International Operations
Members of the Macleod Dixon International Operations Group have provided legal services in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) since 1988. Our Moscow office opened in 1990 and we became one of the first international law firms to be accredited in the former Soviet Union.In 1993 and 1996 the accreditation was renewed by the Russian government. In 1994, we became the first Canadian law firm to be accredited by the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This led to the 1995 opening of our office in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Despacho de Abogados miembros de Macleod Dixon, S.C. Our office in Caracas, Venezuela, was opened in June of 1997, making Macleod Dixon the first Canadian law firm to establish a fully staffed office in Latin America.
In the Fall of 2001 Macleod Dixon went one step further and opened the Macleod Dixon Consultores em Direito Estrangeiro office in Rio de Janeiro.
We are the first foreign law firm to receive approval for an individual partner to practise foreign law in Brazil and the first foreign law firm registered in compliance with Brazilian law.
Also in the Fall of 2001, a small branch office in Atyrau to service our clients in the Caspian Sea area was opened.
Our Knowledge
Our lawyers have provided legal guidance and advice on numerous international transactions and issues, from assisting clients with government/public relations issues, to highly complex international mining and oil and gas transactions.
Our Venezuelan legal team has extensive business and government contacts, and is capable of providing in-depth knowledge of local customs and business norms in both Latin America and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
This on-the-ground experience has proven to be extremely valuable in negotiating a variety of business transactions, and in helping clients understand current business methods and national, regional and local laws.
Similarly, our Russian and Kazakhstan lawyers are well versed in dealing with autonomous republics, local administrations and officials in many regions throughout the Russian Federation. As a result, Macleod Dixon has successfully built one of the largest foreign legal practices in the CIS.
Our Commitment
Our understanding of the current republic, regional and local laws and business methods allow us to commit to provide our clients with responsible, effective and current legal advice.
Representative Work
- An important part of our international practice is servicing the renewable and non-renewable resource industries, major lending organizations, and companies involved in industrial and natural resource projects.
- Macleod Dixon lawyers have been extensively involved in the support, negotiation and documentation of many joint ventures, joint stock companies and other entities in the CIS and Latin America.
- Businesses we have assisted include premier oil service companies, exploration and production companies, gold mining projects, engineering and metallurgical concerns and construction companies.
- Apart from the resource industry, we currently are working closely with several Canadian and American companies involved in construction and environmental consulting projects.
- We have been involved in various capacities in secured loan transactions, including the original financing of McDonald's operations in Moscow, and have strong ties to Canadian and international banking institutions.
- We are also working closely with Canadian, American, European, Asian and Australian companies currently negotiating the establishment of a variety of legal entities in the CIS and Latin America.
We have provided legal guidance and advice on numerous international transactions and issues, from assisting clients with government/public relations issues, to highly complex international mining and oil and gas transactions, some of which are:
- Prepared a model offshore Production Sharing Agreement for Pakistan
- Provided advice to the Russian government commenting on draft pipeline legislation, funded by the World Bank
- Structured various oil and gas related contracts with oil and gas companies operating in the CIS, including oil field servicing equipment supply contracts and oil well service agreements; obtained various licenses and permits; provided advice on tax issues related to the supply of services as a contractor under a Hydrocarbon Production Sharing Agreement in Russia
- Negotiated royalty agreements and legislation between the Government of Nova Scotia and Sable Island Offshore Energy Project sponsors; prepared joint operating agreements governing offshore gas platforms and offshore pipeline, onshore gas liquids processing and an onshore pipeline
- Acted in various Eurodollar financings of oil and gas or other companies developing a royal structure and regulations for offshore oil and gas rights
- Represented a Canadian gas supplier in a major gas price arbitration with its U.S. gas buyer acquiring a natural gas gathering pipeline from a consortium of producer/owners
- Advised the Government of Georgia on legal aspects of the Baku to Supsa pipeline on a World bank funded project
- Analyzed international host government contracts from 80 countries.