NATURAL RESOURCES

The Firm's Natural Resource Practice Group assists clients in the areas of oil and gas, minerals and mining and environmental law. Familiar with the language, business practices and infrastructure throughout Central and South America, members of the Natural Resources Group are uniquely positioned to facilitate energy and natural resources-related business issues for their clients.

The Group counsels companies engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil, gas and mining, including hard rock minerals, non minerals and coal, in the following:

acquisition, transfer and pledging of Oil, Gas and Mining rights;
seeking of regulatory approvals and permits required for natural resources exploration, development and production activities;
formation of joint ventures;
participation and preparation for bidding procedures before regulating authorities;
transfer and negotiation of mining rights (concessions and mining agreements) and mining agreements, including legal opinions required for foreign stock exchanges and authorities;
corporate governance;
tax and labor planning;
corporate finance, restructuring and reorganization;
corporate due diligence for natural resources ventures;
project finance;
mining, milling and processing agreements, leases, commercialization and marketing of minerals, local community relations.

We also counsel oil and gas clients in oil and gas regulations, negotiation of concession and supply agreements and transfer of assets and equity.

The environmental practice includes: environmental audits, compliance with local regulations, seeking of authorizations needed to conduct exploration, development and exploitation of natural resources, and land use.