People

Mark Rowley Photo
Mark Rowley
Partner | Department Chair - Global Projects (Dubai & Riyadh)

Overview

Mark Rowley is a partner in the Global Projects group, and the Partner-in-Charge of the firm's non-U.S. offices. Mr. Rowley's practice focuses on projects and transactions in the global oil & gas industry, including upstream developments, cross-border pipelines and LNG projects. He was head of the firm's Baku office in Azerbaijan between 2003 and 2005, and General Counsel of Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) in Brisbane from 2010 to 2011.

Admission & Affiliations

  • Qualified Solicitor, England & Wales, 2001
  • Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)
  • International Bar Association, Energy & Natural Resources Law Section
  • UK Energy Lawyers’ Group (UKELG)
  • Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand 1996
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand 1996

Experience

LNG

  • ConocoPhillips – advising on two LNG SPAs to supply LNG from Qatar's North Field East and North Field South projects to Germany (DES)
  • Government of Tanzania and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation – advising on the planned multi-train onshore LNG liquefaction project to be developed in the south of Tanzania
  • Advising an international oil & gas company on the long-term purchase of LNG from Mozambique
  • Advising the project sponsors on all aspects of the development of a floating LNG regasification terminal in Ghana including vessel chartering and terminal use arrangements
  • MVM CEEnergy – advising on two LNG SPAs to supply LNG into the Croatia's Krk LNG Terminal, and also advising on terminal capacity issues (DES)
  • NOVATEK on the sale to Total S.A. of a participating interest in the Arctic LNG 2 Project
  • Advising a European company on the purchase of LNG from Egypt
  • Advising the project sponsors on the development of an LNG project in Equatorial Guinea
  • Advising the project sponsor of a proposed floating LNG liquefaction project in Canada
  • Advising a European company on various MSA transactions for the purchase of LNG
  • An international oil company on its participation in the RFP process for the proposed expansion of the Qatar LNG projects
  • NOVATEK on LNG marketing activities, including long-term and spot LNG sales
  • Steelhead LNG on the long-term sale of LNG to India
  • As General Counsel of APLNG, advising on all aspects of project development, including EPC arrangements, project structuring, and the 20 year, 4.3 Mtpa LNG sale to Sinopec - a $90 billion contract, and the single largest LNG sale from Australia
  • Advising the project sponsor of a proposed greenfield LNG liquefaction project in British Columbia, Canada
  • Advising Origin Energy on the long-term sale of LNG to China
  • Advising an LNG project on matters relating to the renegotiation of various diversion and pricing provisions in LNG sale and purchase agreements
  • As General Counsel of APLNG, advising on the US$8.5 billion project financing of its two train coal-seam gas (CSG) to LNG project in Queensland Australia. The financing comprised ECA tranches involving U.S. Ex-im and China Eximbank (totalling US$5.625 billion), and a commercial bank tranche of US$2.875 billion. This was the first project financing of a CSG to LNG project, Australia's largest ever project financing, and was awarded Project Finance Magazine's Asia-Pacific Oil & Gas Deal of the Year for 2012
  • A Singapore-based energy company on the long-term sale of LNG to GAIL in India
  • A major energy company as seller under various long-term LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPAs)
  • A middle-eastern state-owned energy company on long-term sale, purchase, and swap arrangements
  • A European company on a multi-user agreement for an FSRU project in Pakistan
  • A developer on the proposed development of an LNG liquefaction project in Cyprus
  • Advising various clients on LNG Master Sales Agreements (MSAs) and issues relating to cargo strips
  • Advising an LNG project on matters relating to the renegotiation of various diversion and pricing provisions in LNG SPAs
  • Advising on a common facilities agreement for an LNG liquefaction project in the U.S.
  • An international company on revisions to its standard form of LNG MSA
  • Advising on the terminal use arrangements for an LNG regasification terminal in Croatia
  • A major energy company on its entry into an LNG SPA to purchase liquefied natural gas from the Sakhalin II Project and related agreements

Hydrogen & Ammonia

  • A U.S. company in connection with the offtake arrangements for a multi-billion dollar green hydrogen/ammonia export facility in the Middle East
  • A U.S. company on ammonia offtake arrangements for a blue ammonia project in the U.S.
  • Advising a UK start-up on potential hydrogen technology licensing/JV issues

