PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Simon joined LEĜA in 2016, with over 25 years of professional experience working with multinational corporations in the energy area. He has extensive knowledge in commercial and cross-border agreements, foreign investments and foreign trade, licenses for gas exploration and exploitation, profit sharing agreements, operation agreements, drilling agreements, financing agreements, and farmout agreements. Simon is also an expert in political and expropriation risks assessments and has extensive experience in regulatory and compliance matters.ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
- LL.M. with concentration in Business and Finance. American University, Washington, D.C., 2013.
- Mining and Hydrocarbons Program. Universidad Monteavila, Venezuela, 2007.
- Administrative Law Specialization. Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Venezuela, 1999.
- Law Degree. Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Venezuela, 1991.
MEMBERSHIPS
- International Bar Association
- Bar Association of the Capital District
- Bar Association of the State of New York, USA
LANGUAGES
- Spanish
- English
- Italian
AREAS OF PRACTICE & INDUSTRIES
♦ Oil and Gas
♦ Mining
♦ Public and Regulatory Law
♦ Mergers and Acquisitions
EXPERIENCE
- Legal evaluation of the “Carabobo” oil project, and assistance in the bidding process with an estimated investment of USD 15 billions.
- Legal assistance in joint venture with PDVSA in the Junin 5 extra-heavy crude block, with an estimated investment of USD 17 billions.
- Corporate and legal advisor on political and expropriation risks, and the most appropriate insurance policies for oil and gas projects.
- He was part of the management team of a consortium (made up by two multinational corporations of the energy sector) for a natural gas project, in the exploration, evaluation, and development stages.
- Assistance to one of the world’s largest oil companies in the negotiation of a strategic association agreement for an extra-heavy crude project with an estimated investment of USD 4 billions.