About

Vienna Stock Exchange listed OMV of Austria is an oil and gas entity with concerns in both upstream and downstream businesses, and whose operations have enabled it to post a revenue figure of €853m in 2017. Julia Friebel is the general counsel and team leader of the legal department, and leads support to OMV group with regards to all legal affairs, corporate governance and legal advisory. The team is known for its broad legal, commercial and finance experience in the legal practice areas relevant to the oil and gas industry, and is well-versed in the challenges that appear within the often volatile and highly regulated sector. It is also involved in the overall management of the company focusing on strategic decisions and acquisitions, as well as specialising in negotiation of extract and production agreements, government contracts, joint-operation and other partnership agreements. It has a deep understanding of petroleum regimes and processes and is top of the industry for concluding major deals such as a 2016 deal with Gazprom and previous deals over North Sea oil fields. OMV achieved group sales of €20bn in the North Sea, Middle East and Africa and Russia some of its core regions with gas pipelines in Austria and across the region. The department is staffed with a number of Vienna-based counsel including senior lawyers that specialise in M&A, which is a crucial component of the team’s output considering OMV’s size, and the way it must not only consolidate but add to its already considerable business operations.