Image of Angus Jones

Angus Jones

Consultant

Email

angus.jones@aoshearman.com

Phone

+618 6315 5940

Offices

Perth

V-CARD
Angus is a senior commercial lawyer with over 30 years' experience in leading law firms in Australia and London. 

He specialises in oil & gas and energy matters and projects, including all stages from bidding/exploration, structuring and joint ventures, project development, mergers and acquisitions, sales and marketing, transportation to ongoing operational and commercial matters. Angus has particular expertise in LNG projects, with an in-depth understanding of all links in the LNG supply chain arising from his work on numerous LNG projects in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region. He has been involved in advising in relation to projects and transactions in the UK, Norway, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, China, India, Korea, Turkey, Mauritania, Gabon, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Argentina, Papua New Guinea and in each state of Australia. Angus is particularly skilled in contractual issues and negotiations. In relation to major projects, he has advised: Australia's North West Shelf Project; Anadarko; Arrow Energy; BG Group; BHP Billiton; Brunei LNG; Chevron; Citic Pacific; Conoco Phillips; Encana; Eni; ExxonMobil; Fortescue Metals Group; Hess; INPEX; JERA; Kansai Electric; Kogas; Mitsui; Pertamina; PTTEP; Rio Tinto; Rosneft; Shell; SK E&S; Vermilion and Woodside.

Angus is widely recognized as one of Australia’s Leading Individuals in Energy and Natural Resources, including by Chambers legal directory in each publication since 2002-2003 and Australia’s ‘Best Lawyers’ in each of the categories of Energy, Natural Resources and Oil & Gas. In addition, he was named the ‘Best Lawyers’ Perth Oil & Gas “Lawyer of the Year” in 2016, 2020 & 2025 and Perth Energy “Lawyer of the Year” in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Expert Guides 2014 and 2016 ‘Best of the Best’ included Angus in the top 30 global experts for Energy & Resources.
 

Experience

Representative matters

  • US$2bn: Advising Japan Australia LNG (a joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co) on the acquisition of an approximate 15% interest in the Browse LNG Project from Woodside Energy, and ongoing advice on project development, unitisation and marketing.
  • Development of GLX digital platform: Advising GLX (Global LNG Exchange) on developing an online trading platform for LNG cargoes including preparing general conditions of sale and addressing issues to deal with FOB and DES sales and associated shipping terms.
  • AU$4bn acquisition of Alinta Energy by Chow Tai Fook: Advising Chow Tai Fook on its successful acquisition of Alinta Energy including analysis of gas and power business and assets across Australia and advising on relevant regulatory framework and compliance, and Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
  • Caldita Barossa development: Advising SK E&S on the development of the Caldita Barossa gas fields in the Timor Sea and LNG processing and offtake.
  • An independent oil and gas producer in relation to the Gladstone LNG project, including key issues around impact on the domestic gas market and responses to the Commonwealth Government’s Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism, offtake and joint venture arrangements.
  • Brunei LNG in connection with negotiation and drafting of contracts providing natural gas to the Brunei LNG plant, long term off-take LNG SPAs and ongoing advice in relation to short term/spot contracts and related shipping matters.
  • INPEX in relation to various aspects of the Ichthys and Prelude LNG projects, including equity lifting and shipping arrangements.
  • CITIC Pacific Mining Management in relation to its ongoing energy contract portfolio for the Sino Iron mine. This role requires a thorough understanding of all aspects of the gas market, including utilising swaps, capacity trading and storage opportunities. Also advised CITIC in relation to carbon tax compliance and dealing with Clean Energy legislative proposals.
  • Australia's North West Shelf venture (Woodside, BHP Billiton, BP, Chevron, Shell, Mitsubishi/Mitsui) regarding negotiating domestic gas sales contracts, including related transportation and competition law issues, negotiating LNG SPAs, including long-term and spot contracts, and preparing Master SPAs on both FOB and DES terms.
  • Macquarie Bank in relation to the AU$1.9 billion acquisition of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline, including leading the negotiation of underlying shipper contracts to re-commercialise the pipeline.
  • Various LNG producers in relation to LNG price review processes and negotiations.
  • Shell in relation to the AU$440 million sale of producing North West Shelf oil interests, including an interest in FPSO and associated exploration acreage.
  • MG Solomon on the sale of its power station servicing its Solomon Hub mining operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including drafting and negotiating an Operation and Maintenance Agreement and Power Purchase Agreement.
  • Boddington Gold Mine (Newmont/AngloGold) in relation to sourcing power for mine expansion , AU$1 billion including involvement in procurement/short-listing process and review of submitted proposals, and then negotiating long term power purchase arrangements and associated interconnection agreement with Western Power.
  • Mitsubishi Corporation in relation to its acquisition of equity interests in the Wheatstone gas fields and LNG plant through a consortium with Tokyo Electric and NYK Line, including review of LNG and condensate sale agreements, due diligence, sale documentation and structuring advice.
  • KUFPEC on the acquisition of Shell's participating interest in the Wheatstone LNG project and upstream joint venture for USD1.25billion and related offtake arrangements.
  • Woodside in relation to acquiring a 40% participating interest in an exploration, exploitation and production sharing contract (EEPSC) in the Gabon coastal plain.
  • BHP Billiton in relation to the disposal of oil assets within the Timor Sea, and (with Esso Australia) Bass Strait gas supply contracts (following work re-writing the main supply contract to State utility in 1996).
  • A power company in relation to various gas portfolio contracts and gas transportation agreements.
  • INPEX in relation to taxation issues with the Government of Timor L'Este concerning the Bayu Undan project and the Joint Petroleum Development Tax Code.
  • Pertamina in relation to potential divestment of interest in Basker Manta Gummy joint venture offshore Victoria, Australia and associated joint venture issues.
  • Rio Tinto in relation to the power, gas and transportation contracts for a potash mine in Argentina and long-term iron ore sales contracts to China.
  • Kogas in relation to long term LNG sale and purchase agreement with global LNG trader.
  • Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) in relation to LNG offtake arrangements, including long term sale and purchase agreements and ongoing operational matters.
  • A state-owned oil company in relation to LNG marketing and sales, including drafting and negotiating portfolio of offtake agreements for the Ruwais LNG Project.

Published Work

Co-Author “Upstream Challenges facing joint venture participants” chapter in “The Law and Business of LNG”, Third Edition, 2017, Globe Law and Business Ltd.

Speaking Engagements

Speaker at national APPEA Conference, Perth 2014 on “Developments in LNG Pricing and Price Reviews under LNG SPAs in Asia-Pacific”.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

AIEN (Association of International Energy Negotiators) ER Law (Australian Energy & Resources Lawyers Association) Law Society of Western Australia

Recognition

“Angus provides a top service and is ultra reliable”
Chambers Global 2018
“Angus Jones is a specialist in the oil and gas sector and has particular expertise in LNG projects
”
Chambers Global 2018

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as a solicitor, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, 1997

Admitted as a solicitor, England and Wales, 1991

Admitted as a solicitor, Western Australia, 1988

Academic

University of Western Australia, Bachelor of Jurisprudence

University of Western Australia, LLB Honours

University of Western Australia, Bachelor of Commerce

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.