I am a multi-discipline corporate, commercial, projects (including financing), compliance, and oil and gas lawyer and I strive to be a trusted partner, guardian and team member to the organisation, management team and board of directors for legal and compliance support. My role is head of legal at Oman LNG LLC, thus leading, managing and developing an effective legal team to cater for the needs of the company.
Our challenges are including, but not limited to:
- the implementation of robust compliance procedures to ensure that we are dealing and transacting with third parties who do not pose risk to Oman LNG and our stakeholders from a sanctions, bribery and corruption perspective;
- adherence to the latest business practices and ISO standards, including ISO 45001;
- keeping abreast of and complying with international laws and regulatory frameworks applicable to our international transactions, including retaining international legal counsel who have branches or offices within the jurisdictions where our trading partners conduct business, including anti-competition regulations;
- the legal department being an integral part of the decision-making process.
Leading, managing and developing a small but effective legal team necessitates interacting and collaborating with external counsel, especially in matters of complex international finance transactions, multi-package plant construction projects, international acquisitions and mergers, and complex litigation and international arbitrations. External counsel also serve as the first port of call in relation to any legal and regulatory changes impacting the industry or jurisdictions where the company’s business is conducted, such counsel being local and international, depending on the needs.
Having been a practising attorney, notary and conveyancer for two decades prior to moving in-house has been very beneficial in my in-house roles, and is reflected in my relationship with and how I interact with various external legal counsel.
Having worked in South Africa previously, the essential difference, from a legal practice perspective, is that South Africa is a common law jurisdiction whilst Oman is a civil law jurisdiction. In addition, there is no doctrine of judicial precedent in Oman. Agreements concluded between Omani and international entities are thus governed by, predominantly, English law with dispute resolution by arbitration, usually to be held in London, Paris or Singapore.
Situated outside the Persian Gulf, Muscat is a business- and family-oriented city, with associated amenities. The Sultanate is home to diverse environments and topography, namely mountains, valleys, deserts and coasts, and flora and fauna unique to the Arabian Peninsula. The diversity and uniqueness of these environments are important with respect to sustainable growth and development, and they attract visitors, tourists, working professionals and families alike. Oman is often referred to as the Switzerland of the Middle East due to the fostering of neighbourly and peaceful relations. n