Oil and gas

The oil and gas industry is strategically important for Oman’s national economy. Consequently, upstream and downstream operations form a major focus of our firm. We have extensive experience working with the companies in this sector and within the wider oil and gas industry. By combining our knowledge of local markets and familiarity with international best practice, we will bring you practical and commercial solutions.

Our firm has played a significant role in the evolution of the Oman’s energy industry from its earliest days. SASLO’ oil and gas practice offers a full range of legal and business services backed by almost 30 years of experience handling oil and gas matters, including upstream, midstream and downstream, and including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, unitizations, project design, development and operations, financings, investments, environmental and regulatory matters, litigation, arbitration, intellectual property matters and tax structuring.

SASLO’s major clients include all major local and international oil and gas companies in Oman, many of which are our retained client. We have advised them on versatile corporate matters in addition to significant litigation.

During the last 12 months, we have advised on six separate farm-ins to Oman's exploration blocks, of which three have already completed. One of these transactions involved a significant re-negotiation of an EPSA with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

We have also closed six M&A transactions in the oil and gas services sector in the last 12 months.

We routinely assist in the negotiation and settlement of EPSAs, amendments to EPSAs, farm-in agreements, asset purchase agreements, assignment and novation agreements, joint operating agreements (including waivers of pre-emption rights thereunder), novations to joint operating agreements, and all other ancillary agreements and documents necessary to implement transactions in relation to new and existing EPSAs. We routinely act as both sole counsel and local counsel on farm-in transactions. For those transactions on which we have acted as local counsel, our involvement varies significantly depending on the requirements and expectations of international counsel.

We have excellent relationships with regulators and ministries in Oman, including the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. We are, therefore, ideally placed to advise on regulatory compliance, regulatory conditions precedent to closing, and regulatory closing requirements.