Minter Ellison hires oil & gas legal consultant

John King, a strategic adviser to the petroleum and petrochemical sectors, has joined Minter Ellison as a Senior Legal Consultant in the Perth office (Australia).

Mr King focuses on international oil and gas projects, particularly those involving liquefied natural gas (LNG). His domestic and international experience includes upstream exploration and production projects, offshore contracting, pipeline projects, asset sale and purchase, and independent power projects. He has worked extensively in Australia, the US, Europe, Africa, and throughout Asia.

Mr King spent more than four years as senior in-house legal counsel of Eni International and VICO, the BP-Eni joint venture that operates the Sanga-Sanga PSC in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Minter Ellison's Managing Partner, Western Australia, Adam Handley, said Mr King's appointment is a coup for the firm and gives energy clients operating in Western Australia and Asia access to unique expertise.

"John's appointment reflects our growth strategy for the firm's energy and resources practice in Western Australia. John has advised across the entire spectrum of oil and gas projects and he has been involved in significant LNG projects across the Asia Pacific. He will play an important role in helping to achieve our vision in this important industry sector in Western Australia and throughout Asia."

Simon Scott, Minter Ellison's Resources, Agriculture & Energy Industry Leader, commented:

"We're delighted to welcome a lawyer of John's calibre to our international energy team to spearhead the practice in the Perth office. The oil and gas industry is a key driver of our economy – by 2020, it is projected to put almost A$65billion annually into the Australian economy and account for 3.5% of GDP."

"John's international energy experience and oil and gas focus are particularly valuable given the long-term structural importance of this industry to Australia, and especially in a resource-rich state such as Western Australia."

Mr King is a former partner of Clayton Utz in Western Australia and before that Corrs Chambers Westgarth. He added:

"I was attracted by Minter Ellison's commitment to being its clients' best partner, its already strong profile in the Asian oil and gas sector and its reputation as a leading legal adviser to major foreign investors in this sector in Australia."