I am a qualified lawyer specializing in the energy (oil, gas and electricity) sectors with extensive New Zealand and international experience in upstream oil and gas exploration and production and downstream electricity, oil, gas and liquids wholesale and retail utilities and regulatory agencies.My commercial experience encompasses General and Corporate Counsel, Head Legal Counsel and Legal Counsel roles covering; joint venture management of oil and gas exploration and production companies New Zealand Energy Corp., Austral Pacific Energy and New Zealand Oil & Gas, legal support to the wholesale management of upstream oil, gas and liquids for vertically integrated energy utilities (Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (1994 to 1999), Contact Energy (1999 to 2003), and also the Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (2009 to 2013)).In addition to the focus on upstream oil and gas, these roles have also included responsibility for the delivery of a wide range of legal advice and support to large power station and desalinated water procurement projects, merger & acquisition projects, the drafting and negotiation of oil, gas and power industry contracts, provision of joint venture and contractual advice, project, debt & equity financing, Board, organisational and listed issuer governance and litigation management.In addition to my commercial experience, I held the position of General Counsel in a newly established regulatory organisation (the New Zealand Electricity Commission) (2003 to 2007). As General Counsel, my responsibilities included management of the organisation’s legal function, legal team recruitment and mentoring, establishing and developing governance and regulatory frameworks.I continue to gain significant value from my experience and abilities gained in the earlier part of my career as a private practice litigation lawyer and advocate conducting and managing disputes and litigation in the competition, commercial and utilities area.