other Non-E&P business areas.  He is also the Head of PTT Group’s CCS Hub Initiative Taskforce.

    Nopasit started his career with Unocal Thailand in 1990, as a Production Engineer, and had been involved in several upstream development projects and producing assets in Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Vietnam, before joining PTT Group in 2009.  He held various leadership positions with PTT International Company and PTTEP, in the areas of upstream asset management (Thailand Offshore Assets and International Assets) and business development (Indochina and Middle East Regions).  Prior to his current role, he was the Head of Malaysia Assets Transition, responsible for post-merger integration of PTTEP’s upstream operations in Malaysia.  

    Nopasit holds a master’s in chemical engineering from Oregon State University and an MBA from Sasin Business School in Thailand.   

    Alex Volkov

    VP Commercial & Power, ExxonMobil Upstream Company

    Alex Volkov is the Vice President, Commercial & Power for ExxonMobil Upstream Company.

    Alex joined ExxonMobil in 1997 in Houston, Texas. During his early tenure with the company he has held diverse assignments in the areas of marketing, business development, supply chain logistics, and business strategy development.

    From 2014 to 2016, Alex was based in Moscow, Russia where he served as Vice President of Exxon Neftegas Limited responsible for ExxonMobil commercial activities in Russia, including natural gas sales and marketing of Sakhalin-1 gas resources.

    Alex moved to the United Kingdom in 2016 and he was appointed Vice President, International Gas, ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing and Chairman, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe in 2018. In this capacity, he was responsible for ExxonMobil’s natural gas marketing and trading activities in Europe, Russia, Caspian, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia.

    In 2019 Alex moved to Houston and was named Vice President, Global LNG Marketing. In this role, he had global responsibility for ExxonMobil’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) portfolio and marketing of LNG for ExxonMobil’s projects and joint ventures. He assumed his current position in February 2021.

    Alex graduated from the University of Nizhni Novgorod, Russia in 1994 and he also holds an MBA from the University of Alabama.

    Christian Wilms

    Senior Vice President Subsurface & Field Development, MOL Group

    Mr. Wilms started his career in 1998 with Shell International as a geophysicist after graduating from RWTH Aachen in Germany. He made an unusual step to change technical disciplines to become a reservoir engineer after three years and worked in the Netherlands, Nigeria, Qatar, the United States and United Kingdom in various technical and leadership roles before joining MOL Group in Budapest as SVP Subsurface & Field Development three years ago. He manages an active and diverse portfolio in six countries consisting of green and brownfield developments, on and offshore as well as all thinkable reservoir and fluid types. MOL Group is a fully integrated energy company and has about 300 MMboe of 2P reserves and more than 100 MMboe of 2C resources. 

    Benjamín Torres-Barrón (Moderator)

    Partner, Baker McKenzie

    Benjamín Torres leads Baker McKenzie's Energy, Mining & Infrastructure (EMI) Practice Group in Mexico. He joined the firm in 1998.

    He is recognized as "Highly Regarded Lawyer" by IFLR, and is also listed as a recommended lawyer by Who's Who Legal for oil, gas, and project finance in Mexico. He is recognized as one of the country's leading lawyers in the energy and natural resources area (Band 1) by both LEGAL 500. For several years, he has been acknowledged by the magazine Petróleo & Energía as one of the top 100 leaders in Mexico's energy industry and he currently serves in its Editorial Board. Additionally, in 2021, Benjamin was awarded the recognition of "Stand Lawyer" during the Stellar Performance Stand Out Talent Survey of Acritas and Chambers Latin America. 

    Benjamin is the President of the Energy Committee in AmCham Mexico. In addition, he has lectured for the Energy and Sustainability Law Masters Degree at Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and taught Energy Law classes at Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juarez and Business Law at ITESM Campus Ciudad Juarez. He has served at the Energy Editorial Boards of Reforma and Norte newspapers, and is a member of Potentia (private oil and energy business club). He is also a member of the Advisory Board of GRI, Chair of the Mexican Chapter of ISME (International Society for Mexican Energy) and a member of Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN).

