Centurion Law Firm

He is particularly active in the structuring, negotiation and implementation of petroleum, mining, LNG, and other natural resource projects in Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Chad, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Angola, Congo and other Sub-Saharan countries. His experience has included PSCs, JOA, service agreements, concessions, oil-field service and drilling contracts, licensing and pipeline and marine transportation issues, including the sale and transportation of LNG.

Drawing from his past experience from his job with the United Nations, he continuously advises governments on judicial modernization, rule of law issues, training of judges, prosecutors and lawyers in Equatorial Guinea, Chad, South Sudan, Uganda and Niger on a pro bono basis.

He regularly participates in industry-specific conferences and seminars as speaker and moderator. He graduated from University of Maryland College Park and earned a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law in the United States. He further holds an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology.

He is an active member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), the Institute for Energy Law (IEL) and the Petroleum Joint Venture Association (PJVA).

He is recognized as a leading oil & gas lawyer by the International Who's Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, and chambers and partners, recognized him as “important player” and a "tremendous resource” an acknowledgement bestowed upon him by his peers in the industry.

Most Recent Transactions Include:

• Advising clients on establishing legal entities, branches, and representative offices and conducting business in the Equatorial Guinea, as well as related corporate, commercial, employment, and immigration matters.
• Representing major international oil field service providers in the acquisition of local service providers within the sub-Sahara Africa;
• Advising a US utility in the structuring of a USD 2 billion stranded cost bond financing (including legislative, lobbying and structured finance transactional matters) in a certain African country;
• Advising in relation to the possibility of using VSAT technology and the applicable regulation in Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan;
• Advising a multinational oil and gas company on the gas supply contracts to be concluded with an oil and gas exploration and distribution group;
• Drafting consortium and construction contracts in respect of gas liquification projects in Angola;
• Advising an international oil company in the preparation and negotiation of one of the first offshore production sharing Contracts in Equatorial Guinea;
• Advising a petro chemical company in negotiation for the contraction of a Urea Fertilizer facility
• Acting for a client in connection with the purchase of company holding interests in the marginal oil fields programme in Nigeria;
• Advising an American Oil and Gas company in relation to an existing Product Sharing Contract in Equatorial Guinea.
• Acting as counsel to major international oil drilling service providers in connection with E&P projects in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and West Africa; and
• Negotiating field service agreements, including for the repair and reconstruction of oil wells and advising seismic, drilling, environmental and other specialty service contractors;

Ruben is a very experienced litigator who has successfully represented major oil and gas companies, international service providers to the oil & gas industry, airlines, international banks and manufacturing businesses in more than 90 tax and customs cases over the past eight years He also advises clients on issues related to tax, customs and regulatory matters.

Prior to joining Centurion he worked as a Senior Associate for a big US law firm where he represented clients under Justice Department investigations, and in federal prosecutions, both in trial courts and on appeal. His criminal defense experience includes the areas of fraud, white collar and complex litigation and he has substantial experience in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He has conducted internal investigations, developed corporate compliance programs, conducted due diligence and provided counseling to clients on a broad range of FCPA matters. He is an aggressive litigator and with a passion pro bono legal services.

Ruben is a graduate of University of Maryland College Park and earned his law degree at the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law Yeshiva University in the United States.

He is an advisor to leading international corporate clients with regard to corporate and civil law in Equatorial Guinea, real estate, foreign investment, acquiring property rights, leasing properties, and joint investment agreements both in Malabo, Bata and other regions. Genaro’s expertise also enables him to advice on the implementation of new and existing construction/reconstruction projects for government centres, office buildings, hotels, and industrial facilities, as well as the structuring of real estate transactions.

Genaro has led a team of lawyers in a number of international investment projects being implemented in Equatorial Guinea and he also takes an active role in negotiations with the local government and authorities. He regularly gives presentations on PPP, real estate, construction, privatization and investment issues.

Genaro is a graduate of the Renmin University of China and has participated in various training programs in the United States, Spain and France. Prior to Joining Centurion LLP, he is a top legal adviser at the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Finance.

