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Petroleum and Petrochemical Matters
For more than four years prior to its merger with Saudi Aramco,
we acted as outside counsel to the Saudi Arabian Marketing and Refining Company
(SAMAREC) the governmental organization controlling the production and sale of
refined petroleum products from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this capacity
we have developed significant experience with the operations, management and
planning of a major international oil company.
This unique experience translates into practical working
knowledge relating to a broad spectrum of legal matters concerning the
petroleum industry, including the following:
Refining
We worked extensively with SAMAREC's corporate engineering
department in connection with the negotiation and drafting of tender documents
for the engineering and construction of refinery related plant and equipment,
for example a state-of-the-art-refinery process automation system, a
firefighting and fire control system, a refinery upgrade and de-bottle necking
program, a marine terminal expansion program and a Kingdom wide, multi-refinery
program for the upgrade and installation of various refinery process units
including a hydro cracking unit, an FCC unit, a platformer and a sulfuric acid
regeneration unit.
Marketing and Sales
We fully supported the company's marketing and sales
department, assisting with the development of world-wide pricing structures for
the refined products sold by the company, assisting with the development of
standard form international purchase and sales agreements for all such
products, including FOB Term and Spot Product Sales agreements, CIF Term and
Spot Product Sales agreements, Spot Sulfur Sales agreements, Refinery Off-take
agreements and assisting with the development of spot sale tender procedures
and documents. We also participated in the development and negotiation of
long-term crude oil and feedstock supply agreements and assisted in the
negotiation and resolution of disputes arising with SAMAREC's
customers.
Marine Transportation
We provided the exclusive legal support for SAMAREC's Marine
Department in charge of a fleet of more than 25 ships. In these regards we
provided review and approval of all ship charters, including time and voyage
charters and floating vessel storage agreements, we assisted in the development
and negotiation of all marine related contracts such as agency agreements,
inspection contracts, on-hire/off-hire surveys, ship construction contracts,
ship management agreements and drydock and repair contracts, and we provided
routine advice in connection with all marine related matters such as demurrage
claims, off-hire disputes, safe berth disputes, charter party issues, crew
issues, insurance and related matters.
Contracting
Working in conjunction with SAMAREC's General Counsel we
provided general support for the contracting affairs of the company including
reviewing, negotiating and/or drafting significant contractual documentation,
including joint venture agreements, service agreements, employment agreements,
capital asset purchase agreements, information services and computer
agreements, equipment leasing agreements, project management agreements and
construction agreements.
Strategic Corporate Planning
In our capacity as legal advisors to the Central Management
Committee we offered advice in connection with the legal aspects of the
company's long-range strategic planning and major business policy decisions. In
this regard we assisted with the identification and analysis of business
objectives, global market trends, possible areas of company expansion and/or
integration, capital acquisitions, products sales policies relating to FOB or
CIF delivery terms and other significant corporate issues.
Having provided counsel to SAMAREC, itself one of the largest
oil companies in the world, we are in an excellent position to assist clients
in the petroleum industry, whether contracting for the purchase of petroleum
products or the supply of goods or services, or acting as traders, refiners or
shippers of oil products. |
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