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Norman Wisely

Norman Wisely

Partner

Languages
  • English
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Norman Wisely is a partner and head of the oil and gas team, and specialises in all areas of oil & gas law, and in particular oil & gas mergers and acquisitions work.  Norman is ranked as a leading lawyer in Chambers, Legal 500 and Who's Who - Energy and is a Thomson Reuters stand-out lawyer.

Norman has extensive experience in advising clients on oil & gas matters including leading numerous acquisitions and disposals of offshore and onshore oil & gas assets, advising on oil & gas related share transactions, on transportation and infrastructure projects, decommissioning and decommissioning security, licensing, production sharing and joint venture matters, product sales arrangements and all matters relevant to the exploration, production and sale of hydrocarbons.

Norman’s recent international experience includes leading on various oil and gas deals and projects from and based in Norway, UAE, Russia, Namibia, Trinidad and various other countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Australasia and North and South America.

With more than 450 energy and climate change lawyers, including over 100 partners, the CMS Energy and Climate Change practice is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Led from its centres of excellence such as London and Aberdeen, the practice works across 75 offices globally. Building on 40 years of experience advising on power, oil & gas and renewables through to energy disputes, emerging areas and Energy Transition, CMS is uniquely placed to ensure clients receive advice best suited to their commercial needs and to our collective future.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "Norman is a go-to lawyer at the top of their game."
    Chambers, 2025
  • Quote
    "Norman Wisely knows our business well and provides commercial and practical advice."
    Chambers, 2025
  • Quote
    "Norman Wisely understands the needs of his clients. He is commercial and pragmatic, with wide ranging experience."
    Chambers, 2025
  • Quote
    "Norman is head and shoulders above the competition."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "Norman knows the industry and he knows his clients. He is a go-to adviser."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "He is truly the best in the business and who you would want representing you in any negotiation."
    Chambers, 2024
  • Quote
    "Norman is a brilliant lawyer who always provides pragmatic and commercially astute advice."
    Chambers, 2023
  • Quote
    "He's a deal-maker and a great leader of his team."
    Chambers, 2023

Relevant experience

  • Equinor on its multi $bn UK business combination and incorporated joint venture with Shell, creating the largest independent oil and gas company in the UK.
  • bp on the sale of its operated Cashima, Flamboyant, Ahmerista, Immortelle and Parang fields  in Trinidad and Tobago, to Perenco (USD 260m).
  • Shell on the joint sale with Exxon of operated interests in the Bacton Gas terminal, the North Walsham Condensate Disposal System, and various Southern North Sea gas fields to RockRose/Viaro, via a hive-down and corporate sale.
  • TAQA on the forfeiture and transfer of the Brae fields from Fujairah Oil & Gas to TAQA Bratani, NEO Energy and Spirit (the first such process in the UK) (TAQA Bratani Ltd v Fujairah Oil and Gas UK LLC [2023] EWHC 1297 (Comm)) and on the acquisition and contested assumption of operatorship of the Brae field from RockRose (TAQA Bratani Ltd v. RockRose UKCS8 LLC [2020] EWHC 58 (Comm)).
  • Equinor on various joint venture, acquisition and financing matters in respect of the development of the Rosebank field.
  • HitecVision / NEO Energy on(i)  the acquisition of JX Nippon Exploration and Production UK, holding interests in the Culzean, Mariner and Brae fields (USD 1.65bn) (ii) on the acquisition of over 15 oil and gas fields from Exxon (including Gannet, Penguins, Shearwater, Elgin/Franklin, ETAP (Mirren, Madoes), Kingfisher, Strathspey, Nelson and interests in the SEAL, GAEL and Brent pipeline systems and the Sullom Voe terminal), via a hive-down and sale of ExxonMobil CNNS Limited (USD 1.35bn) and (iii) on its production farm-in to Greater Buchan area from Jersey Oil & Gas via a hive-down, its assumption of operatorship, and on the associated purchase of the Western Isles FPSO from Dana (USD 250m).
  • MOL on the sale of its UK oil and gas business, via a sale of its 5 UK subsidiaries to Waldorf, including interests in the Catcher, Scolty/Crathes and Scott/Telford fields and various infrastructure (USD 305m).
  • Equinor on the sale of interest in the Corrib gas field (Republic of Ireland) via a sale of Equinor Energy Ireland to Vermilion (USD 434m).
  • Kerogen Capital on the sale of the Zennor Petroleum group of companies (incorporating Zennor Petroleum and 6 subsidiaries including interests in Finlaggan, Britannia, Bacchus, Cormorant East and ETAP fields) to NEO Energy (USD 625m).
  • SSE on the sale of its entire offshore UK gas business through sale of SSE E&P UK Limited to RockRose, including interests in over 15 gas fields and various other infrastructure, involving retention of decommissioning liability, vendor loan and security.
  • EnQuest on the purchase of a 26% interest in the Golden Eagle Field from Suncor Energy, via an acquisition of its subsidiary, North Sea (Golden Eagle) Resources Limited (USD 375m).
  • SSE on its purchase of a stake in Laggan, Tormore, Edradour and Glenlivet Fields together with interests in the Shetland Gas Plant and other ancillary interests from TotalEnergies (GBP 565m) and on its purchase from Hess of 19 offshore fields in the Southern North Sea gas basin including interests in the Everest/Lomond, Bacton and ECA areas together with interests in the Bacton terminal (USD 423m).
  • bp on various projects, including its sale of its Alba and Britannia fields to Mitsui and sale of Draugen field (Norway) to Shell, its Erskine Field to Serica, the sale of its NW Hutton interest to Fairfield (as a joint sale with Shell, Exxon and Cieco) and its acquisition of an interest in the Culzean field from JX.
  • BG (now Shell) on the sale of its entire interest in the CATS pipeline via a sale of its subsidiary, BG CATS Limited, to Antin Infrastructure Partners (GBP 572m).
  • Shell on the sale of Sakhalin II to, and entry into various arrangements with, Gazprom (USD 8bn) (Russia).
  • Premier Oil on its acquisition of a 100% interest in Solan Field from Chrysaor and associated financing arrangements in respect of USD 2bn field development, its subsequent restructuring of same, and its USD 100m forward production sale to Flowstream.
  • TAQA on its purchase of seven North Sea oil and gas fields together with interests in the Brent pipeline system and Sullom Voe terminal from Shell and Exxon (USD 628m).
  • Sintezneftegas on its investment into Namibia, associated petroleum agreement and in-country JOA negotiations.

