“The commercial mindset and strong industry knowledge of Nick Kouvaritakis is exceptional and extremely valuable to us as clients. He immediately gets the issues, finds solutions and drives processes forward. Nick is very attentive towards his client and follows up very closely no matter how busy he is.” 
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2022) 

Aperçu

Nick Kouvaritakis is a partner in the Singapore office of Mayer Brown and serves as the global head of LNG. He is also a member of the Global Energy and Projects & Infrastructure groups with significant experience advising on oil and gas transactions. Nick has substantial experience advising on LNG projects, and has experience across the value chain having advised on upstream project development, midstream transportation and downstream sales arrangements. Nick previously spent 10 months on secondment to BP Singapore’s LNG trading team in Singapore, and has extensive experience drafting and negotiating LNG sale and purchase agreements.

Nick has been particularly active advising on floating and land-based regasification projects, he has been involved in more than 30 FSRU/LNG import projects to date. Having represented both charterers and FSRU owners, Nick has a unique standpoint and is able to understand the commercial and legal drivers from both sides of the table. Nick is able to advise on all aspects of FSRU transactions, and has experience advising on ship-building contracts and O&M arrangements. He is currently advising on a number of active FSRU/LNG import projects, including in Bangladesh, Benin, India, Indonesia, Mozambique, Pakistan and Hong Kong. Having represented both charterers and FSRU owners, Nick has a unique understanding of the commercial and legal drivers from both sides of the table.

Nick has been actively involved in the Singapore LNG sector since 2012, and has regularly contributed to established publications such as LNG Journal and has spoken at a number of conferences including most recently, the Bangla LNG Workshop (2019) and Deloitte Energy Trading Summit (2019). He also has recent experience advising on LNG-to-power transactions, having recently advised MOL in its participation in the Jawa 1 LNG-to-power project in Indonesia, the first LNG-to-power project in the Asia Pacific region. 

