About Laura
Laura Watt (née Young) focuses her practice on resolving disputes in the oil and gas, power and renewables sectors. Her recent experience includes advising on disputes concerning sale and purchase agreements, joint operating agreements and power and construction projects.
Laura has experience acting on English high court litigation and international arbitrations, including under the rules of the LCIA, ICC, DIAC and DIA.
Experience
Recent Notable Matters
Oil trading company — dispute with an African purchaser concerning non-payment for a cargo of crude oil
International E&P company — emergency ICC arbitration for urgent relief in relation to a joint operating agreement concerned with the exploration, exploitation and transportation of hydrocarbons in the Republic of Chad
International oil & gas company — dispute concerning payment provisions and decommissioning obligations in respect of an FPSO contract
EPC project company — in respect of disputes arising under an EPC contract for the construction of a large project in the Middle East concerning delay, liquidated damages, defects and calls on a performance bond
International E&P company — on the bilateral investment treaty protection available in the context of a proposed acquisition of African oil and gas assets
Egyptian oil company — repayment dispute under a subordinated loan agreement and sponsor undertakings
Nigerian oil & gas company — on the application of pre-emption rights under an operating agreement and on a potential expert determination concerning the value of those rights
Various international E&P companies — concerning the impact of an Iraqi Supreme Court decision on production sharing contracts entered into with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Nigerian oil & gas company — LCIA arbitration concerning contested sale and purchase obligations relating to crude offtake
Supermajor — advice in respect of potential claims against trader for failure to deliver certain LNG cargoes
International oil company — LCIA arbitration concerning claims under the leakage and warranty provisions of a SPA for the entire issued share capital of an oil and gas company
International consultancy — LCIA arbitration concerning non-payment of fees in respect of consultancy services concerning a North African nuclear power station
Aqua Ventures International FZE and others — English high court litigation (TCC) concerning breach of warranty claims arising from the sale and purchase of a UK biomass plant
Supermajor — dispute arising under warranties in an agreement for the sale of an upstream business in Latin America
International E&P company — LCIA arbitration relating to amounts payable by non-operating parties under the accounting procedure to a JOA concerning a North African asset, including advising on the default mechanism under the JOA
Independent energy company — dispute concerning the performance and termination of a contract for the supply of onshore 3-D seismic services
EPC contractor — DIA arbitration relating to insurance policy claims in respect of energy from waste (EfW) and biomass projects in the UK*
EPC contractor — advice on potential claims relating to the design of a number of biomass plants in the UK*
* Work completed prior to Bracewell
Publications and Speeches
“Rare Judgment from Commercial Court on scope of AA 1996, s 32 and its interaction with AA 1996, s 72” Lexis Nexis, July 1, 2021.