Yanal Abul Failat

Biography

Yanal is a Senior Counsel associate in the Corporate Commercial practice based in Dubai and a core member of ATCO’s Energy and Resources Practice Group.

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Recent Experience

Oil and Gas Corporate, M&A, and Joint Ventures 

Highlights of Yanal’s experience as lead counsel include advising:

• National and International Oil Companies on various acquisitions and oil and gas host government instruments, including concessions, production sharing contracts, licences, and upstream contracts across 40+ jurisdictions
• an Iraqi E&P Company on drafting and negotiating a development and production contract with the Ministry of Oil for an integrated oil and gas producing field in northern Iraq and negotiating the associated joint bidding agreements, joint operating agreement, and related project agreements with its co-venturer
• an Independent Commodities Trading Company on its auction bid to acquire the entire issued share capital of an Africa-based oil company operating three petroleum product storage terminals and approximately 40 retail fuel stations
• an E&P Company on its direct negotiations with ADNOC regarding an upstream concession agreement and associated concession documents for an oil field in Abu Dhabi
• a Southeast Asian Major International Oil and Gas Company on its bid for exploration, development, and production sharing contracts, and development and production contracts during the fifth and sixth licensing rounds
• a Chinese E&P Company on aspects of its exploration, development, and production sharing contracts, and development and production contracts, including, where applicable, bids in the fifth plus and sixth licensing rounds
• Maha Energy AB on the sale of its entire participating interest in Block 70 onshore Oman to Mafraq Energy LLC
• Maha Energy (Oman) Ltd on all aspects of its investment in, and the development of Block 70 onshore Oman, including its exploration and production sharing agreement and midstream arrangements
• a Crude Oil Storage Tanker on its acquisition of a minority stake in the issued share capital of a bulk liquid storage terminal operator in the Port of Fujairah
• a Chinese E&P Company in Central Iraq on the Iraqi oil and gas regulatory framework encompassing upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, and on elements of its technical service contract Mercantile & Maritime on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of GTI Fujairah operating a bulk oil storage terminal in the Port of Fujairah
• a Fujairah Midstream Oil Company on the negotiation and drafting of a demolition, dismantling, and asset purchase agreement for an oil refinery in Abu Dhabi
• MedcoEnergi, as Omani co-counsel, on its farm-in to the Block 60 and Block 48 Exploration and Production Sharing Agreements in Oman
• Maha Energy AB on its sale of a 35% interest in Block 70 onshore Oman and on its exploration and production sharing agreement
• a Nigerian E&P Company on its proposed acquisition of oil mining licences and related assets in Nigeria (value confidential)*
• a Multinational Oil and Gas Company on its acquisition of 51% of the issued share capital of a European bunkering group with assets in Malta, Belgium, and the Netherlands, including advising on corporate acquisition aspects and the acquisition and compliance of port-related licences*
• a National Oil Company on a range of corporate commercial matters, including the commercial aspects of its investments in and non-operating interest in a natural gas field, as well as the supply of natural gas to a national electricity company and purchasers in foreign markets*
• an Independent E&P Company on its proposed divestiture from its gas and LNG trading and shipping business in Egypt*
• a Multinational Oil and Gas Company on its investment and participation in offshore gas concessions in Egypt*
• Sapura Energy Berhad on its agreement to establish a joint venture with Austrian state-controlled company OMV (c. US$900 million)*
• SapuraKencana Petroleum Berhad on its acquisition of Newfield’s oil and gas assets in Malaysia and China (c. US$1.3 billion)*
• CEFC China Energy on its proposed acquisition of 14.2% of Rosneft Oil Company’s shares from Glencore and Qatar Investment Authority (c. US$9 billion)*
• CEFC China Energy on its proposed acquisition of the entire share capital of Partex Oil and Gas (Holdings) from Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which held oil and gas blocks in Angola, Brazil, and Portugal, as well as minority interests in concessions in Abu Dhabi and Oman (value confidential)*
• a Chinese Conglomerate on a series of strategic acquisitions of shares in private oil and gas companies in the Russian Federation (c. US$5 billion)*
• a European E&P Company on its acquisition and/or participation in several fields and prospects in Denmark, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, and the UK*

