Such expertise enables us to offer bespoke services to super-major and junior oil, gas and mining companies, to financial institutions, investors and to governments.

Our clients require our assistance in structuring, securing and executing acquisitions and sales, and in managing oil, gas and mining assets (negotiating and drafting production-sharing contracts, mining agreements, obtaining mining rights, institutional reforms, tax aspects, legal audit). Our arbitration specialists also act in mining and oil disputes.  

Experience includes:

• TiZir Limited, Senegal: advising Eramet on the creation of a joint venture with MDL for operating an ilmenite mining concession (520 million dollars)
   
• Modernisation of the mining sector, Guinea: advising, with three other international firms, the Comité de Revue des Titres et Conventions Miniers on implementing the mining sector’s modernisation programme
   
• African Petroleum Producers’ Association, Africa: advising the APPA on conducting a comparative study of the regimes applicable to hydrocarbons and drafting a model contract for the sharing of production applicable to the 16 member states
   
• Mayoko Mines, Congo: Advising Exxaro (South Africa) on the operation of an ore mine, the construction of a railway line and a deep-water port
   
• Total E&P, Cameroon: advising Total E&P in relation to the sale of Total E&P Cameroon
   
• Nickel, New Caledonia: advising the CCF on the bank financing of 63.5 billion/million euro secured against lease-back for the construction of a nickel-processing electric furnace for Eramet (SLN)
   
• Oil concessions, France: advising Total E&P on the sale of several oil concessions in France to junior companies
   
• ICC arbitration, Côte d’Ivoire: advising a mining company as part of an arbitration procedure for unfair withdrawal of a manganese prospecting permit

Gide Loyrette Nouel’s energy and environmental protection group frequently advises operators of public and critical infrastructure, as well as state-owned companies from the energy, oil and gas, mining, and chemistry sectors, on energy-related infrastructure developments. It is also adept at obtaining financing for pipelines, sea and air terminals, power plants, and mining projects. The team is led by Piotr Sadownik, who is skilled in representing clients before arbitration courts, common courts, and administrative bodies. Krzysztof Ciepliński was elevated to the partnership in July 2022, and is also active in a number of the team’s litigation mandates.

Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Poland - Energy & Natural Resources

Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP has an international practice with a leading presence in African markets through offices in Paris, Istanbul and Shanghai. The energy team assists clients on issues such as emissions credits trading, corporate PPAs, PV projects off-grid power arrangements. Colin Graham leads the practice with experience in corporate and commercial projects while Matteo Matteucci advises financial investors and governments on cross-border mandates.

Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - England - Projects / Energy & Natural Resources : Power (Including Electricity / Nuclear & Renewables)

The ‘very competent, responsive, knowledgeable and helpful’ Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP has a strong track record in transactional work in Africa and is also known in the market for its disputes expertise. Colin Graham heads the team and is a name to note for corporate and commercial projects work.

Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - England - Projects / Energy & Natural Resources : Oil & Gas

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. features a team noted for its value chain coverage, acting primarily for French companies and Chinese stakeholders on inbound China-based investments and investments relating to Francophone African countries, respectively. Leadership of the team is divided between David Boitout and Fan Jiannian, both based in Shanghai, and Guo Min, who works out of the Beijing office and has her roots in tax law, a practice focus which presently manifests into her advising clients on tax issues arising from transactions in the sector. Beijing-based counsel Xi Chen is another key figure at the firm, noted for inbound and outbound work focused on acquisitions and greenfield projects.

Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - China - Projects & Energy : Foreign Firms

Gide Loyrette Nouel is a strong French law firm with an enviable presence in francophone Africa. An established name in the representation of state-owned companies, the group is sought after for its representation of international financial institutions (IFIs), private sponsors and developers in energy projects and infrastructure developments concerning ports and municipal services. It is regularly instructed on high-profile renewable energy projects, including wind and hydroelectric power matters. The Paris-based team is equally highly adept in oil and gas projects and transactions, and demonstrates notable ability in advising Asian clients on Africa-bound investments. Its lawyers also adeptly handle instructions from national governments.