Oil & Gas

  • Shell on its acquisition of various gas distribution interests in Egypt
  • Advising an oil & gas company on oil and gas production sharing arrangements in Angola
  • Advising on a gas sales agreement, and related arrangements, for the sale of gas from Israel to Jordan
  • Advising a major oil company on an international upstream joint venture agreement with another state oil company
  • Advising a Middle-Eastern oil & gas company on the potential acquisition of licence and infrastructure interests in the North Sea
  • Advising on the negotiation and drafting of a risk services agreement in Azerbaijan
  • Advising a consortium of international oil companies on oil lifting arrangements for a major offshore oil field in the Caspian
  • Advising ExxonMobil on the transportation of Kazakh oil by rail through Azerbaijan
  • Sponsors of the $3.2 billion SCP/Shah Deniz gas pipeline (from Azerbaijan to Turkey) – project structuring, production sharing, gas transportation and related issues
  • Caspian Energy Group in various matters including negotiation of an oil and gas production sharing agreement (PSA) in Azerbaijan
  • Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company in general corporate matters and issues relating to gas transportation and gas sales to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey
  • PGNiG on its bid for various assets in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea
  • An international oil and gas company on its participation in the bidding round for oil and gas development licenses in Iraq
  • Maersk on advice regarding the export of an offshore rig from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan
  • World Bank in project to restructure the utilities sector in Azerbaijan
  • Maersk Olie og Gas on its bid for a Development and Production Sharing Agreement in Bahrain
  • Noble Energy in an acquisition of an interest in an FPSO vessel
  • Xstrata in the disposal of an oil field interest in Argentina
  • Kerr-McGee in the disposal of an interest in a titanium dioxide plant in Saudi Arabia
  • Shell in a proposed gas storage project involving Bulgaria and Turkey

Pipeline Projects

  • UNOC and Government of Uganda on the development and project financing of the $3.5bn 1443 km crude oil pipeline between Uganda and Tanzania
  • Consortium bidding on a BOT project to develop a water extraction and pipeline transportation system in Jordan
  • Sponsors of the $3.2 billion SCP/Shah Deniz gas pipeline (from Azerbaijan to Turkey) – project structuring, production sharing, gas transportation and related issues
  • Advising on transportation arrangements relating to the transportation of crude oil through the CPC pipeline
  • Advising the project sponsors of the BTC oil pipeline project from Azerbaijan to Turkey
  • Project sponsor in the development of a cross-border gas pipeline project in the Caribbean
  • Advising a potential purchaser of an interest in the BTC oil pipeline
  • Advising a potential purchaser of an interest in the TAP pipeline project
  • Sponsors of the TransCaspian gas pipeline (from Turkmenistan to Turkey) in gas sales, gas transportation agreements and related issues


March 2024 External Article eFuels, A Game-Changer?
30 July 2020 Client Updates EU Commission on Hydrogen Strategy
19 June 2020 Client Updates HyDeploy Overview

Awards and Community

Recommended by Who's Who Legal: Energy, 2024

Recognised by Who's Who Legal: Energy, 2019, 2021, 2022 & 2023

Commended in Who's Who Legal: UK Energy, 2017, for his handling of complex oil and gas transactions, comprising upstream developments, LNG projects and cross-border pipelines

Recognised in The Legal 500 UK for Projects & Energy: Oil & Gas, 2006, 2012, 2015-2017, 2020, 2021 and Power (Including Electricity, Nuclear and Renewables), 2017, 2020 & 2022

Ranked in Chambers UK for Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017-2024

Recognised in Chambers Global, 2004-2009

Recognised in Chambers Europe, 2007

Recognised by Who's Who Legal: Energy, 2015 & 2016

Nominated for Who's Who of Professionals "Lawyer of the Year," 2012 & 2013

Nominated for Who's Who Legal: Energy, 2014

Listed as a leading lawyer in IFLR 1000, The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms, 2006

Recommended for company and corporate transactions in Azerbaijan by PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook, 2005