Iraq Transactions and Claims Practice Group

With the recent opening of Iraq to foreign investment and trade, Haynes and Boone LLP’s multidisciplinary Iraq Transactions and Claims practice group is designed to assist clients with this new market. Our transactional practitioners are available not only to structure and document international projects in Iraq, but also to travel to the host country to negotiate and close the deals. Our finance attorneys are experienced in project finance and obtaining other forms of specialized international credit facilities required for development projects in Iraq. Our international claims lawyers are seasoned international and national litigators who are well acquainted with the resolution of investment, commercial and trade disputes that have arisen from the overthrow of the Hussein regime, and include attorneys who have participated in many international claims and arbitration work. Our claims group also includes specialists in U.S. and international regulations governing trade and investment in many international venues.

Experience
While U.N. and U.S. sanctions formerly imposed on Iraq limited the role of U.S. companies and attorneys in the past, our Iraq Transactions and Claims Practice Group includes lawyers who have decades of experience in the type of work demanded by our clients in Iraq today. By way of example, our attorneys have worked on the following types of projects relating to Iraq:

• Work regarding the continuing effectiveness of production sharing agreements and related oilfield service contracts predating the change in the Hussain regime.
• Advice on positioning U.S. and foreign companies for the commencement of business and reconstruction in Iraq, including providing assistance in obtaining strategic intelligence on the current conduct of business in Iraq.
• Advice on U.S. and U.N. sanction issues, including obtaining trade and regulatory approvals for projects under the U.N. Oil-For-Food Program and providing guidance on maintaining compliance with existing export controls, anti-boycott regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
• Evaluation of possible international investment or commercial claims arising from the Interim Authority’s potential declaration of the invalidity of the Hussein-era concession agreements or the U.N. revocation of approved Oil-For-Food Program contracts.
• Assistance in forming investment groups or other investment vehicles for conduct of onshore and offshore business in Iraq.

Proactive, deal-oriented representation of our clients is not just a slogan but a fundamental approach to business for us. At Haynes and Boone, LLP, we have a particular focus on the energy industry. We are fully conversant with all major forms of agreements for exploration and production of petroleum internationally, their financing, and the litigation of claims arising within the petroleum industry worldwide.

We also provide investment, finance, litigation and regulatory assistance to significant international clients in the construction, agricultural, telecommunications, hospitality, and aviation industries, all of which will gain benefits from and provide benefits to the reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

Our attorneys are active in many industry groups, including the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, Houston Producers Forum, Houston Petroleum Club and Houston International Arbitration Club. They also serve as top leaders of international bar groups, including the American Bar Association's Section of International Law & Practice, the International Bar Association, and various arbitral institutions.
Although we keep all matters entrusted to us confidential, we recognize the special concerns of companies in the oil and gas industry in keeping their business and prospects confidential. We represent a wide range of clients, from individual entrepreneurs to the majors, and all receive the same special attention to ensure the confidentiality of their dealings through us.

Attorneys active in our Iraq Transactions and Claims practice group include:

Transactional: Hunt Buckley Buddy Clark Sergei Lomako

Finance: Ken Hurwitz Brad Richards

Claims: Patricia Casey Andrew Fono Francisco Rivero Odean Volker