Mining and Metals

Haynes and Boone lawyers have represented clients in regard to their most challenging and significant mining and metals ventures nationally and internationally for nearly 40 years.

Mining and metals companies, industry consultants and service providers, commercial and multilateral financial institutions and other parties with interests in the minerals industry consistently look to our Mining and Metals Practice Group for assistance on everything from their day-to-day operations to their most pressing and difficult challenges and undertakings.

Many clients come to us for help in a particular area of law or with a specific issue in need of resolution. Many others rely on us for the comprehensive range of experience and legal services we are able to provide. Whatever scope of services a client may need, Haynes and Boone lawyers focus on providing creative, effective and efficient approaches to achieve the desired results for our valued clients, whether large or small.

Our practice team’s experience covers a broad spectrum of projects involving everything from start-up exploration companies to multinational majors. Commodities include copper, gold, platinum, palladium, silver, nickel, zinc, molybdenum, zeolite, coal, shale oil and uranium, among others. We are recognized for handling multi-jurisdictional engagements involving:

• Purchase and sale of mining and mineral assets and companies
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Joint venture/exploration and development agreements (including royalty agreements)
• Mineral rights, licenses and concessions (nationally and internationally)
• Initial exploration, claims staking and title
• Project financing (debt and equity)
• Project permitting (local, state and federal/provincial and national)
• Environmental permitting and compliance/NEPA, OSHA, MSHA, health and safety
• Labor and employment matters and agreements
• Infrastructure development (power, water, transportation)
• Commodities trading
• Securities compliance
• Initial public offerings and public listings
• Proxy fights and takeovers
• Administrative rulemakings and hearings
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Insurance recovery and settlements
• Distressed assets, debt refinancings, workouts, bankruptcies
• Tax matters (income and severance/VAT/royalties)
• Import and export controls
• Stability agreements/investment agreements/political risk/social license
• Bilateral investment treaties and double taxation treaties
• International mediation and arbitration
• Engineering, procurement and construction management contracts
• Capital equipment, design and purchase agreements
• Supply and vendor agreements
• Contract and purchase order management

A significant portion of the practice group’s work extends internationally, involving numerous clients and resource development projects and transactions throughout Asia, Africa and North and South America. To that end, our Mining and Metals Practice Group works seamlessly with lawyers in our international offices in China and Mexico to effectively navigate international and national mining laws, conventions and regulations across jurisdictions.