    Benjamin handles all legal matters related to the development and construction of real estate, mining, infrastructure, and major projects. His career includes advising clients on the development and construction of projects related to oil, natural gas, water, waste, railroad, ports, airports, highways, LPG, LNG, biofuels, energy efficiency, electricity, and public bids called by Pemex, CFE, and other Mexican governmental entities.

    He has represented clients before the regulatory authorities and agencies in matters regarding energy projects; advised clients on maritime and navigation matters, due diligence, development, drafting and negotiation of contracts and financing. He also has advised clients regarding regulatory issues in connection with the sale, acquisition, leasing, subleasing, rights of way, construction, maritime transportation, trusts, insurance, utilities, environmental and ejido matters in connection with energy, hospitality (tourism), residential, mining, and industrial projects. His professional expertise also includes project financing, corporate law, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions.

  • Recorded On: 09/29/2022

    The energy transition, as a paradigm shift of energy systems, cannot succeed unless multiple variables are aligned. Hydrogen is one such variable. A ‘silver bullet’ for some, mere ‘hype’ for others, its realistic role and feasibility are still debated.

    Originally presented at the AIEN 2022 International Energy Summit in London

    Manuel Manrique, Hydrogen International Business Development Manager, Repsol 
    Gunther Newcombe OBE, Project Coordinator, Orion Clean Energy Project (Shetlands) 
    Emily Sykes, VP Energy Transition Fund, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners 
    Moderator: Nuno Antunes, Partner, Miranda & Associados 

    The energy transition, as a paradigm shift of energy systems, cannot succeed unless multiple variables are aligned. Hydrogen is one such variable. A ‘silver bullet’ for some, mere ‘hype’ for others, its realistic role and feasibility are still debated.

    Manuel Manrique

    Hydrogen International Business Development Manager, Repsol

    Manuel Manrique Villanueva is a Chemical Engineer with a wide experience in the energy industry. Following a period working in the fertilizer industry after graduation, he joined Repsol back in 2003 and spent 7 years in one of Repol's refineries in Spain, where he occupied different positions from Process Engineer to Plant Manager.

    Manuel moved to the Trading Business in 2010 and traded LPG for a few years in a period of big fundamental changes in the market. He was the Global Head of LPG trading until 2018,  before being appointed as Business Development Manager for the Trading business. Manuel led several projects involving different oil and oil products until, being highly motivated to be part of the energy transition and society decarbonization, he moved to the Repsol Hydrogen business unit a few months ago. Now Manuel is responsible for Hydrogen International Business Development, based in Madrid.

    Gunther Newcombe OBE

    Project Coordinator, Orion Clean Energy Project (Shetlands)

    Gunther has over 40 years experience working in the energy sector spending 35 years working with BP, in areas ranging from exploration right through to decommissioning in a number of senior leadership positions, followed by 5 years as Operations Director with the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), including working on the development of energy hubs.

    At the end of 1Q 2020 Gunther stepped down from the NSTA and started working on the development of an energy hub project called ORION (Opportunity for Renewables Integration with Offshore Networks), centred around the Shetland region, with an ambition to develop and produce green H2 for use on Shetland and export, transform Shetland dependency on fossil fuels to renewable energy, and facilitate decarbonization of the oil and gas sector.  

    Gunther is married with four children and lives in Aberdeen and was awarded an OBE for his services to the oil & gas industry in the Queens 2020 New Year’s Honours list.

    Emily Sykes

    VP Energy Transition Fund, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

    Emily is Vice President in Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ Energy Transition Fund, the largest dedicated clean hydrogen fund globally. She has over 12 years’ experience in the renewables, gas and infrastructure industries spanning across Australia, the UK and Europe. Emily is experienced in all aspects of greenfield project development from idea stage to financial close, navigating the evolving regulatory and geopolitical landscape for renewables and green hydrogen, as well as traditional mergers & acquisitions and joint venture activity. Emily started her career as an energy/infrastructure projects lawyer in Australia and has degrees in Law and Finance. 

