Middle East
Vinson & Elkins has represented clients in the Middle East and North Africa for more than 30 years. Our lawyers bring extensive knowledge and a deep understanding of specific country-by-country considerations and regional variations, so that each client is able to navigate the complexities and customs of doing business in the region.
Vinson & Elkins’ office in the region is located in Dubai and includes internationally qualified lawyers who advise clients on complex regional matters from Morocco to the UAE.
Our team has particular experience advising clients on transactions and international dispute resolution matters across the energy sector, with a focus on all facets of oil and gas exploration, production, transportation, and processing.
Additionally, we regularly advise clients who operate in the construction and engineering, infrastructure, power, mining, telecommunications, and health care sectors, on mergers and acquisitions, project finance, capital markets and securities, arbitration, and litigation.
Our lawyers bring deep understanding of Middle Eastern business, legal and regulatory systems and a long history of advising local, regional and international clients doing business inside and outside of the region.
Experience Highlights
The Republic of Iraq Ministry of Oil in connection with the $17 billion Basrah Gas Project to capture the large volume of natural gas currently being flared in oil fields in Iraq’s southern region and process it for both domestic power generation and LNG export; the project involves a 25-year development joint venture agreement with Royal Dutch Shell plc and Mitsubishi
The Republic of Iraq Ministry of Oil on a multibillion dollar development of the 1,000-kilometer Iraq-Jordan Export Pipeline Project, which will be developed on a BOOT basis. Our advice includes leading the negotiation of the Intergovernmental agreement, the BOOT contract, crude and gas offtake agreements, and project finance bankability considerations
Oman Oil Company in the $2.4 billion acquisition of the Oxea Group, the world’s largest supplier of Oxo chemical products, from Advent International
The developer of an aluminum smelter in relation to the negotiation of a long-term agreement for the supply of natural gas from Sonatrach in Algeria
A subsidiary of a Middle Eastern national oil company on a series of transactions spanning the acquisition or newbuild construction of multiple jack-up drilling rigs and fast-moving desert rigs for a combined consideration of $1.4 billion
ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. on the signed acquisition of 100% of the shares of TEPKRI Sarsang A/S, the holder of an 18% participating interest in the Sarsang Block located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, from TotalEnergies for a potential total value of $170 million
A Saudi citizen and prominent international investor in international arbitration against a foreign government for mistreatment, unlawful takeover and mistrial as well as representing him locally before the Bureau for Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Interior and its department (e.g. the Saudi Interpol) and the Criminal Court
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- March 5, 2025