Nicholas is an internationally recognised energy and resources lawyer.
He represents international and domestic companies and investment funds throughout their energy and resources investments including asset and share level acquisitions and divestments, farm-ins/farmouts, joint ventures, project development, special situations and restructurings.
Nicholas spent over seven years at an international law firm in London, where he worked on a broad range of complex energy and resources transactions, including market leading experience in restructurings and special situations in the energy sector, distressed energy M&A and cutting edge decommissioning matters. Nicholas was also seconded as interim general counsel of the FTSE 250 African downstream company Vivo Energy plc.
Nicholas has been recognised by Chambers UK as an associate to watch, by Euromoney as a rising star and in Euromoney Expert Guides. He has co-edited the leading text on decommissioning law and has written and spoken extensively on energy and ESG matters.
Advised an ad hoc group of creditors of Premier Oil in connection with its US$2.7 billion restructuring and merger with Chrysaor to create Harbour Energy.
Seconded as interim general counsel to this FTSE 250 Shell and Engen licensee with operations across 23 African countries.
Acted for the lenders in its restructuring, including the receivership sale of its entire UK portfolio to Waldorf Petroleum.
Advised this Carlyle backed company on its acquisition of Bahari Resources, owner of oil and gas assets offshore Comoros.
Advised on multiple transactions including its A$220 million takeover proposal for ASX listed FAR Ltd.
Advised on its initial investment in a Norwegian oil and gas company.
Advised ad hoc committees on oil and gas restructurings and related divestments across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, including Iona Energy, Noreco Energy, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Afren, Seadrill, Hurricane Energy, PA Resources and Xcite Energy.
Advised various international funds in relation to bespoke lending to distressed energy companies across Europe and Africa.
Advised various oil and gas companies, offshore contractors, special situation investors and creditors on a wide variety of oil and gas decommissioning matters including with respect to trailing liability, decommissioning security agreements, alternative end of field life solutions and the resolution of liabilities as a condition to transaction approvals.
Nicholas Antonas, Special Counsel in Johnson Winter & Slattery’s Energy and Resources team, has co-authored a chapter on decommissioning in Sweet & Maxwell’s book Oil and Gas Contracts – Principles...
Australia’s new offshore electricity infrastructure legislative framework goes live on 2 June 2022. Regulations are close to being finalised and Victoria is the first state to announce a large...
Australia’s offshore oil and gas laws were amended in September 2021, and key changes went live on 2 March 2022. A new change of control test will make oil and gas M&A in Australia more complex...