    Nuno Antunes (Moderator)

    Partner, Miranda & Associados

    Partner at ‘Miranda & Associados’, a Portuguese international law firm with strong presence in Africa. Co-head of the ‘Energy and Natural Resources’ department. 

    Primary focus on the energy sector, notably upstream oil and gas, LNG, gas/LNG-to-power, power, renewables, and energy transition (hydrogen, CCUS). Legal advice to IOCs and State entities, on international, constitutional, regulatory, contractual, tax, M&A, project structuring, environmental, ESG and dispute resolution matters. 

    Lead of the recently established AIEN Hydrogen Taskforce. 

    Member of the International Bar Association’s Oil and Gas Law and Power Law Committees. 

    Former petroleum legal advisor to the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste. 

    Law of the sea specialist. Member of the list of arbitrators of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

    Earned a PhD (International Law) and MA (International Boundaries) from the University of Durham (UK). Guest Professor at the Catholic University (Lisbon, Portugal). 

  • Recorded On: 09/29/2022

    In this informative and entertaining discussion, hear perspectives from US-based industry leaders on how energy transition and security developments in Europe are impacting the US and how they think the trajectory of the transition is moving.

    Originally presented at the AIEN 2022 International Energy Summit in London

    Gretchen Watkins, President, Shell USA
    Maynard Holt, Founder & CEO, Veriten and previously CEO and Founding Partner, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co 

    In this informative and entertaining discussion, hear perspectives from US-based industry leaders on how energy transition and security developments in Europe are impacting the US and how they think the trajectory of the transition is moving.

    Gretchen Watkins

    President, Shell USA

    As President of Shell USA, Inc., Gretchen Watkins oversees the strategic integration of all Shell businesses in the United States and leads the US Country Coordination Team. Since being named to this post in 2018, she has become the company’s leading voice, with public and private leaders, across a wide range of energy-related policy and societal challenges.

    In addition to these responsibilities from May 2018-June 2021, Gretchen also served as Executive Vice President of Shell’s Global Shales business, overseeing the exploration, development, and production of Shell’s Upstream shale oil and gas portfolio, which included assets in the US, Canada, and Argentina. 

    Before joining Shell in May 2018, Gretchen served as the Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Oil, following two years as Chief Operating Officer. Gretchen’s tenure at Maersk coincided with a low-price environment for oil, but under her leadership, the company delivered above-target operational and financial results, enabling a safe and successful enterprise sale of Maersk Oil to Total in 2017.

    Gretchen began her career nearly 30 years ago as a Facilities Engineer for Amoco in the Gulf of Mexico. She then worked as a Trading Manager for Amoco and BP before commencing an international career that has included a variety of senior executive roles at BP, Marathon Oil, and Maersk Oil in North America, Europe, and Asia. She has led joint ventures and negotiated contracts with countries and companies across the upstream, midstream, and downstream businesses.

    Gretchen currently serves as a non-executive director of the Mosaic Company, one of the world’s leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients, and previously served as a non-executive director for W. S. Atkins, a global engineering consultancy and FTSE 200 company from 2014 until its merger with SNC Lavalin in 2017. Gretchen graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and has had executive education at Cambridge and Stanford Universities. 

    Maynard Holt

    Founder & CEO, Veriten and previously CEO and Founding Partner, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co

    Maynard Holt is the founder & CEO of Veriten. Built off the momentum created by the “Close of Business Tuesday” podcast, Veriten is an energy-focused knowledge platform that brings diverse perspectives to the energy transition discussion, improving the ability of industry leaders, policy makers, and investors to make investment and strategic choices. Maynard previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. from 2016 to 2021 and has over 27 years of experience in energy investment banking and strategic advice. A co-founder of TPH, Maynard functioned as Co-President from 2007 to 2016 and prior to joining TPH, Maynard worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. At Goldman from 1994 to 2007, Maynard worked in Leveraged / Structured Finance and was last a Managing Director in and Energy & Power / Natural Resources. Maynard launched Veriten to convene the brightest minds in and around energy in a civil, inclusive, and intellectually honest discussion to address the most pressing topics across the space. Like too many of us, he passionately believes there are better ways forward in energy and he wants to find them. Maynard is an avid classic Jeep collector and dedicated patron and supporter of youth sports and holds a BA in Economics and Russian from Rice University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

