Darren Spalding, Energy Lawyer, London Attorney, Bracewell

He is particularly effective on complex international energy transactions, where he combines technical excellence with clarity, pragmatism and a strong sense of deal dynamics. He is very good in negotiations, clear in his advice and highly effective at identifying the key risk and value points without overcomplicating the process.
Chambers UK, 2027

Darren Spalding is recognized as a global leader in energy and resources transactions and projects. He is co-chair of the firm’s oil and gas practice and has more than two decades of experience in the energy and resources industry. Darren advises clients on energy and resources M&A transactions and projects as well as mining royalty acquisitions and arrangements, with a particular focus on cross-border matters, having worked on deals and projects in more than 40 jurisdictions.

Darren is lauded across the industry and is praised as a leading M&A lawyer by IFLR1000 Financial & Corporate and M&A Guide (2017-2025), ranked in Chambers Global (2024-2026) and Chambers UK (2019-2027), and is also highly regarded by The Legal 500 United Kingdom (2014-2021, 2024, 2026-2027). He is widely published by a broad range of industry journals, presents at industry conferences, is regularly quoted in the press and is the co-author of an industry model form transaction agreement.

Oil and Gas

Eni S.p.A.

development of the Argentina LNG project, the largest ever investment project in Argentina
acquisition from YPF of a 50% operated upstream interest in Block 5 in Uruguay, representing a country entry for Eni
development of the Gasha mega gas project in the UAE, including the shareholder arrangements with ADNOC and PTTEP
transactions with Qatar Petroleum, Repsol, Capricorn Energy, Lukoil and Citla in upstream assets in Mexico

Trident Energy

acquisition of Chevron (Overseas) Congo Limited, a company holding interests in the Moho-Bilondo, Nkossa, Nsoko II and Lianzi upstream oil and gas assets in the Republic of Congo, the sale to TotalEnergies of an interest in the Moho-Bilondo asset, the acquisition from TotalEnergies of its interests in, and operatorship of, the Nkossa and Nsoko II assets, together with the offtake financing and debt financing arrangements
development of its proposed floating LNG project in the Republic of Congo

Harbour Energy

$3.2 billion acquisition of LLOG Exploration
disposal of upstream interests in the North Sea, as well as in relation to internal re-organisations of some of its North Sea upstream assets

Energean

acquisition from Chevron of interests in Block 14 and the Lianzi unit in Angola for consideration of up to $510 million

Meren Energy

amalgamation transaction with BTG Pactual Oil & Gas to consolidate their respective shareholdings in Prime Oil & Gas, which owns interests in world-class producing upstream oil and gas assets in Nigeria
negotiation of the Block 18 and Block 31 production sharing contracts in Equatorial Guinea

Viaro Energy

proposed acquisition of Shell UK Limited and Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited’s Southern North Sea Gas Assets and interests in the Bacton Gas Processing Terminal in the UK

New Age (African Global Energy) Ltd

sale of its interest in the Etinde gas and condensate project in Cameroon to Perenco
sale of its interest in the Aje field in Nigeria to Petronor

Chevron Corporation

acquisition of a 40 percent stake in three deepwater exploration blocks in Mexico from Shell
$1.7 billion sale to Valero of its downstream business in the UK and Ireland, including the Pembroke refinery
€130 million sale to CEPSA of its downstream business in Spain

Delfin LNG

development of the Delfin floating LNG project in the United States

Ophir Energy

sale of its interest in Block 5 in the Salina Basin offshore Mexico to Murphy Oil Corporation, Petronas and Wintershall DEA
$2 billion proposed floating LNG project offshore Equatorial Guinea, including host government arrangements, LNG sales agreements, chartering agreements, joint venture arrangements, project financing, and construction

SemGroup

sale of SemLogistics Milford Haven Limited, a petroleum terminal and storage business located in South Wales, to Valero Energy

JKX Oil & Gas

acquisition from, and sale to, HHE of certain upstream oil and gas assets in Hungary under an asset swap transaction

Hess Corporation

$1 billion sale to ONGC Videsh of its interests in the ACG field in Azerbaijan and BTC pipeline

ConocoPhillips

$75 million sale of its interest in the BTC pipeline assets in Azerbaijan to Itochu

Murphy Oil Corporation

sale of its entire North Sea upstream oil and gas business, including its interests in the Schiehallion field to Shell, Mungo and Monan fields to First Oil and the Amethyst field to Perenco

VTTI Energy Partners

acquisition of a 6.6 percent interest for $75 million and an 8.4 percent interest for $96 million in the operating company owning petroleum product terminals in the Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia, the UAE and the United States

Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration

project agreements in relation to the development of the Tamar field offshore Israel in connection with its $900 million financing

DNO

merger with RAK Petroleum of their Middle East and North African upstream oil and gas businesses, valuing the combined assets at $1.9 billion

BP

$1.6 billion sale to Lukoil of a joint venture interest in the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan and the CPC pipeline from Kazakhstan to Russia

Renewables

Eni S.p.A.

contribution of its 20 percent interest in the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm and other offshore wind assets to Vårgrønn, its joint venture with HitecVision, and related shareholder arrangements
£140 million acquisition of a 20 percent interest in the Dogger Bank (C) 1.2 GW offshore wind farm project from Equinor and SSE
£405 million acquisition of 20 percent interest in the Dogger Bank (A and B) 2.4 GW offshore wind farm project from Equinor and SSE

Preferred bidder

proposed acquisition of the 580 MW Gabal El Zeit wind farm, the first privatisation of its kind in Egypt

Developer

sale of solar assets in Jordan and Armenia

Mining and Metals

ASCOM

sale of its interest in the Kurmuk gold exploration project in Ethiopia to Allied Gold Corporation

Ecora Resources

acquisition of 0.85 percent gross revenue royalty over the Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project in South Africa and the acquisition of shares in Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd, the majority owner of the Project
$20 million acquisition of royalty interests from Incoa Performance Minerals LLC in respect of its calcium carbonate mine in the Dominican Republic
$50.25 million acquisition of a net smelter royalty from Mantos Copper in respect of its copper mine in Chile

Publications & Speeches

“Leaving from America – The Differences Between US and International Oil, Gas Transactions,” Hart Energy, June 24, 2026.
“Six Trends Shaping African Mining,” Project Finance International, March 11, 2026.
“United Kingdom: Energy – Oil & Gas,” Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides 2026, February 2026.
“Floating LNG and FSRUs: Boom or Bust for Emerging Markets?” LNG Industry, January 2026.
“Natural Gas — A Vital Bridge for the Middle East’s Energy Future,” Petroleum Economist, October 17, 2025.
“Fuelling the Future: Energy Giants Enter the Mining Sector,” International Comparative Legal Guides: Mining Law 2026, September 2025.
“Navigating Disruption in the Mining Sector,” Project Finance International, July 29, 2025.
“Emerging Trends in the Global Oil and Gas Sector,” New Energy World, May 14, 2025.
“United Kingdom: Energy – Oil & Gas,” Legal 500: Energy – Oil & Gas Comparative Guide, Legalease Ltd., February 2025.
“Unearthing Potential: Opportunities and Challenges for the Mining Industry in Emerging Markets,” Mining Magazine, February 4, 2025.
“Navigating the North Sea: NSTA Releases New Guidance to Streamline M&A Transactions,” LexisNexis, January 2025.
“Hidden Gems: The Role of Critical Minerals in the Energy Transition,” ICLG: Mining Law 2025, September 2024.
“Deals in Africa: 10 Things to Watch in 2024,” Energy Voice, 19 January, 2024.
“2023 AIEN Model Form JOA: Placing ESG Issues at Heart of Oil & Gas Operations,” LexisNexis, March 2023.
“Assessing African Upstream M&A Activity in 2022: The Majors Lead the Charge,” Energy Voice, December 28, 2022.
“Competing Considerations in Intercreditor Agreements for Project Finance, Mining Streams and Royalties,” ICLG: Mining Law, 2023.
“Re-shaping the UK Energy regime in an uncertain political landscape,” LexisPSL, July 26, 2022.
“CCS and the Role of Project Finance,” Project Finance International, 6 April, 2022.
“United Kingdom: Energy – Oil & Gas,” The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guide 2020.
“Asset Purchase Agreement (oil and gas),” Practical Law Company, September 2020.
“A Bespoke Model: Bracewell reviews the new international AIPN oil and gas farm-out agreement and its impact on the Middle East,” The Oath, September 2019.
“Oil and Gas M&A: Q&A,” Practical Law Company, February 2019.
“The UK Oil and Gas Authority: A catalyst for change?” International Law Office Energy & Natural Resources Newsletter, March 2016.
“‘Kind words and guns’ – Penalty clauses redefined by the English courts,” IFLR, January 2016.
“Challenges of Methane Hydrates,” Oil & Gas Financial Journal, May 2014.
“Government announces major North Sea tax cuts,” International Law Office Energy and Natural Resources Newsletter, May 2015.
“Underground Drilling Access for UK Shale Developers: The 300 Metre Question,” Natural Gas Europe, June 2014.
“The Future of the UK North Sea: A New Game with More Rules,” Oil & Gas Financial Journal, March 2014.