James is a highly experienced energy and infrastructure lawyer with a focus on complex, high-value projects across a range of sectors and environments. He specialises in LNG and energy transition including renewable electricity and gas, hydrogen and battery storage, alongside traditional oil & gas, infrastructure, and resources.
James has extensive expertise in project acquisition and development, structuring, joint ventures, governance arrangements, and project contracts, including EPC, O&M, fuel and feedstock supply, and offtake agreements. He also advises on related project financing within the energy, resources, and infrastructure sectors.
Throughout his career, James has advised clients across the globe including Europe, Asia, Africa, Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East, the CEE, and Latin America/Caribbean.
Expertise
- Energy transition (renewable electricity and gas, hydrogen, LNG, fusion, battery storage)
- LNG transactions (floating (FSRU, FRU, FSU, FLNG) and land-based) ranging from large-scale liquefaction and regas projects to small-scale LNG
- LNG sale and purchase agreements
- LNG tolling agreements
- LNG terminal usage agreements
- LNG O&M agreements
- LNG project financing agreements
- Sponsor support agreements
Experience
- Advised ONGC Videsh, an Indian consortium on the acquisition of a 10% stake in the Lower Zakum field, UAE.
- Advised Reganosa on the Malta, Al Zour (Kuwait), Tema (Ghana), HiGas (Sardinia), Elbehafen (Germany), Lubmin (Germany), Mukran (Germany) and FGen (Philippines) LNG regas terminals and on LNG regas terminals in the Dominican Republic, Australia, China, Taiwan and Portugal.
- Advised the project sponsors (Shell, Mitsui, Mitsubishi and Gazprom) on the US$6.7bn project financing of the Sakhalin 2 LNG project in the Russian Federation and sponsors and lenders on LNG liquefaction projects in Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysia, Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique and the United States.
- Acted for Galp Energia SGPS on the US$4.675bn project financing of the Coral Sud FLNG export project in Mozambique.
- Advised the developers of a 325MW wind farm with co-located battery storage onshore UK.
- Advised Amazon, Galp Energia SGPS and many other corporate buyers on corporate renewable power purchase agreements.
- Advised on the negotiation and structuring of over 35 independent power projects for renewable and conventional technologies, including the key project contracts, from development agreements/joint venture agreements, EPC, O&M, offtake/PPAs and grid connection, to related project financing.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recommended in The Legal 500 UK, M&A: smaller deals £10M-£100M, 2024
Recommended in The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom, 2020-2025
Recognised by Who’s Who Legal, Project Finance, 2023
Chambers Asia, Projects & Infrastructure (International Firms): China, 2013
Career
James qualified as a solicitor in 1990. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, he worked at the following firms:
- Linklaters
- Brown Rudnick
- Baker Botts