  • Recorded On: 09/28/2022

    With the ambitions and targets set out by the UK and devolved governments, the UKCS could become a world class offshore energy powerhouse. This panel discusses the possible implications of the energy transition for the industry’s commercial, business development and legal communities. ​

    Originally presented at the AIEN 2022 International Energy Summit in London

    John Baldwin, Managing Director, CNG Services Ltd.
    Andy Samuel, CEO, North Sea Transition Authority
    Jenny Stanning, External Relations Director, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK)
    Graham Stewart, Chairman, Longboat Energy
    Moderator: Professor Paul de Leeuw, Director, Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University 

    With the ambitions and targets set out by the UK and devolved governments, the UKCS could become a world class offshore energy powerhouse. As part of this session, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) and Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) will share their views on the future of the basin and what will be required to set this up for success. The panel discussion will build on the scene setting presentations and will include a discussion on the possible implications of the energy transition for the industry’s commercial, business development and legal communities. 

    John Baldwin

    Managing Director, CNG Services Ltd.

    John started his career as a graduate engineer in British Gas and BGE&P and worked on projects including South Morecambe, CATS and Armada. He then worked in Transco looking after the National Transmission System (NTS) in the period 1995 – 98 when many of the first wave of CCGTs were built as well as the UK-Continent Interconnector and a £350 Million expansion of the NTS.  He has been President of the SBGI (Society of British Gas Industries, now known as the EUA) and is a former Chairman of the Renewable Energy Association Biogas Group.  His company CNG Services Ltd is a niche EPC Contractor and consultant in biomethane and hydrogen. John is also a Director of CNG Fuels who are building a national network of Bio-CNG filling stations connected to the high pressure gas grid and is a Director of Barrow Shipping Ltd which is the leading shipper focused on renewable gases. He has 39 years experience in the gas industry, fossil and renewable.

    Andy Samuel

    CEO, North Sea Transition Authority

    Andy works with leaders to deliver value and create meaningful change and has been Chief Executive of the UK Government’s North Sea Transition Authority (formerly the Oil & Gas Authority) since 2015.

    He was brought in to set up the new organization working closely with industry and the government. In a short space of time, the NSTA created a new vision for the UK Continental Shelf and has delivered on its strategies through agile and collaborative workstreams.

    Andy is passionate about the urgency and opportunities presented by the global energy transition, alongside a sharp focus on bolstering security of supply. The NSTA strategy fully incorporates net zero and the NSTA’s energy integration work highlights the massive carbon abatement potential of the North Sea, including carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and offshore wind.

    Andy serves on a number of boards and co-chaired the Aberdeen Maggie’s cancer charity for five years. Andy held a variety of executive and leadership roles at BG Group over 20 years, including Managing Director Europe Exploration and Production. Andy holds an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and a PhD from London University and is an accredited coach through Meyler Campbell Mastered executive coaching.

    Following an international career, he is based on a North Devon coastal farm that is being managed for biodiversity gain.

    Jenny Stanning

    External Relations Director, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK)

    Jenny Stanning is responsible for leading OEUK’s external affairs, events and membership teams. In this role her responsibilities include working with Governments, Parliaments, industry leaders, business and industry organizations and regulatory bodies to ensure that members’ interests are well represented.

    Prior to joining OEUK, Jenny worked in politics and stakeholder management for 10 years including the Scottish Parliament and Westminster.

