Bio

Simon Fraser is a senior corporate partner based in our Abu Dhabi office, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate structuring for major projects and strategic investments. He has practiced in the USA, London, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, and has more than 25 years’ experience structuring and executing complex cross-border transactions and projects for market leading clients around the world. Simon represents sovereigns, corporate clients, family offices and investment banks on regional and international transactions and projects across a wide range of industries, with a particular focus in energy and resources (including renewables and petrochemicals), infrastructure, telecommunications, manufacturing and technology. He is recognised as a leading individual in major directories, including Legal 500 (“Hall of Fame”), Chambers and Partners and IFLR1000. A commercial outcomes focused lawyer, Simon has extensive experience managing major complex international transactions and projects for clients, and also negotiating agreements with governments. His clients have included ADNOC, ADNOC Gas, Borouge, EGA, KPC, PIC, KPI, KUFPEC, BHP, Rio Tinto, Multiplex, Geltec, Venice Energy, ADES, Sojitz, Mitsui, MMG, Transmed and Santos. Simon has held a senior commercial role with a large international power company in the United States, and has been seconded to BHP as general counsel for a business unit and member of the executive committee for the business. Simon is ranked in the “Hall of Fame” by Legal 500 for Oil, Gas and Natural Resources transactions, and referred to as “very capable and highly experienced across all aspects of the sector”, and commended for being “very user-friendly, flexible and responsive to client requirements”, while also being “a pleasure to work with”, and “a key name of note.” He is included as a leading individual by Chambers and Partners for Corporate/M&A (Abu Dhabi-based), Corporate/M&A (Kuwait) and Projects & Energy (Kuwait), and by IFLR1000 for M&A. He has previously been recognised by Best Lawyers as a leading lawyer in Energy Law, Mining Law and Natural Resources Law in Australia, and Melbourne Mining Law “Lawyer of the Year” 2016. He is considered “a seasoned lawyer on sales and acquisitions, particularly when it comes to representing clients in the energy and oil and gas sectors”, noted as having “a very calm approach”, and “good at managing a large team and bringing forward a focal point”, while being “highly experienced in oil and gas matters.”