Sean Prior

Sean advises on all aspects of the LNG industry, including on the development of major LNG import projects in Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Senegal, Jamaica, Mozambique, Ivory Coast and South Africa. Both FSRU owners and charterers/project owners turn to Sean for insight on FSRU projects, and sellers and buyers of LNG appreciate his deep experience in advising on multiple LNG sale and purchase arrangements, in particular on matching long term LNG purchases and downstream LNG sales where multi-customer considerations needed to be taken into account.

Clients also seek out Sean for counsel on projects and project finance in the upstream sector, and to advise on the development of more general energy-related projects. They benefit from Sean's extensive experience advising on upstream oil and gas transactions, and also in the power and resources sector, including large-scale M&A work in these sectors, which encompasses share and asset purchases, joint venture agreements and shareholder arrangements. 

Sean is involved in advising on a number of LNG-related disputes, some of which have commenced arbitration. Sean is also an experienced projects and project finance lawyer and has worked on multiple energy sector financings including advising the lenders on the US$2.8 billion Donggi Senoro LNG project, and has significant experience in considering all interrelated aspects of LNG-to-power projects. 

Sean has served clients including JERA, POSCO, SK Gas, Karadeniz, China Light & Power, Itochu, ADNOC, NYK, Höegh LNG. Mitsubishi and H-Energy. 

• H-Energy on all aspects of its LNG import project in West India, including advising on a regasification services agreement, a terminal use agreement to support its proposed onshore LNG import terminal in India. 
• JERA in connection with its participation in a small-scale LNG terminal project in Vietnam, which has included providing local regulatory advice relating to FSRU import regulations. 
• JERA and other members of its consortium in connection with an FSRU-to-powership project in Vietnam, which has involved extensive and detailed analysis of all Vietnamese structuring and other legal issues in relation to how such an integrated project would work, including consultations with regulators on a named basis. 
• A confidential FSRU owner in respect of (i) its bid to provide an FSRU in connection with the First Gen FSRU/LNG import project in the Philippines; and (ii) a separate confidential FSRU/LNG import project in the Philippines in joint venture with a major LNG supplier. 
• 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 (Asia Pacific Power Deal of the Year 2019 by Project Finance International). 
• CAPCO and Hongkong Electric in connection with its multi-user FSRU/LNG import project, including on the terminal use agreement, FSRU time charter party agreement, port service vessel arrangements and Conditions of Use.
• A confidential consortium in connection with an FSRU to Powership project in Vietnam backed by EVN. 
• A confidential FSRU owner in connection with a proposed FSRU charter and operation and maintenance agreement in Jamaica. 
• A confidential client in connection with the development of a bespoke break-bulk and reloading services agreement with PGN relating to its FSRU/LNG import project in Lampung, Indonesia. 
• Karadeniz in respect of its LNG-to-powership project in Mozambique, which has involved advising on an FSRU charter party, power purchase agreement and LNG supply arrangements. We have been involved in assisting on the LNG procurement tender and drafting and amending a bespoke LNG supply document for the client, as well as all aspects of the PPA. 
• Karadeniz on the development of an LNG-to-power powership project in Senegal, including advising on the FSRU charter, LNG sale and purchase agreement and power purchase agreement. 
• Excelerate Energy in relation to the development of a multi-user FSRU/LNG terminal project in the Philippines including drafting and amending a multi-user TUA. 
• The owner on an FSRU time charter to provide FSRU services to a major existing project in the Americas. 
• A confidential FSRU owner on its bid for the AGL LNG Import Project in Australia. 
• A confidential client on its acquisition of an interest in the Summit LNG terminal in Bangladesh. 
• Neptune Energy in connection with various issues relating to upstream oil and gas developments in Indonesia and LNG sale and purchase arrangements. 
• LNG Link on all aspects of its small-scale LNG project, which envisages the purchasing LNG in full cargo lots, using an LNG terminal for breaking bulk, and distributing LNG in China in ISO containers. 
• A US investor on two floating regasification infrastructure tenders in Indonesia. 
• Representing a FSRU owner in connection with a significant dispute in relation to multiple aspects of a long-term charter and O&M services agreement.