    Graham Stewart

    Chairman, Longboat Energy

    Born in Ireland and brought up in Scotland, Graham holds an honours degree in Offshore Engineering from Heriot-Watt University and an MBA from Edinburgh University and has over 30 years’ experience in oil and gas technical and business affairs. Of Scottish and Faroese descent, he founded Faroe Petroleum plc in 1998, where he held the roles of Chairman and then Chief Executive Officer. Listed on AIM, Faroe grew to become a substantial and respected company, with significant exploration and M&A success, principally in Norway. Faroe was bought by DNO in January 2019.  

    Before that Graham was CFO of Dana Petroleum plc, and held positions with the Petroleum Science and Technology Institute and Schlumberger.

    Graham is today a founder and non-executive Chairman of the Greenland-focused gold and strategic minerals company Amaroq Minerals Inc, listed in London and Toronto.  Graham is also a founder and non-executive Chairman of London-listed oil and gas company Longboat Energy plc, focused mainly on Norway.

    Graham has three grown-up daughters, and lives in Edinburgh with his Faroese wife. He actively pursues a wide variety of interests outside work, including music, sport, and travel.

    Professor Paul de Leeuw (Moderator)

    Director, Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University

    Paul is a senior industry leader and executive with over 34 years’ experience in the global energy sector. He has worked for a wide range of companies, including Shell, Marathon Oil, Amoco, BP, Venture Production and Centrica.

    He is currently the Director of Robert Gordon University’s Energy Transition Institute, Chair of PlanSea Solutions, a government and industry advisor, a Board member of the International School in Aberdeen and a Professor at Robert Gordon University (UK).

    Paul is an experienced non-executive director, with over 25 years of involvement in public, private and voluntary sector organisations. He is also a regular contributor to industry events and a frequent media commentator on issues and developments in the international energy sector.

  • Recorded On: 09/28/2022

    Discussing changes in demand and trading patterns, this group of experts delves into the complexities of global gas and its international infrastructure.

    Originally presented at the AIEN 2022 International Energy Summit in London

    Andy Elliott, President, ExxonMobil LNG Market Development 
    Francisco Maza, LNG & NG Supply and Trading Director, Repsol 
    Professor Jonathan Stern, Distinguished Research Fellow, The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies 
    Dr. Andrew Walker, Vice President, LNG Strategy & Communication, Cheniere Energy 
    Moderator: Dr. Carole Nakhle, CEO, Crystol Energy

    Recent developments in Europe have led to a reassessment of the role of natural gas in both the energy transition and energy security on a global basis. Discussing changes in demand and trading patterns, this group of experts delves into the complexities of global gas and its international infrastructure.

    Andy Elliott

    President, ExxonMobil LNG Market Development

    Andrew Elliott was educated in Australia, receiving a Bachelor Degree (Hons) in Geology from the University of Melbourne in 1998.

    Andrew joined Esso Australia Pty Ltd in 1999 as a Geologist, working on a variety of drilling programs in the Gippsland Basin in Australia. In subsequent assignments he has worked on exploration and production projects in a variety of areas, including Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Asia Pacific. In 2008 he became a Planning Advisor in Houston supporting the Asia Pacific / Middle East Region for Exploration. Andrew became Geoscience Operations Technical Manager in 2011 based in Calgary in which his portfolio ranged from tight oil development, to oil sand mining operations. In 2014 Andrew became Director of Exploration in Australia with a portfolio ranging from rank wildcat drilling in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, to new opportunity generation for the Asia Pacific Region. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

    In 2018 Andrew returned to Houston as a member of the Upstream Organisation Design Team before becoming the Portfolio Manager in early 2019. In this role Andrew was responsible for managing the Upstream Portfolio and for integrating the Upstream Strategy with the Portfolio to evaluate opportunities against strategic priorities and targets. In 2021 Andrew assumed his current role of President, ExxonMobil LNG Market Development in the LNG Global Business Line. In this role, Andrew is responsible for developing and maintaining the LNG Strategy as well as growing and optimizing the global LNG portfolio.
    Andrew is married with two children, and his interests include, carpentry, reading and travel.

