Owen Tobias
Consultant
Owen Tobias is a Consultant of Adriaans Attorneys and heads up the Energy Law and Corporate and Commercial law practices. He obtained his BA LLB, & PMD from the University of Cape Town (“UCT”) and completed his articles at Sonnenberg Hoffmann & Galombik (now Edward Nathan Sonnenberg), before being admitted as an attorney in 1995.
In closing numerous local and cross-border (international) transactions during his years of practice, including transactions involving the sale of shares and businesses and negotiating and drafting of corporate documents and agreements for transactions in South Africa, Africa and internationally.
In closing numerous local and cross-border (international) transactions during his years of practice, including transactions involving the sale of shares and businesses and negotiating and drafting of corporate documents and agreements for transactions in South Africa, Africa and internationally.
Education
Membership
- BA LLB PMD, University of Cape Town.
Membership
- The Law Society of the Cape of Good Hope
- Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) (2009 to present)
- International Bar Association (2007 to present)
- Former member and chairperson of SAPIA's Legal Committee (2005 to 2013)
- Former Director of the Southern and East African chapter of AIPN (2009 to 2012)
- Former Director of the Corporate Lawyers Association of South Africa (2007 to 2010)
Owen’s areas of professional work include, amongst others, the following:
- Negotiating, drafting and completing various exploration and production rights in Nigeria, Namibia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, DR Congo, Congo, Mozambique, Cuba, Tanzania, Venezuela, Sudan, etc.
- Negotiating, drafting and completing various agreements and granting instruments with various host countries e.g. Nigeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon; Sudan, Namibia, Mozambique, Congo and DRCongo; Cuba, Venezuela, etc.
- Negotiating, drafting and completing a number of off-take, storage and supply agreements (including crude, gas and refined products) with national oil companies, utilities companies, and major and independent oil companies e.g. NNPC, GNPC, EGPC, NOCK, NAMCOR, ESCOM, SITME, Shell, Exxon Mobil, Total, Engen, BP, Vitol SA, Puma Energy Services, etc.
- Negotiating, drafting and completing various Reserve-Based Lending facilities
- Acquisition of shares in Nigerian, Egyptian, British, Namibian, South African, American entities, etc.
- Registration and incorporation of companies in South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, etc.
- Registration and protection of various Intellectual Property Rights (GTL.F1)
- Negotiating, drafting and completing Joint venture agreements and MOU’s – with public or private entities
- 1.1. Negotiating, drafting and completing various EPC/M arrangements; and
- Risk Management and Compliance
- 2018 – Present - Adriaans Attorneys, Consultant
- 2014 - 2017 - NED PetroSA (SOC) Ltd – Chairman: Strategy, Growth, Business Performance Monitoring Committee, Human Capital and Risk Management & Compliance Committees.
- 2014 – 2018 - Webber Wentzel – Partner Head: National Oil Company Practice
- 2005 – 2014 - PetroSA (SOC) Ltd – General Counsel & Head: Corporate Shared Services
- 2002 – 2005 - Engen Petroleum Ltd – Managing Director, Engen Kenya Ltd & Oil Tanking (EPZ) Ltd
- 2000 – 2001 - Engen Petroleum Ltd – Head: Business Development - Africa
- 1998 – 2000 - Engen Petroleum Ltd – International Legal Manager
- 1995 – 1998 - Syfrets/Nedcor – Corporate Legal manager
- 1993 - 1995 - Sonnenberg, Hoffman & Galombik - Candidate Attorney/Professional Assistant