Langues

  • Anglais

Expérience

FSRU/LNG Import Projects 

  • Advising a confidential sponsor in connection with its bid to purchase an equity interest in an LNG terminal in Vietnam.
  • Advising JERA in connection with its participation in a small-scale LNG terminal project in Vietnam, which has including providing local regulatory advice relating to FSRU import regulations.
  • Advising a confidential consortium in connection with an FSRU to Powership project in Vietnam backed by EVN. 
  • Advising a confidential South Korean client in connection with all aspects of its LNG-to-power project, including the development of a multi-user LNG terminal use agreement to be utilised in connection with its LNG regasification terminal and the drafting and negotiating of the long-term LNG SPA.
  • Advising Karadeniz in relation to the development of an FSRU-to-powership project in Senegal, including advising on the FSRU charter, LNG sale and purchase agreement and power purchase agreement.
  • Advising the Government of Benin in connection with its delivered gas import project in Benin, which includes the procurement of an FSRU and LNG supply pursuant to a single gas supply agreement. 
  • Advised Mitsui O.S.K. Lines on its participation in the Jawa 1 LNG-to-power project in Indonesia including advising on shareholder and shareholder financing arrangements, FSRU services agreement, ship building contract and ship management agreement, and due diligence on the other project documents and the project finance agreements. 
  • Advising a confidential FSRU Owner in connection with its bid to provide an FSRU in connection with the Reliance FSRU Project in Bangladesh.
  • Advising CLP in connection with the Hong Kong Offshore LNG project, including drafting and amending the FSRU time charter party and regasification services agreement, and providing advice on the terminal use agreement.
  • Advising H-Energy in connection with the procurement of an FSRU for its LNG import project on the west coast of India, including advising on the regasification services agreement, long term LNG sale and purchase agreements and LNG time charter arrangements.
  • Advising Karadeniz in connection with a confidential LNG-to-Power project in Mozambique, which has included drafting and negotiating the FSRU time charter party agreement and LNG sale and purchase arrangements.
  • Advising Saga LNG in connection with its participation in a PGN backed LNG import project in Indonesia, including drafting and negotiation a time charter party agreement. 
  • Advising Saga LNG in connection with a mid-term charter for an LNG carrier with a major LNG trading entity to be utilized in connection with an LNG import project in South Asia.
  • Advising Saga LNG in connection with a long-term LNG time charter with a major Asian trading company to be utilized in connection with an LNG infrastructure project.
  • Advised Summit Corporation Limited in connection with the procurement of an FSRU for its LNG import project in Bangladesh, which included advising on the terminal use agreement and implementation agreement with Petrobangla, the FSRU time charter agreement with Excelerate Energy, and also the EPC Contract with Geocean/Macgregor.
  • Advised LNG Easy on various LNG supply, break bulk and LNG import projects across South East Asia.
  • Advised a confidential client in connection with a FSU/FRU project in Ghana.
  • Advised a confidential FSRU Owner in connection with its bid to provide for a confidential LNG Import Project in Indonesia.
  • Advised BW Gas on its charter party arrangements (and subsequent spit agreements) with LGP in Panama on a long term FSRU charter to support a 670 MW LNG-to-power development.
  • Advised BW Gas in relation to its successful bid to provide EGAS with a 170,000 cbm new build FSRU under a long-term charter party arrangement.
  • Advised Golar LNG in connection with its charter party arrangements with PT Nusantara (a joint venture between Pertamina and PGN) in connection with a long-term FSRU charter for a 125,000 cbm (conversion).
  • Advised Golar LNG on its successful bid to provide Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) floating storage and regasification services to support KNPC's LNG import operations at Mina Al Ahmadi (Kuwait) including drafting and negotiating the regasification services agreement in respect of the 5 year US$213 million charter for the Golar Igloo (170,000 cbm new build FSRU).
  • Advised Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in connection with all aspects of its LNG import project in Jaffrabad, India, which included drafting and amending FSU bareboat charter agreement, FSU O&M agreement, FSRU ship building contract, FSRU O&M agreement and all associated technical supervision and commissioning agreements.
  • Advised Mitsui & Co in connection with its investment in BW's FSRU/LNG import project in Pakistan.
  • Advised a confidential client in connection with its bid for the Octopus LNG FSRU project in Chile.
  • Advised a confidential client in connection with its bid for the Rio Grande and Suape LNG FSRU projects in Brazil.
  • Advised BW Gas and Itochu in connection with an LNG import project in Bahrain utilising a floating storage unit (FSU) and onshore regasification unit (ORU).
  • Advised Golar LNG in connection with its bid for the Central Jawa FSRU project in Indonesia.
  • Advised Golar LNG in connection with its bid for the Medan FSRU project in Indonesia.
  • Advised Golar LNG in connection with its bid for an FSRU project in Pakistan.
  • Advised a confidential client in connection with its confidential floating storage and regasification project in the Philippines.
  • Advised a confidential client in connection with its bid for an LNG import project in Sri Lanka, including advising on FSU chartering arrangements, LNG sale and purchase arrangements, and downstream gas arrangements.
  • Advised a confidential Singapore energy company on all aspects of its LNG import project in the Philippines.
  • Advised a confidential Indonesian client in connection with the procurement of a floating storage vessel in connection with its LNG import project.
  • Advised a confidential consortium on the negotiation of long-term LNG fuel supply and long-term LNG FSRU charter party and regasification service arrangements in connection with the Jawa-1 LNG-to-power project.
  • Advised Energy Market Authority of Singapore and Singapore LNG Corporation in connection with the development of a multi-user LNG import terminal project in the Republic of Singapore.
  • Advised a confidential Middle East utility in relation to advice in connection to its time charter party arrangements and interplay with LNG scheduling under spot and term arrangements.
  • Advised a confidential power consortium in relation to its bid for a confidential LNG-to-power project in Bangladesh.

