Simon Fraser

• Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company K.S.C.C. on its acquisition of a 20% interest in the BM-S-54 and Sul de Gato do Mato deepwater oil and gas blocks from Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda.
• Virtus Minerals on its acquisition of copper and cobalt miner CHEMAF SA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and associated joint venture arrangements with Lloyds Metals Group.
• Dow on the US$ 125 million sale of its 50% ownership in its DowAksa joint venture, a manufacturer of carbon fire and carbon fibre composites, to Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.S. (Aksa), with primary operations in Turkey.
• ACWA Power on its US$ 693 million acquisition of ownership interests in power generation, water desalination and associated O&M companies in Kuwait and Bahrain from Engie SA.
• Enersol, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based ADNOC Drilling Company PJSC and Alpha Dhabi Holding PJSC, on its US$ 225 million acquisition of a 95% equity stake in Deep Well Services (DWS), a leader in lateral drilling through advanced technologies and services within the energy sector in the US.
• Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) on the acquisition of a majority stake in Spectro Alloys Corporation, a leading secondary foundry alloy producer in the United States.
• ADNOC on its acquisition of a 35% interest in the major new low-carbon hydrogen and (blue) ammonia project under development by ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions at its Baytown refinery and petrochemicals complex in Texas.

Prior to joining the firm, Simon advised:

• ADNOC on all aspects of the reorganisation and consolidation of its gas businesses and establishment of ADNOC Gas, one of the largest gas companies in the world (now listed, value around $70bn) – IJInvestor Awards 2023 “Oil & Gas Acquisition of the Year.”
• Major regional investor on all aspects of its bids to acquire (and ultimately its acquisition as a consortium member of) interests in each of (i) Saudi Aramco’s gas pipeline system within KSA (overall transaction value exceeding $15.5bn), and (ii) Saudi Aramco’s crude pipeline system within KSA (overall transaction value exceeding $12.4bn).
• Sojitz on all aspects of the acquisition of a substantial interest in the Mirfa IWPP project in Abu Dhabi from Shuaa Capital, one of the first sales of an Abu Dhabi IWPP interest.
• Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. on all aspects of its acquisition of significant interest in SKC’s chemicals business in Korea, and the creation of the successful SKpicglobal joint venture (value approx $1.2bn).
• ADES Investments on all aspects of the $516m takeover of the DIFC domiciled and London listed ADES International by a consortium entity jointly owned by ADES Investments, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and Tamil Investments.
• ADNOC on the acquisition of a substantial interest in Masdar, which included a global portfolio of utility scale clean energy projects and investments, involving more than 40 assets in more than 20 jurisdictions.
• Geltec on all aspects of the sale of its pharmaceutical manufacturing business located in the UAE to Yas Holding.
• ADNOC on all aspects of the strategic buy-out of a joint venture partner in one of its gas business operating companies.
• Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. on all aspects of its joint venture with Pembina Pipeline Corporation for the development of an integrated propane dehydrogenation plant and polypropylene upgrading facility in Canada (value exceeding CA$4bn).
• ADNOC on the sale of an interest in its gas pipeline infrastructure in the UAE to a consortium of international investors.
• Venice Energy on all aspects of the development of an LNG receiving terminal in South Australia, including investments into the project, FSRU procurement, land acquisition, and use and off-take arrangements.
• BHP on all aspects of the massive open pit expansion project for the Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia (one of the largest underground mines in the world), including State agreement negotiations with the State Government, major approvals processes, and development of various related power, water, transport and social infrastructure.
• MMG on all aspects of the sale of the Century Mine in Australia.
• Santos on the sale process for Santos’ Victorian assets, culminating in the sale of its interest in the Kipper gas field to Mitsui E&P Australia.
• BHP in relation to the arrangements relating to BHP Billiton’s exit from the Ok Tedi mine project in PNG, including applicable State agreements.
• NBN Co in relation to the renegotiation of arrangements with Telstra relating to the rollout of the NBN in Australia.

Simon Fraser is a senior corporate partner based in our Abu Dhabi office, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate structuring for major projects and strategic investments. He has practiced in the USA, London, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, and has more than 25 years’ experience structuring and executing complex cross-border transactions and projects for market leading clients around the world.

Simon represents sovereigns, corporate clients, family offices and investment banks on international and regional transactions and projects across a wide range of industries, with a particular focus in energy and resources (including renewables and petrochemicals), infrastructure, telecommunications, manufacturing and technology. He is recognised as a leading individual in major directories, including Legal 500 (“Hall of Fame”), Chambers and Partners and IFLR1000.

A commercial outcomes focused lawyer, Simon has extensive experience managing major complex international transactions and projects for clients, and also negotiating agreements with governments. Simon has held a senior commercial role with a large international power company in the United States, and has been seconded to BHP as general counsel for a business unit and member of the executive committee for the business.

Simon is ranked in the “Hall of Fame” by Legal 500 for Oil, Gas and Natural Resources transactions, and referred to as “very capable and highly experienced across all aspects of the sector”, and commended for being “very user-friendly, flexible and responsive to client requirements”, while also being “a pleasure to work with”, and “a key name of note.”  He is included as a leading individual by Chambers and Partners for Corporate/M&A (Abu Dhabi-based), Corporate/M&A (Kuwait) and Projects & Energy (Kuwait), and by IFLR1000 for M&A.  He has previously been recognised by Best Lawyers as a leading lawyer in Energy Law, Mining Law and Natural Resources Law in Australia, and Melbourne Mining Law “Lawyer of the Year” 2016.  He is considered “a seasoned lawyer on sales and acquisitions, particularly when it comes to representing clients in the energy and oil and gas sectors”, noted as having “a very calm approach”, and “good at managing a large team and bringing forward a focal point”, while being “highly experienced in oil and gas matters.”