Juan Guillermo Riancho
Juan is an experienced in-house corporate and international lawyer with over twenty-five years of corporate and commercial experience in oil & gas, M&A, construction projects, EPC contracts, environmental remediation works, project finance, renewables projects and corporate governance.
Juan worked for BP PLC in Houston as legal counsel for Latin America and in Europe (Madrid, Milan & London) on projects involving the privatization of the natural gas sector in several countries in southern Europe–including major projects such as gas pipeline construction between Algeria and Spain and the construction of regasification and trigeneration plants in Spain.
Juan also worked as Chief Upstream legal counsel for Oman Oil E&P in the Sultanate of Oman and Kazakhstan providing legal and commercial advice in the development of large oil & gas reservoirs, EPC construction of gas plants and tie-in networks, as well as leading and coordinating negotiations with E&P services contractors (fracture stimulation, cementing, wire logging, and other) for the development oil gas reservoirs.
Juan later became General Counsel of Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI Q8). There he led a team of thirty-five lawyers in several jurisdictions across Europe and Asia providing direct legal, commercial, ESG/corporate governance and strategic business advice to the top management and the boards of directors of the KPI group of companies. He also served as the interface with the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation Board. Juan led the legal team in mega-projects for the construction of refineries and petrochemical green field projects in Vietnam and Oman as well as the divestment of a brown field refinery in The Netherlands, a project for remediation of land in a brown field refinery of Kuwait Petroleum Italy in Sicily, Italy, the creation and organization of a JV with a large Japanese oil & gas company for the operation of gas retail stations in Vietnam, among other tasks and projects.
- As General Counsel for Kuwait Petroleum International, reported directly to the President, provided legal and strategic advice on all business and operations of the KPI group of companies worldwide, including compliance matters, business investments, risk identification and advice, corporate relationships and delegations concerning the company’s affiliates and JVs located in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and major M&A projects across the world, among other tasks.
- Provided legal advice, coordinated and conducted all legal tasks in core teams engaged in new refining and marketing major projects in Asia and Middle East ($10B+ projects), including negotiating with pool of banks and ECAs project finance for large industrial projects (refinery and petrochemical/ gas plants construction), development of joint venture companies or consortium agreements with host country and international companies, drafting & negotiation of all related documentation including EPC contracts.
- Supervised and coordinated legal team of 35 lawyers located in 7 offices in several jurisdictions internationally, managing leadership and communication in order to provide advice/coordination worldwide in M&A projects, project finance for “Mega” projects in the Middle East and Asia, EPC contracts, JV relationships, major litigation, international corporate compliance matters.
- Participated in negotiations for, and the implementation of, substantial acquisitions or disposals of companies or assets as part of Kuwait Petroleum’s expansion or restructuring activities such as the divestment of a brownfield and ongoing business refinery in the Netherlands, the construction of greenfield petrochemical and refining projects in Vietnam and Oman (~$10B) including project finance set up and negotiations with pool of international banks and credit export agencies.
- As Senior Legal Counsel for Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production, provided legal support to all E&P operations. This included the drafting, preparation and negotiation of exploration and production contracts including drilling, coring, fracture stimulation, cementing, wire logging, civil engineering, camp services, purchase of major equipment such as oilfield country tubular goods, high pressure wellhead equipment and several other service contracts needed for the well delivery and drilling campaigns of the company in its activities as operator in the Sultanate of Oman.
- Provided legal advice to Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production in its investment upstream assets both in Oman and internationally regarding the company’s relationship with other partners in those assets and the host government. In this role the advice was given through the review and negotiation of Joint Operating Agreements, Shareholder Agreements, Exploration and Production Agreements in several countries.
- Provided legal advice to OOCEP Business Development division through the drafting, preparation and negotiation of confidentiality agreements, memorandums of understanding, farm-in/farm/out agreements, joint study agreements and other similar documents, for new possible business investments of OOCEP in Oman, the Middle East and internationally (examples include Iran, Yemen, Abu Dhabi, Tunisia, Albania, Egypt and Indonesia).
- Provided legal advice to the major facilities project division of Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production and legal support to the Musandam Gas Plant (MGP) project for the construction of a gas processing plant in the region of Musandam in Oman. Participated in the drafting, preparation and negotiation of the EPC contract signed in 2010 for the construction of a gas processing plant ($500MM).
- Participated in the drafting, preparation and negotiation of the Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contract signed in 2011 gas processing plant ($300MM).
- As Legal Counsel Downstream for BP Oil in Madrid, Spain, provided general legal support to the fuels value chain business in Spain related to the gas stations retail business. This included drafting and negotiation of gas station divestments and acquisitions, branding agreements, marketing and BP convenience store agreements and the coordination of the litigation related to the business. Provided general legal support to most of the downstream business of BP in Spain including wholesale of fuels, LPG, lubricants and marine bunkers, automotive lubricants, among other products.
- Provided legal support for Bitumen business in Spain in the entering of the coke sale and purchase market in Spain and Europe. Provided legal advice, drafting and negotiation of the first coke sale and purchase agreements of BP in Spain to Lafarge and Cemex, both multinational cement companies.
