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Energy & Resources

Our energy and resources specialists are New Zealand’s leading oil and gas exploration and development lawyers.  We provide expertise and experience in the petroleum retail markets, gas transmission, gas distribution pipelines, electricity transmission, electricity distribution, electricity generation, and gas wholesale markets.

 

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Area Experts

Our Expertise

Our team are also specialists in the electricity wholesale markets, geothermal energy, coal mining, gold mining, other hard rock mining, alternative energy (including wind power) and other natural resources.

 

We provide advice on contract preparation and negotiation (joint venture agreements, project contracts including supply contracts, off-take contracts and procurement contracts), legislative regimes, project entities and structures, project financing and acquisitions and divestments.

 

We have acted for the New Zealand government, state-owned enterprises and private sector companies, including multinationals, in oil and gas exploration and development and petrochemical electricity, coal, hard rock and alternative energy (wind power) projects.

 

The gas pipeline and electricity lines businesses are subject to price/quality regulation and we have special expertise in these regulatory regimes.

     

Recent News and Articles

| 23 Jul 2010 | Energy and Resources
The question of whether or not New Zealand should fall in line with countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Venezuela and Brazil and have its own wholly or partly owned national oil company. Article re-produced courtesy of Energy News. www.energynews.co.nz (pdf. 179kb) READ MORE*
| 06 May 2010 | Energy and Resources
While there is a strong concern over opening Schedule 4 land to mining, there is little public awareness of the current protections against adverse and potentially negative impacts of such activities. (pdf 828kb) Item reproduced by courtesy of Energy NZ magazine.READ MORE*
| 16 Feb 2010 | Energy and Resources
The impact that renewable generation and improved technologies will have on the energy sector is not yet comprehended, let alone understood. (pdf 582 kb). Item re-reproduced courtesy of Energy NZ magazine.READ MORE*
| 18 Dec 2009 | Energy and Resources
Trans-Tasman single economic market: a step in the right direction for oil and gas (pdf 54kb). Re-produced by courtesy of Oil and Gas Gazette.READ MORE*
| 22 Jul 2009 | Energy and Resources
Standalone, specifically designed legislation is the most appropriate means of regulating Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) activities in New Zealand should they turn out to be viable (pdf.24kb). Article by courtesy of Energy News, 16 July 2009, 14:20.READ MORE*
| 01 Jul 2009 | Energy and Resources
Coal to liquid technology - implications for the petroleum industry (pdf 320kb). Article by courtesy of Oil & Gas Gazette, June 2009, Volume 3 Number 1.READ MORE*
| 10 Jun 2009 | Energy and Resources
Bryan Gundersen and Helen Sims, from Kensington Swan Lawyers, present both sides of the case for 'coal to liquid' technology in New Zealand. (PDF 260KB). Article by courtesy of Energy Magazine: Issue 09 Winter 09READ MORE*
| 18 Dec 2008 | Energy and Resources
Commercial relationships between parties in the energy sector are almost always governed by contracts, and a number of different methods and tools are used in documenting negotiations. (pdf 848kb). Article courtesy of Energy NZ magazine: Issue 07 Summer 08.READ MORE*
| 24 Jun 2008 | Energy and Resources
A recent Commerce Commission investigation highlights that the 'pitfalls of promoting green' are real and business must proceed with caution when 'green claims'. READ MORE*
| 10 Apr 2008 | Energy and Resources
Partner Grant Nicholson and Associate Blair Edwards report on recent sentencing trends and developments in Health and Safety in Employment Act cases.READ MORE*
| 19 Mar 2008 | Energy and Resources
According to partner Bryan Gundersen, the future direction of the energy industry, and the future success of renewable energy, largely depends on the price of carbon.READ MORE*
| 16 Nov 2007 | Energy and Resources
A joint presentation by kensington Swan Partner, Bryan Gundersen, and Phil O'Reilly (CEO Business New Zealand) on Governance responses to climate change and the impact of political issues.READ MORE*