Downstream / Commercial (Oil and Gas)

Highlights of Yanal’s commercial experience include advising:

• various Producers, Traders, and Off-Takers on spot and long-term sale and purchase agreements for crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products internationally
• an Iraqi Oil Trader, as seller, on drafting and negotiating a crude oil sale and purchase agreement for two million barrels and related export arrangements in Iraq (USD 30 million)
• a UAE Oil and Gas Producer on its downstream LPG and petroleum products marketing and trading activities in the UAE
• a UAE Oil Trader, as offtaker, on the negotiation of a bespoke terminal services agreement in Fujairah, UAE
• a DIFC-Incorporated Crude Oil Trader, as offtaker, on the negotiation of a crude oil terminal use agreement in Indonesia
• an Independent Gas Producer, as seller, on the drafting and negotiation of long-term gas sale and purchase agreements in the Eastern Mediterranean*
• a Multinational Oil and Gas Company on the corporate reorganisation and restructuring of its crude oil, gas storage, transportation, and tolling business in the UK*
• a National Petrochem Company on the drafting of a methanol sale and purchase agreement for the marketing of methanol products from its methanol plant in Southeast Asia*

Energy and Natural Resources (Non-Oil and Gas)

Highlights of Yanal’s energy and infrastructure (non-oil and gas) experience include advising:

• an International Producer of Industrial Minerals on its acquisition of the entire share capital of a KSA-based producer and supplier of calcium carbonate
• a Public Service Infrastructure Company on the acquisition of the entire share capital of a project company owning, operating, and maintaining a wastewater treatment plant in the Umm Al Quwain, UAE
• a National Utility Company on its proposed joint venture for cross-border electricity distribution and transmission in Southern Africa*
• a Rare Earth Mining Company on aspects of a proposed mining development agreement in South-eastern Africa*
• a Mining Contractor on a range of corporate commercial matters, including the structuring of its international arm and its participation in mining-related joint ventures in Africa*
• several Independent Mining Companies on the drafting and negotiation of English law-governed net smelter return royalty agreements in Africa, Canada, and Latin America*

General Corporate Commercial and Venture Capital

Highlights of Yanal’s general corporate and commercial experience include advising: 

• various Individuals and Entities on corporate structuring, share subscriptions and investments, and shareholder arrangements across the UAE mainland and key free zones, including DIFC and ADGM
• ADNH Catering LLC – OPC on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Food Nation, a UAE-based schools catering services provider
• the Founders and NYBL on the share swap transaction with NOMD, pursuant to which NOMD subscribed for shares in NYBL, incorporated in the ADGM, as consideration for the transfer of its subsidiary, Basserah, a Saudi data and robotic process automation firm, including advising on corporate structuring, share subscription agreements, and shareholder arrangements
• Beyon Solutions on acquiring a controlling stake in Link Development, a regional provider of software solutions with subsidiaries in Egypt, KSA, and UAE
• a Chinese Venture Fund on its subscription for a majority of shares in a Dubai-based onshore real estate brokerage
• a Swiss Money Management Firm on corporate aspects of its establishment as a Category 3C Authorised Firm with the DFSA in the DIFC, UAE, including the shareholders’ agreement and related corporate matters
• an International Shipping Company on the acquisition of a European holding company owning eight shipping companies in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE
• an Investment Fund on the acquisition of a DFSA-regulated bank incorporated in the DIFC, including regulatory approvals and compliance considerations
• United Carton Industries Company on its acquisition of the entire share capital of Gulf Paper Manufacturing FZCO, a corrugated packaging and display merchandise manufacturer in the UAE
• a Medical Cannabis Company on its joint venture with a Colorado-based medical cannabis manufacturer for the manufacturing, development, promotion, and sale of medical cannabis within the European Union*

* Prior to joining Al Tamimi and Company