Paul Jones is a transactional energy lawyer. He advises major integrated energy companies, independent developers, and funds on M&A, joint ventures, fundraising, and project development in the energy sector.
Paul has experience across the full energy-value chain, with a particular emphasis on advising clients on upstream oil and gas, LNG (liquefied natural gas), and first-of-a-kind energy transition projects in developed and emerging markets.
Prior to joining Jones Day in 2025, Paul handled many multibillion-dollar transactions, including the sale and purchase of upstream assets in Brazil and Egypt and the development of LNG projects in sub-Saharan Africa. He recently advised independent oil and gas companies on the acquisition of numerous UK North Sea assets, a renewable energy business on a fundraising to develop the United Kingdom's first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage plant (winner of IJGlobal's Impact Award and shortlisted for project finance deal of the year at the IFLR Europe Awards), a supermajor on the development of the first green hydrogen and ammonia project in Oman, and funds on a range of acquisitions, divestments, and fundraisings related to renewable energy projects.
Paul was previously based in the United Arab Emirates (2016-2020) and Tanzania (2012-2013). He has worked extensively across the Middle East and Africa, including as general counsel of a UAE government-owned oil and gas company with assets in jurisdictions including Turkmenistan, Egypt, and Iraq. Client feedback in The Legal 500 describes Paul as a "hugely trusted and valued resource" and notes that "having worked in the industry, he understands how to deliver concise information in tense environments."
Paul is a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators.
Erfahrung
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Oil and Gas — Upstream
Dragon Oil: US$600 million acquisition of BP's Gulf of Suez assets, concession negotiations and country-exits, offtake agreements, upstream service agreements, and disputes. Advised on transactions and operational issues in Turkmenistan, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, and Afghanistan.
Waldorf Production: Advised on six transactions with a combined value of $1.5 billion, including the acquisition of interests in the Catcher and Kraken fields in UK North Sea from Capricorn Energy, the acquisition of Alpha Petroleum, the acquisition of MOL Group's entire UK upstream portfolio, and two further deals to acquire upstream assets from TAQA Energy and Dana Petroleum in the Netherlands.
Rhino Resources: Built an African upstream exploration portfolio through the acquisition of assets in South Africa, Namibia, Comoros Islands, and the Senegal-Guinea Bissau AGC.
Petrobras: US$1.636 billion auction sale of producing Brazilian assets and a number of other matters, including reviewing joint operating agreements, commercial agreements, and drafting documents related to an auction sale of additional assets.
Petronas: US$175 million sale of subsidiary entity Star Energy Group to IGas Energy plc.
Oil and Gas — Midstream and Downstream
bp: Advised on the sale of its ground fuels business in Mozambique, together with its 50% interest in SAMCOL, to TotalEnergies.
TAQA Arabia: Integrated gas and power development project in Mauritania (including gas supply, gas/LNG [liquefied natural gas] transportation, and wheeling arrangements with national utility SOMELEC).
Ophir Energy: US$2 billion floating LNG project offshore Equatorial Guinea, including host government arrangements, LNG sales agreements, chartering agreements, joint venture arrangements, project financing, and construction.
ConocoPhillips: US$75 million sale of oil pipeline assets Crescent Petroleum — gas sales agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government.
VTTI Energy Partners: Acquisition of a 6.6% interest for US$75 million and an 8.4% interest for US$96 million in the operating company owning petroleum product terminals in the Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
BG Group: Various aspects of BG's participation in the Tanzania LNG Project, including host government agreement negotiations, land rights issues, and agreements related to the shared ownership of LNG facilities.
Oil and Gas — Services
Petrofac: Advised on a technical services contract (valued at $350 million) with GEPetrol (NOC of Equatorial Guinea) related to Block B, Offshore Equatorial Guinea, which GEPetrol is taking over operatorship of following relinquishment by ExxonMobil. This is a first-of-a-kind contract in Equatoria Guinea and a likely template for similar arrangements elsewhere in Africa.
Renewables and Low Carbon
Highview Power: Advised on the 250MWh long duration, cryogenic energy storage system at Carrington, Manchester (the world's first commercial liquid air storage system), including a £140m equity investment by a consortium including the UK Infrastructure Bank, Centrica, Rio Tinto, Goldman Sachs, KIRKBI, and Mosaic Capital as part of a combined £300m debt and equity fundraising.
bp: Advised on the development of a green hydrogen and ammonia project in Oman. This first-of-a-kind project aims to produce 150ktpa of green hydrogen from 3.5GW of renewable energy.
bp: Advised on the acquisition of a 49% stake in the HYPORT Duqm project, including related shareholders agreement and operating services agreement.
Berkeley Energy: Advised on the prospective sales of a portfolio of run-of-river hydropower assets (totaling more than 100MW) in northern Uganda and Berkeley's interests in the Corbetti Geothermal project in Ethiopia. General advice provided to Berkeley's Africa Renewable Energy Fund on its acquisitions, divestments, and project development activities (including on drilling agreements and agreements related to water usage with respect to the Corbetti Geothermal Project).
Cygnum Capital: Advised on debt and equity investments by Cygnum's funds, including the Facility for Energy Inclusion Off-Grid Energy Access Fund to support off-grid energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mitsubishi Corporation: Development of the 52.5 MW Shams Ma'an solar PV project, Jordan.
Major Private Equity House: Acquisition of a majority equity stake in the Azura Edo IPP, Nigeria.
Other
DP World: Joint venture with the United Kingdom's development finance institution and impact investor, British International Investment (formerly CDC Group), which involves an initial investment by British International Investment into three of DP World's key port assets, and the potential for further investment into new assets over time.
- Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (Legal Practice Course 2005); Oxford University (B.A. in Jurisprudence 2003)
- Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
IFLR1000 Guide to Energy and Infrastructure: "brilliant lawyer" providing "practical and sensible advice in a timely manner"
The Legal 500: "excellent partner"; "having worked in the industry, he understands how to deliver concise information in tense environments"; "hugely trusted and valued resource and feels like an extension to our team"