LNG sale and purchase agreements

  • Advising LNG Group Panama in connection with a confidential LNG sale and purchase agreement.
  • Advising ENH in connection with its LNG trading joint venture with Vitol relating to the joint purchase of volumes from Area 4 and establishment of an LNG trading entity.
  • Advising a confidential North Asian buyer in connection with a long-term LNG procurement tender, which has involved negotiating with a number of major LNG portfolio players and LNG trading companies.
  • Advising a confidential major Chinese LNG buyer in connection with a long term LNG sale and purchase agreement and associated LNG shipping arrangements.
  • Advising Pavilion Gas as buyer in connection with multiple mid and long-term LNG sale and purchase transactions.
  • Advising LNG Easy in respect of an LNG ISO container sale and purchase agreement and delivery in the Philippines.
  • Advising LNG Link on all aspects of its small-scale LNG project and distributing LNG in China in ISO containers.
  • Advised Tenaga Nasional Berhad in connection with a spot LNG sale and purchase agreement with a confidential LNG supplier.
  • Advised Macquarie in connection with a LNG sale and purchase (and financing) arrangement with a confidential LNG supplier.
  • Advised a Japanese Trading House in connection with supplying LNG into Pakistan.
  • Advised Diamond Gas International (Mitsubishi Corporation) on a number of confidential spot LNG sale and purchase transactions in Asia.
  • Advised BP Singapore (secondment) on a variety of spot, mid-term and long-term LNG SPAs (with Kuwait Petroleum Company, China National Overseas Oil Company, PTT and TEPCO) and master sale and purchase arrangements (with KOGAS, Dubai Supply Authority, Bontang LNG project, CPC, BG, Glencore and Tokyo Gas).
  • Advised Anadarko on its LNG sales and marketing arrangements in connection with the Mozambique LNG project.
  • Advised a confidential client in relation to its LNG sale and purchase arrangements in connection with Bontang LNG project in Indonesia.
  • Advised a confidential Middle East utility in relation to a number of spot LNG sale and purchase agreements and advice in relation to its LNG sale and purchase arrangements.
  • Advised a major US gas producer in relation to its LNG sale and purchase arrangements in Singapore (including establishment of its LNG trading platform).
  • Advised Pavilion Gas in connection with its long-term (10 year) LNG sale and purchase agreement with Gazprom Marketing and Trading.
  • Advised a confidential company on its long term LNG sale and purchase arrangements in connection with Prelude LNG.
  • Advised a confidential client in relation to its LNG marketing arrangements in connection with Djibouti LNG.

LNG Export Projects

  • Advising a confidential client in connection with its LNG trading joint venture with a leading global trading company relating to area 4 Mozambique volumes.
  • Advised Mitsubishi Corporation and Diamond Gas International on the long term LNG marketing and offtake arrangements from the LNG Canada project including project structuring advice (upstream, midstream, downstream components), preparation of LNG term sheets and HOAs and vessel loading arrangements.
  • Advised INPEX Corporation in connection with long-term LNG offtake arrangements from the Prelude FLNG project in Australia, including drafting and negotiation of HOAs and SPAs with several Japanese counterparties.
  • Advised JAPEX in relation to its LNG marketing arrangements in connection with Pacific NorthWest LNG.

Power Projects

  • Advising an Asian government entity on a report to be submitted to the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity commenting on the Ministry's IPP documentation.
  • Advising the Sumitomo and KEPCO consortium on its successful bid for Shuweihat 3 IPP in Abu Dhabi.

