Mette Duffy

Counsel London

T + 44 20 8734 285

F + 44 20 8734 282

[email protected]

Biography

Mette’s broad practice incorporates transactional and dispute resolution work across the energy, offshore, shipping and renewables industries.

Mette’s transactional practice focuses on drafting and negotiating tenders, contracts (particularly EPC(IC), shipbuilding and conversion contracts) and associated project documentation for high-value, specialised and complex energy, offshore and shipping projects, particularly in the FPSO, FLNG, LNG, drilling and renewables sectors. She advises clients on matters across the full life cycle of energy, offshore and shipping assets, including: construction, conversion, repair and refit; chartering and operational arrangements (including demise chartering and management arrangements); and sale and purchase and recycling. Mette’s transactional practice is informed by her extensive dispute resolution experience and resulting knowledge of where problems typically arise and how best to address these.

Mette has significant experience of handling heavyweight and technically/legally complex international dispute resolution proceedings within the energy, offshore, shipping and renewables industries under all major arbitration rules (including LCIA/ICC/LMAA) and litigation in the English High Court (Commercial Court/TCC), as well as alternative dispute resolution.

Mette annually co-authors the chapter on shipbuilding contracts governed by the law of England and Wales in “Lexology Panoramic – Shipbuilding”.

Prior to joining Haynes Boone, Mette was a Managing Associate in the Energy & Infrastructure Group of another large international law firm.

Expand All

Selected Client Representations

Transactional

Advising Golar LNG Limited in connection with a US$ 2.2 billion floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) conversion project to convert the Golar owned LNG carrier Fuji LNG into a MK II FLNG vessel. This involved assisting Golar in relation to the preparation and negotiation of an EPCIC contract and other project documentation.
Acting for an FPSO owner/operator on a project with a major European contractor to design, construct, charter, operate and maintain an FPSO offshore Brazil. Providing assistance with drafting, reviewing and negotiating FPSO charter and operations and maintenance (O & M) agreements.
Acting for an FPSO owner/operator on the sale and purchase of an FPSO (including dovetailing the sale and purchase transaction with cross-jurisdictional requirements of the wider project for field sale and purchase and continued field operations of the FPSO).
Advising a European subsea cable installation contractor on contractual arrangements for a wind farm project.
Advising in relation to the design and construction of research vessels and ice-breaker vessels (including advising on, drafting and negotiating shipbuilding contracts).
Acting for an offshore drilling unit owner/operator in relation to the arrangements for the disposal of a semi-submersible drilling unit.
Acting for a large European owner in the sale of various LNG vessels.
Assisting buyers/builders with pro forma shipbuilding contracts and the adaption/negotiation of these for specific projects.

Dispute Resolution

Representing a client in the Far East on a technically complex semi-FPS EPCIC dispute concerning variations, defects and delay with claims and counterclaims totalling c. USD 1 billion.
Acting for major Middle Eastern contractor in a London LCIA arbitration with claims and counterclaims totalling c. USD 500 million. The dispute concerned termination of a state-of-the-art heavy lift and pipe lay vessel contract for alleged design breaches/delay.
Representing a European buyer regarding the cancellation of two supply vessel shipbuilding contracts and recovery under associated refund guarantees. This matter involved successful anti-suit injunctions and enforcement proceedings.
Acting for a JV in highly technical English High Court proceedings (Commercial Court) concerning the performance of a drilling rig (alleged BOP, top drive and tripping speed defects and problems caused by overloading one of the rig’s legs) and recoverability of spread costs.
Acting for FPSO owner/operator in ICC arbitration in Australia concerning performance issues related to well product and O & M issues.
Acting for European contractor in a London LCIA arbitration concerning foundation design issues.