Chemicals

A&O Shearman's chemicals group advises the world’s leading chemical producers, investors and consumers on everything from environmental, health and safety issues to project development, product liability, carve out transactions and major M&A, and litigation.

We understand the forces shaping the industry and how law and regulation map to these trends.

We support our clients as they seek to lower their production and environmental costs; divest legacy assets; acquire new businesses; navigate trade barriers and sanctions. As well as handle crises of all types; and manage the liability of legacy products.

We are one of the few firms able to field world-leading expertise across all legal disciplines and jurisdictions that are critical to multinational chemical companies and investors.

Whether our clients are developing their product portfolios, executing carve outs, restructuring or negotiating strategic JVs, protecting IP and data, raising capital or managing compliance, our experience helps them achieve their goals.

Read more about our specialized services below.

Dedicated Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) team

We have a market-leading, cross-disciplinary PFAS team with experience addressing all aspects of PFAS risk and liability globally. Our lawyers provide strategic advice on everything from disputes and litigation to strategic risk management and compliance with new and anticipated regulations.

Known as "forever chemicals," PFAS are under increasing scrutiny, with evolving legal regulations worldwide.

These range from restrictions on sale or import to outright bans. Government actions and settlements are rising to address PFAS contamination in soil, groundwater, and drinking supplies. Manufacturers are the primary targets, but site owners and operators with historic contamination also face growing risks.

Private litigation is increasing, with claims ranging from nuisance to personal injury and false claims. Our local expertise and global reach enable us to provide specialized advice to clients wherever they operate.

Learn more about our PFAS expertise.

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation specialists

Our lawyers also have extensive experience of Europe's REACH regime, the most comprehensive regulatory framework in the world. We have advised our clients on issues including registration obligations in complex supply chains; regulatory and third party disclosures; analysis of trading operations; authorization powers and related legal challenges; safety data sheets; REACH audits; and supply chain terms.

Energy transition and battery materials

Representative matters

ADNOC on merger control and FDI aspects of multiple transactions, including its 24.9% stake in OMV; the USD60bn Borouge Group creation; the planned USD13.4bn Nova Chemicals acquisition; its acquisition of Mubadala’s 25% stake in Borealis (including the divested NITRO business); a USD900m chlor-alkali and EDC joint venture in Ruwais (via TA’ZIZ with ADQ, Reliance, and Shaheen); and a strategic nitrogen fertilizers partnership with OCI.
Albemarle Corporation on FDI and antitrust approvals for its acquisition of Guangxi Tianyuan and expansion of its China lithium refining business; merger clearance for its MARBL Lithium joint venture; multi-jurisdictional approvals for divestments to W.R. Grace and BASF (Chemetall); its acquisition of Rockwood; and further disposals including Ketjen, polyolefin catalysts, and fine chemistry services.
Celanese on its USD500m Micromax divestiture; USD11bn acquisition of DuPont’s Mobility & Materials business; global clearances for the Nutrinova joint venture; restructuring of Korea Engineering Plastics; a Lacroix Chemicals distribution agreement; and the sale of its 45% stake in Polyplastics to Daicel.
Dow on securities and shareholder litigation (including under the Securities Exchange Act and PFAS claims); antitrust aspects of its USD20bn Sadara joint venture; multiple debt and notes offerings; acquisitions and disposals including Rohm and Haas, Styron, MEGlobal, and AgroFresh; and the carve-out and sale of its Ethylene Acrylic Acid Copolymers and Ionomers business to SK.

LG Chem on the China aspect of the transaction which involved the purchase of all of the Chinese party's interest in a Lianyungang LG Chem Company Limited by LG Chem and the sale by LG Chem of its entire interest in Lianyungang LG Chem Company Limited to Roquette Freres.
LyondellBasell Industries on its USD2.25bn acquisition of A.Schulman, Inc., a company listed on Nasdaq.
Mexichem Fluor, Inc., a chemicals company and subsidiary of Orbia, in a private action alleging anticompetitive practices in the regulated refrigerant industry, asserting multiple claims under federal antitrust laws as well as claims for breach of contract, tort, and unfair business practices under North Carolina law, securing dismissal of all claims with prejudice.
OCI on its USD2.05bn sale of its global methanol business to Methanex; and on its USD2.35bn sale of its Clean Ammonia plant in Beaumont, Texas to Woodside.
SABIC on its sale of its European petrochemical's businesses to AEQUITA for USD500m; and on its acquisition of Clariant's 50% stake in specialties company Scientific Design, which was previously a 50/50 joint venture between SABIC and Clariant.
Sasol Limited on the divestiture of its 50/50 joint venture interest involving its high-density polyethylene plant in LaPorte, Texas to INEOS; and on multiple bond offerings including on its USD1bn 8.750% notes due 2029 issues by its indirect wholly owned subsidiary Sasol Financing USA LLC and guaranteed by Sasol Limited.
Huntsman Corporation on its affiliates in securities litigation related to the spin-off of Venator Materials PLC.