Exceptional Track Record in Advising National Oil Companies and Sovereign Clients
Curtis is notable for its longstanding focus on the particular needs of sovereign clients, including governments, their ministries and national oil companies (NOCs) throughout the world. The firm has played a leading role in the design, financing and implementation of oil and gas infrastructure projects of national and strategic importance to clients across Central Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, often integrating analysis from experts in various fields.
Strategic Advice on Oil & Gas Policy
The Curtis team has an outstanding track record of advising sovereign clients on oil & gas policy matters, including the drafting and implementation of oil and gas sector legislation and the structuring of bidding processes for strategic oil and gas industry projects. Our clients have also benefited from the team’s high profile successes in negotiating and renegotiating production sharing agreements and other contractual arrangements with international oil companies, ensuring that our sovereign clients and their citizens receive a fair share of revenues from their resources.
We also advise sovereign clients on energy and tax policies, their participation in international treaties and the effect of treaty obligations on the oil & gas sector, the acquisition of oil & gas interests and the resolution of disputes.
Review of Oil & Gas Agreements and Legislation
In reviewing all agreements and legislation related to the oil and gas industry, Curtis provides clients with current best practice, including the latest trends in the development of model contracts and commercial agreements. Our clients benefit from our detailed knowledge of contract law and also from the decades of practical experience we bring to dealing with disputes arising under oil and gas contracts.
Curtis can review and revise any aspect of proposed or existing oil and gas legislation, including oil and gas permits, licenses, contracts and production sharing agreements, taxation provisions, domestic crude allocations, offshore processing agreements, pipelines and supply and marketing arrangements. The firm has extensive experience advising governments and NOCs on domestic oil and gas legislation and the development and oversight of upstream contracts. Our vast international arbitration experience enables us to advise on many disputes which turn on the precise wording and interpretation of legislative or contractual provisions and adds an additional dimension to our offering to clients.
Comprehensive Range of Commercial Services
Curtis advises on virtually every aspect of the oil and gas industry, including projects and construction, tender processes, financing and capital markets, refinery and facilities upgrades, pipelines, drilling contracts and oilfield services, supply and off-take agreements, acquisitions and divestitures of oil industry assets, debt and industry restructurings, LNG vessels and finance, environmental issues, tax issues, and technology and IP matters. Curtis also advises our sovereign clients on the full range of public international law issues, from treaty drafting to day-to-day advice.
We give governments the background, analysis and information they require to fully appreciate how international law affects the state’s legal position. This enables the government to formulate its decision-making, policies and actions accordingly. The oil and gas group works hand-in-hand with a number of the firm’s other industry groups to provide clients with a completely seamless service.