    Francisco Maza

    LNG & NG Supply and Trading Director, Repsol

    Francisco is a Mining Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. He has completed postgraduate studies at the Institut Français du Pétrole (Paris), Columbia University (New York) and the ETSI de Industriales (Madrid).

    He has spent most of his more than 20 years of professional career in the energy business and specifically in the natural gas and LNG sector. He has held different positions mainly in the business development and commercial areas at both Repsol and Naturgy.

    Currently, as commercial director of LNG and natural gas at Repsol, he is responsible for supplying the Group's demand in Spain and Canada, as well as for the trading and marketing activities for both natural gas in Spain and LNG internationally. His responsibilities also include the LNG operations and shipping, TPA contracting and optimization, LNG by truck marketing activities in Spain as well as the promotion and operation of LNG bunkering activities in Spain.

    Professor Jonathan Stern

    Distinguished Research Fellow, The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies

    Jonathan Stern founded the OIES Gas Research Programme in 2003 and was its Director until October 2011 when he became its Chairman and a Senior Research Fellow, he became a Distinguished Fellow in October 2016. He is honorary professor at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum & Mineral Law & Policy, University of Dundee; fellow of the Energy Delta Institute and a Distinguished Research Fellow of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (in Tokyo). 

    From 2011-16 he was the EU Speaker of the EU–Russia Gas Advisory Council. He is the author and editor of several books and many papers on gas and LNG in Russia and the Former Soviet Union, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the only major study of the pricing of internationally traded gas. 

    His most recent papers published by OIES in 2020 and 2022 are: Methane Emissions from Natural Gas and LNG Imports: an increasingly urgent issue for the future of gas in Europe; and Measurement, Reporting, and Verification of Methane Emissions from Natural Gas and LNG Trade: creating transparent and credible frameworks.

    Dr. Andrew Walker

    Vice President, LNG Strategy & Communication, Cheniere Energy

    Dr. Andrew Walker is the Vice President for LNG Strategy and Communication for Cheniere.  

    He is located in London and is responsible for the LNG Strategy and Market Outlook of Cheniere, reporting into the Chief Commercial Officer.

    Until October 2015 he was Vice President for Global LNG - and prior to that Head of LNG Strategy - at BG Group where he worked for over 20 years before joining Cheniere.  During his career in LNG, he has been located in Singapore, Egypt, the USA and UK and has worked on numerous LNG projects including Atlantic LNG in Trinidad and Tobago, Egyptian LNG, and Dragon LNG in the UK.   

    Dr. Walker has a Doctorate in Geology from Imperial College, University of London.

    Dr. Carole Nakhle (Moderator)

    CEO, Crystol Energy

    Dr Carole Nakhle is the Founder and CEO of multi-award winning Crystol Energy, an advisory, research and training company based in London. 

    With a unique breadth of experience spanning different stakeholders in the energy industry all around the world, Dr Nakhle has worked with major energy companies (Eni and Statoil) at the executive level, governments and policy makers (including Special Parliamentary Advisor in the UK), international organisations (Commonwealth Secretariat, IMF, UN and World Bank), academic institutions and specialized think tanks on a global scale.

    She is active on the Governing Board of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), and Advisory Boards of the Middle East Institute and Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines. She is a program advisor to the Washington based International Tax and Investment Centre and lead Energy Expert with the Geopolitical Intelligence Services. She is also involved in the OECD Policy Dialogue on Natural Resource-based Development and has contributed to the development of the organization’s Principles for Durable Extractive Contracts. 

    Dr Nakhle has lectured at leading academic institutions including: the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, University of Surrey in the UK, the Graduate Institute in Switzerland, European University Institute in Italy, Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, the National Defense University in the USA and NATO Strategic Direction South Hub in Naples.

    She founded the not-for-profit organisation ‘Access for Women in Energy’ in 2007, with the aim of supporting the development of women in the energy sector. She has also championed the development of similar initiatives in Ghana, Tunisia and the UAE, where she sits on ADIPEC’s Advisory Board for Inclusion and Diversity. 

