Michael Wachtel is based in our London office. He is a partner in our International Corporate Group and is the head of the upstream oil & gas practice. He has advised on all types of oil & gas production agreements and transactions in North Africa, West Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, Far East, Latin America and the former Soviet Union. Matters on which he has advised in the oil & gas sector include merger and acquisition transactions, projects, international upstream agreements, shareholders and subscription agreements, joint ventures, capital intensive offshore and onshore development and infrastructure projects, project financings and IPO work. Michael's practice includes advice on regulatory anti-corruption matters. He is retained by a number of clients as Chief Compliance Officer and frequently advises on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and the design and implementation of anti-corruption compliance policies and procedures. Michael regularly provides anti-corruption training to clients in a number of international jurisdictions. Michael has wide geographical experience, having lived and worked in Gabon, Congo, Angola, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, the US, Europe and Asia.
Michael is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators and a member and former Chairman of the UK Energy Lawyers Group Committee. He was educated at Sheffield University where he gained a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering and practised as an engineer in international oil and gas exploration and production before qualifying as a solicitor at a City firm of international lawyers. In all Michael has more than 20 years of experience in the international oil & gas industry.