Brodies unveils three new partners, including leading oil and gas lawyer, in Aberdeen office
Law firm Brodies has unveiled three new partners in its Aberdeen office, including two new recruits who have joined the practice from Pinsent Masons.
Brodies
Energy transition: How to protect your intellectual property
The oil & gas sector has a vital role to play in transitioning to net zero by 2050, and in mature basins like the UKCS, much can be achieved. Innovation and technology will be key to unlocking many of these opportunities.
Union boss suggests ‘job sharing’ for North Sea workers as Chancellor unveils new scheme
A trade union boss has suggested creating a “job share” scheme to help safeguard North Sea oil industry workers’ positions until offshore activity ramps up next year.
Warning of ‘imminent’ consultations on North Sea job losses as UK furlough nears end
A union and an employment law specialist have warned of "imminent" consultations on North Sea job losses as the UK Government furlough scheme comes to an end next month.
Brodies posts 10th consecutive year of growth
Scottish law firm Bodies has marked the 10th consecutive year of growth with its latest set of annual accounts.
Revised furlough scheme unlikely to ‘stem tide’ of oil job losses
The UK Government’s furlough scheme is unlikely to “stem the tide” of oil industry job losses as employers are told to start contributing to wages in the coming months, lawyers and politicians said.
‘Desperate situation’ for North Sea oilfield service firms as furlough costing six figure sums
Many North Sea oilfield service firms are being left in a “desperate situation” over whether to axe staff or pay mounting maintenance costs to keep them on furlough.
UK oil firms ‘grappling’ between redundancies and furlough scheme
Oil and gas firms are “grappling” between putting workers on the government’s coronavirus furlough scheme or going straight to redundancies, according to experts.
‘Great uncertainty’ for employers using Covid-19 furlough scheme
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the "Scheme") was announced on 20 March 2020 and opened to applications on 20 April 2020. By 23 April 2020 it had received 512,000 claims in respect of 3.8 million furloughed employees. However, a great deal of uncertainty remains around the application of the Scheme to businesses in the oil and gas sector.
MAC report recommendations could simplify the new immigration system
The topic of immigration has been front page news this week across the UK. In Scotland there have been calls for a 'Scottish visa' and devolution of immigration powers. The UK Government also announced this week that a new global talent visa category will open from 20 February 2020 to encourage scientists, researchers and mathematicians to come to the UK. And yesterday, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) reported on its recommendations for the new single skills-based immigration system which will come into effect following the Brexit implementation period. All change then on the immigration front.
Plan, prepare and pre-empt: Watchwords for 2020
The new year always brings into focus those things which have been delayed or ignored over the last twelve months. In a corporate setting this can be damaging to a business and in the oil and gas industry, it could have significant compliance issues. With that in mind, there are some key areas oil and gas businesses should turn their attention to, to be fully prepared for entering 2020.
Dealmakers look ahead to ‘big year’ for M&A in UK North Sea
As some of the North Sea’s private equity-backed players prepare themselves for public listings, 2020 is expected to be a “big year” for gauging the size of investors’ appetites.
Energy Institute young professionals dinner attracts more than 200 people
More than 220 people gathered in Aberdeen for an event celebrating and rewarding the energy sector’s best young talent.
Securing investment in UKCS oil and gas projects
While it is becoming commonplace to hear the names of investors reported alongside the names of their investee companies who have acquired UKCS assets, obtaining investment in oil and gas projects remains a complex area for independent oil and gas companies looking to grow their presence, or international organisations hoping to invest in the UKCS.
Oil & gas: a vital role in the transition to clean energy
Momentum is growing on a global scale to take action on climate change.
Draft plans for IR35 contractor changes raise concern for North Sea talent pool
Concern has been raised over the cost to businesses and the potential shrinking of the North Sea workforce over plans to change contractor pay rules.
Thousands back campaign to stop IR35 contractor pay changes
More than 16,000 people have backed a campaign to stop changes to contractor pay rules which will widely impact the North Sea energy sector.
Brodies’ oil and gas team sees busy year
Strong deals activity in the North Sea is driving growth for the specialist oil and gas team at Scotland’s largest law firm.
Easier environmental enforcement? You’re welcome
The new Offshore Environmental Civil Sanctions Regulations 2018 are coming…
All Energy: Recent Developments in the Green Loan Market
Green finance has been a hot topic over the last few years. Although opinions differ as to exactly what sort of financial activity falls into this sphere, generally any provision of debt or equity funding to take forward a project or product that is expected to reap an environmental benefit could be said to be green finance. Financing of renewable energy projects and climate change mitigation initiatives are usually referred to as key aspects of green finance.
Tax history transfer could cause M&A deal delays
There could be a “glut or a delay” in North Sea merger and acquisition activity towards the end of 2018, as firms wrap their heads around the prospect of transferable tax history legislation.
2018 to be year of service sector M&A deals, Brodies says
For the UKCS upstream oil & gas sector, 2017 could perhaps be labelled the year of “cautious optimism”. We have heard that phrase a lot over the last twelve months. The optimism may have been well-founded though, as after a hiatus in upstream deals in 2015 and 2016, caused by the oil price crash and compounded by specific issues related to the maturity of the basin – such as aging infrastructure, decommissioning cost and deal complexity - in 2017, things picked up and we have seen the signing and completion of a number of significant deals.
Forum arranged to mark the launch of new oil and gas databank
Leading lights of the North Sea industry will take part in a forum timed to coincide with the launch of a new knowledge bank.
Pinsent Masons and Brodies hail revenue increases
Two law firms with operations in Aberdeen managed to grow their revenues in 2015/16, they revealed today. Pinsent Masons recorded global turnover of £382.3million in the year to April 30, 2016, up 5.5% on the previous 12 months. The firm’s profits per partner increased by 2.3% to £550,000.
Budget 2016: North Sea tax cut “disappointing”
The fresh measures introduced by the UK Government to help support the North Sea oil and gas industry have been described as "disappointing".