LNG SPA and Other LNG Experience 

Advised:

• A confidential Asian buyer in respect of its long-term purchase of LNG from the Corpus Christi LNG Project.
• A confidential buyer on its conversion of an LNG SPA from DES to FOB basis in connection with a major US LNG Project.
• A confidential LNG buyer in connection with a 15-year LNG SPA to purchase LNG from the Delfin LNG Project on a FOB basis.
• Itochu Corporation in connection with its long-term LNG SPA with NextDecade relating to the Rio Grande LNG Export project in Texas, and on the subsequent on-sale of such LNG.
• PV Gas in Vietnam in connection with (i) a long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement with a confidential LNG seller and (ii) the preparation of a detailed, bespoke heads of terms for an LNG SPA, to be used in its proposed tender for LNG supply. 
• 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 and also in respect of its recently mandated second tranche of LNG procurement. 
• LNG Group Panama in connection with a confidential LNG sale and purchase agreement. 
• A major US vessel owner in connection with the development of a multi-user TUA on an LNG import project in the Philippines.
• A confidential LNG ship owner in connection with its bid for multiple vessels relating to the Mozambique Area 1 Shipping tender including drafting and amending a long-term LNG time charter party agreement. 
• A major North Asian investor on its proposed investment into a large scale LNG liquefaction and export project in the US. 
• An LNG buyer in a dispute under 2 LNG SPAs; the disputes concern the exercise of termination rights and are subject to English law and NY law respectively; ICC arbitration with Singapore seat; over USD 100 million in dispute.
• The lenders, including JBIC, on the US$2.8 billion Donggi Senoro LNG project financing, leading the Indonesian advice for the majority of that period, including on due diligence, structuring and regulatory analysis and assisting with finance documents. 

Power

Advised:

• While on secondment, the sponsors on development and operational issues with respect to major power projects in Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mynamar and other Asian jurisdictions. 
• An Asian developer on joint development arrangements for wind and solar power development in Vietnam. 
• A European developer on joint development arrangements for wind and solar power development in Vietnam. 
• A Singaporean developer on its proposed investment into a portfolio of mini-hydropower projects in Indonesia.
• The sponsors, including Kansai Electric, on the development of the 66 MW Deedoke hydropower project in Myanmar.
• Kansai Electric on the development of a proposed 300 MW temporary solar power facility in Myanmar.
• An African developer on its development of a 200MW gas fired power plant in Mozambique.
• The sponsors on shareholder arrangements in relation to a 135MW expansion project in Cambodia.
• PLN on its procurement of the Pontianak gas peaker IPP; and Sulut-3 coal-fired IPP, in Indonesia, including drafting PPAs.
• Karadeniz Power on its successful bid for the provision of large scale leased powership capacity to PLN.
• A confidential client on the proposed financing of the Batang Toru 4 x 127.5MW hydro peaker IPP in Indonesia.
• A Chinese lender on a proposed US$1.8 billion Chittagong 2 x 612MW coal fired IPP project financing in Bangladesh.
• The lenders on the financing of the China Shenhua-sponsored 600 MW Sumsel 1 coal-fired IPP in Indonesia.
• Wärtsilä on EPC contracting issues in Indonesia. 
• Enel Group on Chevron’s multi-billion dollar proposed sale of its Darajat and Salak geothermal assets in Indonesia.
• The lenders and the workout Steering Group on the £795 million project financing of the Teesside Power Project, including advising on a variety of restructuring and workout options and a series of complex commercial transactions over several years.
• The lenders on the Tapada Power Project in Portugal, including on the MIBEL single Iberian market arrangements and their effect on the PPAs.
• The lenders, and then the administrative receivers, of Shotton Combined Heat & Power Limited, in particular liaising with regulators to ensure that it was the first power station in the UK to be allowed to buy and sell electricity whilst in receivership.

Contentious LNG Matters

• Represented an LNG buyer in a dispute under two LNG SPAs; the disputes concern the exercise of termination rights and are subject to English law and NY law respectively; ICC arbitration with Singapore seat; over USD 100 million in dispute.
• Advised an LNG project owner in connection with termination and related rights under a LNG SPA subject to English law and ICC arbitration in London.

Oil and Gas

Advised:

• A major Japanese trading house on a proposed investment into two blocks (one a long standing operating block in Southeast Asia). 
• A global developer on the project financing of an Indonesian gas storage facility and separately on general Indonesian regulatory and contractual matters.
• An Australian developer on two major investments into the Indonesian coal bed methane sector, two separate gas sales agreements and related contractual work.
• An oil and gas investor on a dispute with counterparties under Indonesian gas transportation arrangements.
• An upstream developer on its farm-in into the North Madura PSC.
• An Asian developer on its purchase of an interest in the SES PSC.
• An Asian developer on a significant proposed investment into one of the leading Indonesian coal bed methane groups.
• A Middle Eastern investor on environmental and disaster management issues in relation to an upstream Indonesian holding.
• A global bank on a proposed Hong Kong listing of a major Indonesian power and gas group.
• Mubadala on the farm-out of its Kerapu PSC interest to Japex and on Indonesian drilling arrangements.
• A Japanese developer on its bid for Anadarko's oil and gas assets in Indonesia.
• A global bank on the refinancing of its term loan facilities for the listed Benakat group of companies.
• A Singapore developer on structuring the sale of early stage gas from a coal bed methane tenement in Indonesia.
• A Japanese developer on its development of a large CNG transportation project in Indonesia.