Clifford Chance

SOCAR retains Clifford Chance in connection with the OGPC Project

The international law firm Clifford Chance has been retained by the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) to advise them in connection with the development and implementation of SOCAR's OGPC Project.

The OGPC Project is a circa. US$17 billion project for the construction and operation of a world-scale oil refinery, gas processing plant and petrochemical complex, together with associated infrastructure and facilities.

The Clifford Chance team, led by Anthony Giustini and Nicholas Wong, has been retained to provide advice in connection with all aspects of the project, including construction and procurement, development of the project's commercial structure and the negotiation and implementation of the anticipated project financing.

Sanan Tapdigov, Head of the Legal Support Division for the OGPC Project, commented: "Taking into consideration the significance of the OGPC Project, SOCAR has conducted  a very transparent tender for the selection of a reputable Law Firm to render legal assistance for this Project. Tender was held among the top law firms which provided excellent proposals. In this high level competition Clifford Chance LLP – one of the leading law firms in the world, which demonstrated brilliant team and provided a very attractive proposal, has been selected as a consultancy firm to render legal assistance for the OGPC Project. We are happy that such reputable worldwide legal firm will act for the Project."

Commenting on the appointment, Nicholas Wong said: "We are delighted to have been appointed by SOCAR to act on this landmark project, which is of strategic importance not only to SOCAR but also to the Republic of Azerbaijan".