James’ practice focuses on advising companies in the Energy and Infrastructure sector with their international energy investments.
Widely recognised as a leading energy lawyer, James advises clients on transactions in Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and North America. He has extensive experience advising on the structuring and development of large-scale oil and gas projects, LNG sale arrangements, and energy-related mergers and acquisitions. James also supports clients at the forefront of the energy transition, advising on the structuring of liquid hydrogen and green ammonia projects and product sale arrangements.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Supporting a project developer on the development of a planned floating LNG export project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, comprised of three floating liquefaction and export vessels, including negotiation of long-term LNG sales and equity arrangements.
Advised a European energy company on a mid-term DES portfolio sale agreement with an international energy company for supply into the European Union market, which involved extensive analysis of the implications of the EU Methane Regulation.
Advising Asian energy companies on long-term LNG purchase arrangements from various Second Wave U.S. LNG Projects.
Liquefied Natural Gas
Supporting a project developer on the development of a planned floating LNG export project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, comprised of three floating liquefaction and export vessels, including negotiation of long-term LNG sales and equity arrangements.
Advised a European energy company on a mid-term DES portfolio sale agreement with an international energy company for supply into the European Union market, which involved extensive analysis of the implications of the EU Methane Regulation.
Advising Asian energy companies on long-term LNG purchase arrangements from various Second Wave U.S. LNG Projects.
Represented an Asian energy company on the negotiation of all aspects of their participation in an operational LNG export facility in the United States, including gas supply and transportation, equity participation, tolling capacity, and LNG sale arrangements.
Advised an Asian utility company on a long-term LNG supply agreement with a European energy company.
Advised an international energy company on a long-term DES sale to a European industrial customer in the Baltics.
Advising a Greek energy company on the development of an LNG trading portfolio.
Advised an Asian energy company on the establishment of an LNG trading desk in London.
Advised an Asian energy company on a long-term LNG offtake agreement for the Ruwais LNG Project.
Advising an international energy trader on the long-term DES supply of LNG to a major Asian energy company.
Acting for an international energy company on the negotiation of a long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement for LNG to be produced from the Qatar North Field East Project.
Assisted a trading company with the negotiation of multiple LNG sale and purchase agreements across Europe for LNG delivery to LNG trucks.
Acted for an international trading company on the negotiation of a long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement for LNG offtake from the planned Arctic LNG 2 Project.
Represented an Asian utility company on the negotiation of various LNG trades in the Atlantic Basin and Pacific Basin.
Advised a European energy company on a location swap LNG transaction.
Represented a project developer on the divestment of their equity interest in a greenfield LNG project being developed in North America.
Acted for an energy trading company on the acquisition of the LNG trading business of an Asian energy company.
Represented an Asian utility company on a planned equity investment in, and LNG off-take from, a liquefaction plant being developed in Mexico.
Advised an Asian energy company on a proposed tolling arrangement at the Jordan Cove LNG Project.
Assisted an Indian energy company on the procurement of LNG for a floating regasification plant in India.
Represented a Japanese trading company in connection with the off-take and on-sale of LNG from a proposed liquefaction project in West Africa.
Represented an independent energy company on the negotiation of LNG sales arrangements from the Wheatstone LNG Project in Australia.
Represented a project company with respect to the conduct of its marketing and LNG sales arrangements for the development of an LNG project in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.
Represented a project company with respect to the negotiation and drafting of multiple long-term time-charter parties for the proposed delivery of LNG from an Australian Greenfield project on a DES basis.
Represented an importer of LNG into a Middle Eastern country that utilizes floating storage and onboard regasification.
Energy Transition
Acting for a leading European energy company on the negotiation of a green ammonia off-take agreement for supply from a proposed multi-phase green hydrogen and ammonia production and export facility to be developed in North America.
Representing a project developer on a planned liquid hydrogen export project to be developed in Europe. It is a “first-of-its-kind” energy transition deal, sourcing green energy from offshore wind which will be used to produce hydrogen, which will then be liquefied and exported to end-customers in the transportation sector in North-West Europe.
Acted for a leading European energy company on the negotiation of a long-term green ammonia off-take agreement for supply from a planned green ammonia production and export facility being developed in India.
Upstream - Oil & Gas
Represented the operator on the restart of oil production at a block in the Republic of Yemen, including the drafting and negotiation of oil transportation and marketing documentation for an alternative export route.
Acted for an AIM listed company on the proposed acquisition of interests in two off-shore licence areas in Angola.
Advised an independent energy company on the planned divestment of an interest in off-shore acreage in Nigeria.
Advised a client on a unique security arrangement for the supply of line-pipe for gas production wells, secured against future gas production.
Assisted a Japanese trading company in relation to the acquisition of an interest in the West Qurna 1 oil project in Federal Iraq and ongoing asset related matters.
Represented a Japanese trading company on the negotiation of the license and joint operating arrangements for the development of a gas field in Southern Africa.
Represented an international oil and gas company on the acquisition of a company with an indirect interest in two oil and gas fields in Kazakhstan.
Represented an international oil and gas company on the proposed farm-in to various production sharing interests in off-shore India.
Represented BG International Limited during negotiations of the exploration and production sharing agreement executed with the Government of the Sultanate of Oman for Block 60 onshore.
Represented an international oil and gas company on the proposed farm-in to certain Blocks in off-shore Equatorial Guinea.
Represented an Indian energy company on the proposed Ras Issa refinery project in Yemen.
Pipelines
Represented an international oil company on various issues in relation to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium Project.
Represented a member of the EPC contractor consortium responsible for the procurement and supply of line pipe for a pipeline through the Black Sea.
Represented a U.S. energy company on regulatory issues arising from a proposed open access pipeline linking the Norwegian Continental Shelf to the Bacton Terminal.
Nuclear & Mining
Represented a Japanese trading company on the proposed assignment of various joint venture arrangements over uranium mining interests in Canada.
Represented a Japanese trading company on the restructuring of the financing of a chrome mining project in South Africa.
Represented a Japanese trading company on uranium trading arrangements.
Represented a Japanese trading company on the recovery of a debt owing from a copper-producing project in Mongolia.
Recognitions
Ranked by IFLR1000 as Highly Regarded for Energy and Infrastructure; Project Development; and M&A (oil and gas) in the UK, 2025
Ranked in Chambers UK for UK-wide Commodities: Derivatives & Energy Trading, 2022-2026, and for UK-wide Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, 2024-2026
Ranked in Chambers Global for UK Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, 2024-2025
Credentials
Education
Education
- University of Bristol, 1996, Bachelor of Laws, First Class Honours
Court admissions
Court admissions
- England and Wales
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- Law Society of England and Wales
- Association of International Petroleum Negotiators; previously served on the Board of Directors
News
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Insights
Insights
Oxford Academic
EU Methane Regulation and its impact on LNG imports
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