Other Energy Projects/Oil & Gas

  • Advised Ramba Energy on the farm-out of a participating interest in the Lemang PSC to Mandala Energy, and acquisition by Ramba of a participating interest in the same PSC from Eastwin.
  • Advised a confidential company in relation to the disposal of an Operated interest under a PSC in Indonesia.
  • Advised a confidential client on its disposal of a 10% Participating Interest in a PSC in Indonesia.
  • Advised a confidential client on its proposed acquisition of Hess Corporation's participating interest in Natuna Sea Block A.
  • Advised Northern Gulf Petroleum Holdings in connection with the acquisition by way of farm-in of an upstream interest in Sumatra, Indonesia.
  • Advised Premier Oil in relation to the divestment of Premier Oil Vietnam South B.V. (holding an interest in Block 03-07 offshore Vietnam) to Talisman Energy.
  • Advised a confidential bidder in connection with its bid to acquire upstream assets from Newfield International in Malaysia.
  • Advised a confidential client on various transactions in Thailand relating to the G1, G3 and G6 Blocks.
  • Advised a confidential international oil & gas company in relation to the acquisition of Chevron's upstream and midstream assets in Myanmar.
  • Advised a confidential international oil & gas company in relation to the acquisition of GDF Suez (ENGIE's) upstream assets in Indonesia (Muara Bakau PSC).
  • Advised a confidential client on its proposed acquisition of Murphy Oil's upstream assets in Malaysia.
  • Advised Gazprom Neft in their capacity as operator of the Badra field in Iraq.
  • Advised a confidential major oil and gas company on its acquisition of petroleum licence blocks 1, 3 and 4 offshore southern Tanzania and subsequent development.
  • Advised Mitsui E&P Middle East B.V. (MEPME) on its acquisition of an upstream interest in Oman.
  • Advised an international oil company on a confidential upstream development in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
  • Advised an international oil and gas company on the development of a project to import and export refined petroleum products.
  • Advised an international oil and gas company on various issues relating to its entry into two PSCs in Kurdistan and the ongoing development of these assets.
  • Advised a confidential client on preparations for the Iraq fourth petroleum bid round.
  • Advised Mitsui on the sale of an ammonia plant in Indonesia to Pt Pupuk Indonesia.

Formation

BPP University Law School, LPC

Nottingham Law School, GDLP, Law

Bristol University, BSc, Political Science

Inscription au Barreau

Barreau

  • England and Wales
  • Next Generation Partner - Energy: Foreign Firms, Singapore – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2021-2023)
  • Leading Individual - Energy & Natural Resources: International, Singapore – Chambers Global (2021-2023)
  • Associate to watch - Energy & Natural Resources: International, Singapore – Chambers Global (2019, 2020)
  • Leading Individual - Energy & Natural Resources: International, Singapore – Chambers Asia Pacific (2021-2023)
  • Associate to watch - Energy & Natural Resources: International, Singapore – Chambers Asia Pacific (2019, 2020)
  • Recognized by Asian Legal Business (ALB) as one of the 2019 "40 under 40" lawyers in Asia
  • "Nick has been inspirational and excels time and time again. He has a wealth of intel and market know-how." – Chambers Asia Pacific (2023)
  • "A very talented lawyer with a commercial mindset, who makes sure that the transaction moves forward." "Highly respected across the industry." – Chambers Global (2022)
  • “Both Nick Kouvaritakis and Sean Prior have provided clear, comprehensive and timely advice, taking into consideration client needs and appreciating the complexities of our projects.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2022)
  • “The team lead by Nick Kouvaritakis has a very strong understanding of the industry. They have great individual capacity and are very responsive and reliable.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2022)
  • “Mayer Brown is best known for LNG transactions and projects, along with a growing number of renewables engagements. Department head Nick Kouvaritakis [has] an extensive background in LNG projects across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa; this includes FSRU/LNG import projects, LNG sale and purchase agreements, and LNG-to-power projects.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2022)
  • “The commercial mindset and strong industry knowledge of Nick Kouvaritakis is exceptional and extremely valuable to us as clients. He immediately gets the issues, finds solutions and drives processes forward. Nick is very attentive towards his client and follows up very closely no matter how busy he is.” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2022)
  • "Nick Kouvaritakis is lauded for his deep knowledge of the LNG sector and for helping "spur the evolution of the multi-user terminal use agreements, which provide open access to gas customers in countries where monopoly was the norm." – Asia Legal Business 40 under 40 (2019)