    Her views on energy matters are highly regarded, with numerous articles in academic journals, newspapers and magazines to her credit. Dr Nakhle is an avid commentator on energy and geopolitics in the international media and major conferences and industry gatherings, in many countries. She has published two widely acclaimed books: Petroleum Taxation: Sharing the Wealth and Out of the Energy Labyrinth (co-authored with Lord David Howell, former Secretary of State for Energy in the UK). 

    In 2021, she was selected CEO of the Year 2021 in the UK by CEO Monthly Magazine. She was also awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Energy Institute and has featured on the Energy Council’s list of Top Female Executives in the global energy industry. In 2017, she received the Honorary Professional Recognition Award from the Tunisian Minister of Energy, Mines & Renewable Energy.

  • Recorded On: 09/28/2022

    Our panelists discuss their views on their role and the shifting nature of our international energy industry.

    Originally presented at the AIEN 2022 International Energy Summit in London

    Razman Hashim, SVP & Group General Counsel, PETRONAS
    Nicola MacLeod, General Counsel & Director of Business Services, Spirit Energy
    Ikponmwosa Omigie Esq., General Manager Legal Division, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NNPC
    Leonardo Sempertegui, General Legal Counsel, OPEC
    Mike Williams, Regional General Counsel, Eurasia Pacific, Chevron
    Moderator: Michael Polkinghorne, Partner, White & Case

    Providing legal advice to senior business decision-makers is not always about the law. In opaque regulatory environments with the advent of new technologies, market creation, and concerns about the energy transition, being a trusted legal advisor requires a broad skill set. Our panelists discuss their views on their role and the shifting nature of our international energy industry.

    Razman Hashim

    SVP & Group General Counsel, PETRONAS

    Razman Hashim is currently the Senior Vice President & Group General Counsel of Group Legal, PETRONAS.

    He holds a Bachelor of Laws in Law and Shariah from International Islamic University of Malaysia and is a licensed Company Secretary.

    Razman joined PETRONAS after being called to the Malaysian Bar in 1998 and has since served various functions within PETRONAS. He started in Legal Finance where he was involved in financing of projects followed by a few international postings for Sudan and Iraq operations. He was also the Head, Legal Upstream International, Group Legal in charge of legal affairs of PETRONAS international upstream business until 2017.

    Prior to assuming his current position, he served as Senior General Counsel, Legal Upstream from 2017 where he was responsible for the entire legal services for PETRONAS upstream business, both in Malaysia and globally.

    He was appointed as the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, Group Legal on 1 July 2021.

    Nicola MacLeod

    General Counsel & Director of Business Services, Spirit Energy

    Nicola is General Counsel and Director of Business Services for Spirit Energy, with responsibility for the Legal, Compliance, Commercial and Hydrocarbon Trading activities, as well as Business Services including HR, IS and External Affairs.  Nicola joined Spirit Energy in 2018 from Maersk Oil where she was Director, Legal, Commercial and External Affairs working on both UKCS and International assignments. Prior to the acquisition of Maersk Oil by Total Energies, Nicola was leading the team preparing for Maersk Oil’s independence from the APMM Group and went on to lead the merger and integration of Total and Maersk in the UK. 

    Nicola has an MA in Politics, Law degree and Master of Commercial Laws. She is an experienced Energy General Counsel and recognized as a global female influencer by the Energy Council.

    Ikponmwosa Omigie Esq.

    General Manager Legal Division, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NNPC

    Mr. Omigie is a lawyer and oil and gas professional with over thirty years in the oil industry, eight of which have been as a General Manager in the Legal Division. 

    During that period, he has been involved in major oil and gas projects within NNPC, in legal and commercial roles including Usan Deep Water Project in OML 138, OML 11 and OML 13 Financial and Technical Services Agreement, to mention a few. He also played a key role in developing the 2005 Model Production Sharing Contracts. 

