Shane R. DeBeer

Partner

Practice Description

Shane DeBeer has over 15 years of experience in complex international transactions. Mr. DeBeer’s practice focuses on oil and gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other energy-related matters including oilfield services, as well as project finance, real estate development and transnational mergers and acquisitions, with a particular focus on transactions in the nations of the former Soviet Union.

Mr. DeBeer’s clients include a variety of western, CIS-based, private- and state-owned companies, whom he advises on the structuring, financing, acquisition and disposition of projects, including multibillion dollar projects. Mr. DeBeer has also advised on energy-related securities offerings and a variety of real estate projects including commercial developments and hotels.

Representative Matters

• Leading the legal team advising the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom on the structuring and financing of the mammoth Shtokman LNG project. 
• Regularly advises a major international oilfield services company on all of its acquisition activity in Russia and the CIS.
• Advised a European lender (connected with an engineering conglomerate) with respect to its financing of a portion of the equity for an approximately $900 million LNG facility in Algeria.
• Advised the Russian state oil company, Rosneft, on the structuring, financing and operational aspects of its contemplated participation in the Sakhalin 5 project (offshore exploration and production together with transportation infrastructure near Sakhalin Island, Russia) with its alliance partner BP. This project involved both internal and project financing. 
• Advised a major Russian company on its participation in a production sharing agreement for an oil and gas field on the continental shelf of India. 
• Advised an Irish company on the acquisition and financing of oil and gas exploration and production assets in eastern Siberia. 
• Previously advised the Russian state oil company, Rosneft, on the structuring, financing and operational aspects of its participation in the Sakhalin 3 project (another offshore exploration and production project together with transportation infrastructure near Sakhalin Island, Russia) with its alliance partners Mobil (now ExxonMobil) and Texaco (now ChevronTexaco). This project involved both internal and project financing. 
• Represented an independent U.S. oil company in a consortium to explore and develop oil and gas deposits offshore Sakhalin Island. 
• Advised an independent U.S. oil company on Russian production-sharing agreement (PSA) law in connection with its participation in a Siberian oil and gas joint venture. 
• Advised a U.S.-led consortium on the structuring and financing of a contemplated marine terminal on Sakhalin Island. 
• Advised the Russian Ministry of Fuel and Energy on various legal issues relating to the conclusion and implementation of PSAs with major non-Russian oil companies. This project involved advising on and drafting models of various legislative and regulatory normative acts affecting foreign investments in the petroleum sector. 
• Represented a large U.S. oil company in connection with its investment in a major oil and gas exploration and production enterprise in Western Siberia, as well as advising on international law aspects of its investment in the three large Caspian Sea oil and gas fields offshore Azerbaijan. 
• Advised a Scottish oil and gas company in connection with its interest in an onshore oil field in Azerbaijan, including a novel project management agreement with Schlumberger. 
• Advised a British independent oil company in connection with its ventures in Azerbaijan, including joint exploration and development of oil and gas fields. 
• Represented a major Russian oil company in negotiations and operations connected with a Caspian Sea offshore oil and gas exploration and production consortium. 
• Represented a major oil company in its acquisition of an interest in a Kazakh oil and gas enterprise. 
• Participated in negotiations on behalf of a major Latin American gas company for a concession to upgrade and operate the gas distribution system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 
• Advised the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Armenia on the planned privatization of that nation’s electricity distribution network. 
• Represented a major Russian bank in connection with the issuance of securities in western markets backed, in large measure, by shares of another major Russian oil company. 
• Advised a foreign (non-Russian) investor with respect to an acquisition of an interest in oil and gas producing enterprises in Eastern Siberia.

Honors

Activities and Affiliations

Publications

Mr. DeBeer is the author of numerous articles on legal issues affecting business in the energy sector and in the former Soviet Union, including:

Speeches and Events