Publications

Author of chapters on:

  • "Acquisitions and Disposals of Oil and Gas Interests" in "UK Oil and Gas law – Current Practice" (Ed. Gordon, Paterson, Usenemez) published by Dundee University Press (1st Ed. 2007, 2nd Ed. 2011, 3rd Ed. 2018 and 4th Ed. 2025)
  • "Decommissioning in an M&A Context" in "Upstream Oil and Gas Mergers and Acquisitions" (1st Ed. 2014, 2nd Ed. 2018)
  • "Oil and Gas Acquisitions and Divestments" in "Oil and Gas Production Contracts" (Ed. Jennings) (1st Ed.2008, 2nd Ed. 2022)
  • "United Kingdom" in "The Oil and Gas Review" (2013 to 2018)
  • "UK" in "Chambers Global Practice Guide - Energy: Oil & Gas" (2016)

Memberships & Roles

  • Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)
  • Associate, Centre for Energy Law, University of Aberdeen
  • Trustee of the Energy, Petroleum, Mineral and Natural Resources Law and Policy Education Trust (University of Dundee)

Lectures list

  • 2023 – “Default and forfeiture in Joint Operating Agreements” Offshore Energies UK Annual Legal Conference, Aberdeen 
  • 2023 – “CMS Energy Transition Report – Challenges facing Oil Companies” CMS, London and Aberdeen
  • 2022 – “Getting Transactions Through – E&P M&A – UK and Norway” - ONS Conference, Stavanger 
  • 2022 – “Oil and Gas Market and M&A” – CMS, Rome
  • 2020 – “JOAs – default”, Aberdeen University, LLM, Aberdeen
  • 2019 - "Joint Operating Agreements - Non-Operator Issues" and "Decommissioning", MOL, Budapest
  • 2018 - "Oil & Gas Upstream M&A - Recent Innovation" - CMS, Bratislava
  • 2018 - "Oil & Gas M&A - Recent Innovation - Getting Deals Done" - MOL, Budapest
  • 2018 - "Changing Nature of Oil & Gas Companies" - CMS, Amsterdam
  • 2017 - "Decommissioning in a Mature Basin" - Statoil Annual Legal Conference, Oslo
  • 2017 - "Oil & Gas M&A - Innovative Structures and Techniques"  North Sea Energy Law Programme (Universities of Aberdeen, Copenhagen, Groningen and Oslo)
  • 2016 - “Mergers and Acquisitions”  - CEPMLP St Andrews / Dundee University Oil & Gas Course, St Andrews 
  • 2016 - “Default and Insolvency Issues in Upstream Oil & Gas” – Oil and Gas UK Annual Legal Conference, Aberdeen
  • 2016 - “Oil Price impact” - CMS Partner Annual Meeting, Rome
  • 2015 - “Oil and Gas Agreements” - CEPMLP St Andrews / Dundee University Oil & Gas Course, St Andrews
  • 2013 - “Mergers and Acquisitions” - CEPMLP St Andrews / Dundee University Oil & Gas Course, St Andrews
  • 2013 - “JOAs” – Law Society of Scotland Oil & Gas Conference, Aberdeen
  • 2013 - “Decommissioning Security” – Law Society of Scotland Oil & Gas Conference, Aberdeen
  • 2008 - Regular speaker at Aberdeen University Commercial LLM on “Acquisitions and Disposals of Oil and Gas Interests” and "JOAs".
  • Various other guest lectures and presenting for clients, industry bodies, at various contracts and oil and gas seminars including presentations on licensing, JOAs, decommissioning security, mergers and acquisitions, liabilities and indemnities and general oil and gas legal issues in contract.

Education

  • Notary Public in Scotland (from 2000)
  • 2001 - Qualified in England and Wales 
  • 2000 - Qualified in Scotland 
  • 1998 - Dip LP, University of Dundee, Dundee
  • 1997 - LLB (Hons), University of Dundee, Dundee