- As Legal Manager Gas & Power for BP Gas/LNG in Madrid, Spain, provided legal support to major projects division for the acquisition of an interest in Medgaz, an entity established for the construction of a natural gas pipeline linking Algeria and Spain, ($1B). Drafting and negotiation of all the major contracts such as shareholders agreement, gas transportation agreements through the pipeline, gas supply agreements and EPC of gas pipeline. Provided general legal support to the BP’s Director to the Medgaz Board and to other members of the various corporate committees in the company in their interface with other stakeholders in the project (Sonatrach, Gaz de France, Total, Iberdrola and, Endesa).
- Provided legal support to the major projects division in the drafting and negotiations for EPC for construction of a 2.7 BCMA gas regasification plant located in Bilbao, Spain (€300MM) and all other major contracts related to such facility including major gas supply agreements ($850MM).
- Provided support in the Bilbao regasification plant joint venture partner relationship as well as other corporate matters related to the project, such as guarantees by partners to the JV entity, shareholder loans to JV entity, letters of indemnity (LOI’s), agreements of indemnity, parent company guarantee letters and other partnership matters.
- Provided support to the activities of the gas marketing companies in Spain and Italy relating to gas supply contracts, MOUs, Head of Terms, gas to power generation projects, claims to access Spanish Gas Grid and other matters. Provided legal support in the preparation of relevant documentation aimed to participate in gas bidding rounds organized by the Spanish and Italian Governments (€2BB).
- Acquisition of interests in several joint venture companies such as BP’s interest in Enagas the Spanish natural gas grid operator (€75MM).
- General legal support to the gas & power business activities in Italy through, among other, the drafting and implementation of a standard power supply agreement, a standard gas supply agreement and an LNG supply agreement for the Italian domestic market. Supported BP Italia entity in its entry in the Italian gas market, through the drafting of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), Confidentiality Agreements, Heads of Terms and other documentation.
- Legal support in negotiations and drafting of EPC and O&M contracts related to a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine project in Cartagena, Spain. Drafted, negotiated related Gas Supply Agreement ($1.2B).
- Provided legal support in several company divestments through the drafting, negotiation and execution of relevant documentation such as the BP’s interest in LUBRISUR S.A. a lubricants blending plant in southern Spain ($10MM).
- European legal advisor for BP Code of Conduct, Ethics and Compliance matters.
- As Legal Counsel for BP Exploration & Oil Inc., provided legal assistance in the dissolution and formation of Joint Venture projects in Latin America (Amoxxo JV in Mexico 40 M US$). Provided legal advice to affiliate companies of BP Amoco established in Argentina and Bolivia which involved the exploration and production of oil and gas and the transportation and marketing of gas in the region.
- Provided legal support in joint operating agreements related to exploration and production fields, provided advice in matters related to the limited liability company agreement of Pan American Energy (BP oil and gas joint venture company in Argentina) and the Master Agreement for the Southern Cone region.
- Participated in contract negotiations for the supply of gas in Bolivia and provided assistance in the privatization agreement and other related contracts of Chaco S.A. a BP oil & gas joint venture company in Bolivia.
- Provided legal assistance to BP affiliated companies in their upstream and downstream business activities in Latin America: drafting, negotiation and implementation of supply, service, distribution, association, and joint venture agreements.
- Provided legal assistance to BP Exploration Venezuela in upstream matters such as operating services agreements, unitization agreements, rig mobilization agreements from Venezuela to the Gulf of Mexico and other service contracts.
- Legal assistance to BP Oil (Venezuela) for downstream market of gas stations in Venezuela. Drafted, negotiated, and implemented distribution, franchise, and services agreements, leasing and land acquisitions, trademark registration and applications for government permits and operating licenses.
- Represented several European multinational and midsize companies and assisted in their international transactions: negotiating and drafting agreements in connection with the sale and purchase of oil/petroleum products as well as exchange agreements; the protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights and transfer of technology agreements; distribution, marketing, franchise and service agreements.
- As International Legal Counsel in the international legal department of Maraven S.A. (PDVSA affiliate), reporting to the General Counsel, Provided direct assistance to the International Marketing, Supply and Transportation Departments: drafting, negotiation and implementation of supply, service, distribution and sale and purchase agreements as well as exploration projects related to Venezuela’s international auctions of exploration rights.
- Legal 500 Recognition for Corporate Legal Departments in Middle East 2018
- Diploma in Project Finance, Société Générale, UK
- Diploma International Oil & Gas Law Contracts and Negotiations, The Southwestern Legal Foundation and The Rocky Mineral Law Foundation
- Diploma in International Maritime Law, University of Southampton Institute of Maritime Law, England
- Master in Contract and Legislative Drafting, University of Ottawa School of Law Common Law Section, Canada
- Diploma in International Comparative Law, University of Madrid, Spain
- Diploma in International Finance, Institute of Commercial Studies, Chamber of Commerce of Madrid, Spain
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Madrid Ministry of Education and Science, Spain
- Bachelor of Laws, Universidad Catolica Andrés Bello, Venezuela
Spanish (Native)
English (Fluent)
French (Fluent)
German (Fluent)
Italian (Proficient)
- Spain
- Venezuela