    His experience in NNPC cuts across various Business Units and Corporate Services Units where he carried out roles in Law Research, Company Secretarial Practice and led Divisions in charge of Litigation and Property matters, Corporate Law matters as well as management of Federal Government of Nigeria assets in the Upstream Sector of the industry. Importantly he led the in-house litigation team that saved NNPC over $150 million in the IPCO Arbitration matters for which the team received management commendation.

    He was a member of industry wide committee for drafting of the original Guidelines for the Unitization and Joint Development of Straddling and Non-Straddling Reservoirs in Nigeria. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986.

    Leonardo Sempertegui

    General Legal Counsel, OPEC

    Ecuadorian attorney with 19 years of experience in energy and extractive industries sector. Master of Laws by the University of Texas at Austin, where he attended with the support of a Fulbright scholarship. He has worked with a variety of clients including governments, IOCs and other international corporations, international organizations, academia and NGOs in administrative law, energy law and infrastructure law deals and international litigation. Adjunct professor at the Georgetown Law Center in Washington D.C. (The law and policy of the energy transition). Regional experience in Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Currently, he is pursuing an MBA in the University of Oxford. 

    As General Legal Counsel of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 2018, Mr. Sempertegui leads the efforts of the organization to support its member countries in energy related policy and legal areas. Given the importance of the energy transition for resource-rich countries, the OPEC Legal Office has focused its work in sharing information, generating knowledge and providing professional support in this topic to member countries and oil producing countries in general. His work includes the creation of partnerships with relevant stakeholders to increase the success of the implementation of a fair, sustainable energy transition, which includes tackling issues such as economic diversification, energy access and energy poverty.

    Mike Williams

    Regional General Counsel, Eurasia Pacific, Chevron

    Mike Williams is currently the General Counsel for Chevron Eurasia Pacific Limited based in London.  Prior to coming to Chevron in 2002, Mike worked in various roles and capacities for  TotalFinaElf (1998 - 2002), Subsea Offshore Ltd (1997 - 1998), Lasmo Plc (1990 - 1997), Kerr-McGee (1989 - 1990) and Occidental Petroleum Corporation (1988 - 1989).

    Mike graduated from University of West of England in 1987 with his Bachelor of Law.  He then attended the Inns of Court School of Law, UK and received his Degree of Barrister in 1988.  Mike received his MA, International Comparative Business Law from the London Guildhall University, UK in 1995.

    Michael Polkinghorne (Moderator)

    Partner, White & Case

    Michael Polkinghorne is a civil and common law qualified lawyer, head of the arbitration group at White & Case LLP in Paris and joint-head of the firm's oil and gas practice. He has during his career lived in Australia, England, Vietnam, Thailand and France.

    He has served as counsel and arbitrator in disputes arising in over a dozen countries, notably in the oil & gas sector. He also advises clients in energy and infrastructure development transactions. He has advised and represented petroleum clients on multiple price reopener disputes (gas and renewables), gas supply storage and transit, oil field acquisitions and PSAs. Michael is admitted to practice in Australia, England and France. 

    Michael is a member of the AIEN, the IBA/LPD Task Force for the UNIDROIT Principles 2016, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb), the IAI (International Arbitration Institute), the ICC Commission on Arbitration, and the Council of the ICC Institute of World Business Law. Michael is also a member of the Legal Advisory Task Force of the European Energy Charter Secretariat that recently wrote the "Handbook on General Clauses Applicable to Investment Agreements in the Energy Sector" (Energy Charter Secretariat, 2017).  Michael is also the Editor of the ICC Institute Newsletter – Institute of World Business Law (ICC), and an Assistant Editor of Les Cahiers de l'Arbitrage—The Paris Journal of International Arbitration.

    Michael has written extensively on energy dispute resolution and foreign investment, and provides courses on long-term energy contracts and dispute resolution. He is also the author of the Paris Energy Series, a legal periodical which has covered a plethora of oil and gas related topics. He was also co-author of "Price Re-Openers In Long-Term Gas Supply Agreements" (Juris, August 2015).