Chambers Global 2023 - Africa-Wide - Projects & Energy

Gide Loyrette Nouel's well-regarded department has strong domestic and global activity, with a particular presence in Africa. The team represents states, corporates and lenders. The lawyers are regularly appointed on projects in a variety of sectors including natural resources, transport infrastructure and renewable energy. The team's expertise includes PPPs and project financing, with additional experience in contractual and M&A matters. The law firm leverages significant public law expertise to assist clients with domestic matters.

Chambers Europe & Global 2023

Elite French firm Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP’s London power and renewable energy practice has been strengthened with the arrival of new practice head Colin Graham from Watson Farley & Williams LLP. The team specialises in international gas and LNG sector work, and is able to leverage its European footprint to handle cross-border transactional work and large acquisitions. Associate Vanessa Fullerton advises on commercial project development work.

Legal 500 London 2022 - Power & Renewable Energy

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. possède d'excellentes expertises et ressources qui lui permettent de traiter un vaste éventail de problématiques : grands projets, aspects réglementaires et de droit public, opérations de fusions-acquisitions. Le cabinet est régulièrement impliqué dans les dossiers touchant aux filières des énergies renouvelables, de l’hydroélectricité et du nucléaire. Grâce à  Michel Guénaire , le cabinet présente une expertise réglementaire de pointe, à laquelle font appel les principaux producteurs énergétiques français. L'équipe traite notamment des dossiers devant le régulateur (la CRE). Le cabinet s’illustre aussi par son activité de premier plan dans le domaine des projets. L'équipe intervient dans de grands projets énergétiques en France, en Europe et en Afrique auprès de grands producteurs, notamment dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables. Elle gère aussi des opérations stratégiques portant sur des infrastructures de biomasse ou d’énergies renouvelables. L’aspect international de l’activité du cabinet est enfin souligné par son implication dans plusieurs projets de parcs éoliens offshore en Chine. Enfin, le cabinet traite également d'importants dossiers dans le secteur pétrolier et gazier. Les associés experts dans le domaine des grands projets  Stéphane Vernay, John Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, Nicolas Jean et Victor Grandguillaume sont recommandés. Le spécialiste des opérations de fusions-acquisitions Alexis Pailleret contribue également.

Legal 500 Paris 2022

Gide Loyrette Nouel‘s team consists of former external advisors and in-house counsel advising Polish operators of public and critical infrastructure, ordering parties and contractors in addition to state-owned companies from the energy, oil and gas, mining and chemistry sectors. The team is proficient in assisting throughout major projects, as well as representing clients in proceedings before the Polish National Appeals Chamber. The department is led by Piotr Sadownik who possesses a track record in both arbitration and litigation.

Legal 500 EMEA - Poland

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. can do it all thanks to its large resources and high-level expertise in regulatory, projects and M&A work. In France, the team is one of the go-to-practices for leading operators concerning strategic regulatory issues, including related litigation, thanks to Michel Guénaire. Increasingly, the group is visible as adviser on large M&A transactions and small to large French renewables projects, including new types of biomass projects and large offshore projects. The international practice is also highly impressive and includes acting for EDF on the development of several nuclear EPR projects in Europe and in Asia. In Africa, team regularly assists governments, multilateral institutions and sponsors with large hydropower projects, as well as with numerous solar projects. Project experts Stéphane Vernay, John Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, Nicolas Jean and Victor Grandguillaume are all excellent. M&A specialists Alexis Pailleret and Anne Tolila  and public law expert Bénédicte Mazel  are strong references in their respective fields and complete the lead group.

Legal 500 EMEA 2022

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. has excellent capabilities and is able to deal with all types of work including project, public law, regulatory and M&A matters. The big team is regularly involved in renewables, hydroelectric and nuclear related- matters. Through Michel Guénaire the practice has state-of-the-art regulatory expertise that is sought after by leading French energy producers. The team is notably handling several files before the energy regulator (CRE). The project practice is also top notch, with the team regularly handling major greenfield and brownfield French, European and African energy project work, including on renewables, acting for leading energy producers. Strategic biomass and renewables brownfield transactions are also visible in the caseload. The practice’s strong international reach is further demonstrated by its work on several offshore wind farms in China. Finally, the practice also handles major oil and gas work. Project partners Stéphane Vernay, John Crothers, Marie Bouvet-Guiramand, Nicolas Jean and Victor Grandguillaume are the key contributors. M&A partner Alexis Pailleret is another name to note.

Legal 500 EMEA 2021