Expertise

WL-Associates offers a unique combination of technical and legal expertise gained in both the private and public oil and gas sector. Our lawyers and engineers come from the oil and gas industry as well as the Dutch government and regulatory bodies, and have the ability to integrate the legal, commercial and technical challenges presented to new entrants, established oil and gas companies and government bodies.

WL-Associates can negotiate and prepare agreements, whilst understanding fully the technical, economic and technical aspirations of the client and have particular strength in managing the licensing process and the various relationships necessary to expedite this early acquisition phase.

Partners

Karin Weisenborn is an oil and gas lawyer with a masters degree in law from Leiden University and also a petroleum engineering graduate of Delft Technical University. She has over 20 years international industry experience. Having worked as a production and reservoir engineer in the United States, the UK and the Netherlands for companies such as for Shell, BP and Placid she graduated in law and became senior policy maker for the oil and gas department of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. In this role she was responsible for oil and gas licensing on the Dutch continental shelf and played a key role in the revision of the Dutch Oil and Gas and Health and Safety legislation. Karin also was central to the UK-Netherlands cross-border negotiations leading to the Markham Treaty. Before establishing WL-Associates Karin was legal counsel for the Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association (NOGEPA) where she represented the industry in discussions with the government that resulted in the new Mining legislation, the transition from Mining to Health and Safety legislation and various policy notes. Together with the Health & Safety and the Operations Committees she co-authored most of the current NOGEPA Guidelines and other oil industry guidance notes.

Chris Linskaill has over 20 years of international oil-field experience. His background in geo-science and petroleum engineering led to senior positions in both exploration and development before directing one of the UK's largest developments. Here Chris was responsible for all upstream and mid-stream technical, commercial and stakeholder activity, in particular ensuring delivery, robustness and financial success.
In addition to experience in company and project management, field development and commercialisation, Chris has worked extensively with start-up companies, assisting with structures, financing, opportunity identification and business assurance reviews. His international experience includes having worked in-country in the UK, Colombia, Oman and the Netherlands. Chris holds degrees in physics, geophysics and law.

Associates

Rodger Harvey-Jamieson is a Scottish solicitor. For over 30 years he was a partner with Murray Beith Murray, a Scottish firm specialising in providing legal, financial, investment and property services throughout the United Kingdom. Rodger formed the original Business Law Department of Murray Beith Murray which has now evolved into a separate firm - MBM Commercial LLP. As part of this development Rodger completed an MBA degree at Edinburgh University. Most of Rodger's work was for UK banks and insurance companies, concentrating on security documentation and lending, and advising English institutions on Scots law, particularly in relation to insolvency procedures. Latterly Rodger became more involved in the formation, fundraising and investment for early stage companies. Rodger also teaches Company Law for graduates at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities.

Tineke Witberg is an energy lawyer with a masters degree in civil and corporate law from the Erasmus University Rotterdam. During her 25 years career Tineke has worked at the Legislation and Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Oil and Gas Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Office of Energy Regulation and the Academy for Legislation. Issues, such as the implementation of the European Upstream Directive, the Gas Directive, the regulation of underground storage, and the administration of mining legislation were dealt with by Tineke in her position as legislator, and later as a policy advisor and regulator. Her broad experience, pragmatism and last but not least, her work as part time judge with the civil court in the Hague, make Tineke particularly well suited to solve legally complex energy issues both outside and inside (administrative) court procedures.

Full CV's available on request

Alliances

WL Associates has established a business relationship with Paul van Tulder,
a Dutch tax adviser specialised in taxation of the Dutch Oil & Gas Industry,
who advises on general and E&P related tax issues and provides assistance on Dutch tax reporting.