Most Recent Transactions Include:

• Advising an international bank on the construction financing for a major development projects in Equatorial Guinea.
• Advising a multinational engineering and construction company on a planned project for the design and construction of a highway in Equatorial Guinea
• Represented an international oil & gas company in a dispute over the application of a special tax rate under a production sharing contract. Our team won the dispute despite unpromising previous case law on the issue.
• Advised various major international companies on how to apply the Equatorial Guinea’s tax regime within the scope of the Production Sharing Contract with a view to overcoming unhelpful case law trends.
• Advising a Chinese investor on the acquisition of a controlling position in a Guinean company
• Acting for an international chemical company in a joint venture project in Equatorial Guinea

Gemma provides advice on litigation, corporate law, taxation, corporate tax planning and tax risk assessment. Her experience also includes assisting some of the biggest companies to analyse and structure their Equatorial Guinea and Africa operations to maximise efficiency and minimise risk from a tax standpoint. Gemma is also experienced in representing clients during Equatorial Guinea government tax and regulatory compliance audits, producing legal opinions on financial law matters and drafting regulatory documents for clients to determine taxation and accounting methodologies. She handles tax audit projects to identify actual and potential tax risks and takes part in litigation.

Gemma has a track record of defending corporate clients in tax disputes in courts at all levels and before other state authorities. With her help, several oil and gas, subcontractors, construction, banking, and aviation companies, have successfully defended themselves against unlawful claims by tax authorities for payment of personal income tax and other taxes.

Gemma graduated from UNED and Center of Financial Studies in Madrid Spain where she earned an LLB and an LLM in Tax Law. She also earned postgraduate certificates in Advanced Accounting: Financial Analysis of Financial Statements.

Most Recent Transactions Include:

• Represented an oil and gas company in a dispute on the additional accrual of taxes when transfer pricing rules were applied.
• Represented an international oil & gas company in a dispute over the application of a special tax rate under a production sharing contract. Our team won the dispute despite unpromising previous case law on the issue.
• Advised various major international companies on how to apply the Equatorial Guinea’s tax regime within the scope of the Production Sharing Contract with a view to overcoming unhelpful case law trends.
• Advise construction and oil and gas service companies in Malabo and Bata on a number of projects advising on the tax implications of their projects
• Successfully represented a leading service company on the tax implications of their Merger and Acquisition.

Abraham has a BA in History from the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London. After which he completed his LLB and Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the College of Law of England and Wales, Bloomsbury.

Most Recent Transactions Include:

• Due diligence, contract negotiation and closing of the acquisition of an oilfield service company.
• Assisting a major international telecommunications company on shareholder and tax issues.
• Assisting with the establishment of new companies in Equatorial Guinea, and providing advice on tax, employment, licensing and other start up issues for the provision of educational services.
• Advising clients on establishing legal entities, branches, and representative offices and conducting business in Equatorial Guinea, as well as related corporate, commercial, employment, and immigration matters.
• Advising an American Oil and Gas company in relation to an existing Production Sharing Contract in Equatorial Guinea.

Prior to joining Centurion, she worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Malabo as a Legal and Tax Consultant.

She is earned her law degree from Oviedo University in Spain where she graduated with honors.

Most Recent Transactions Include:

• Advising a major oilfield service company in a customs dispute related to imported equipment
• Due diligence, contract negotiation and closing of acquisition of oilfield service company
• Assisting a major international telecommunications company on shareholder and tax issues
• Assisting with the establishment of new companies in Equatorial Guinea, and providing advice on tax, employment, licensing and other start up issues for the provision of educational services.
• Representing and defending a major oil services company in the first and appellate instance courts in Malabo against a claim of former contractor.
• Representing and defending an international oilfield services company in courts against a substantial claim by a state agency.
• Advising a technological leader of products and services in the oil and gas industry and headquartered in the U.S., on Equatorial Guinea employment regulations
• Advising a Big Four accounting firm, with regard to the application of VAT and other tax issues in Equatorial Guinea
• Advising one of the world's largest multinational food suppliers in connection with trademarks and intellectual property issues in in Africa (OAPI).
• Providing general employment advice to the world leader in technology and project management to the oil and gas industry
• Advising clients on establishing legal entities, branches, and representative offices and conducting business in the Equatorial Guinea, as well as related corporate, commercial, employment, and immigration matters

As a lead compliance expert, he monitors and ensures business provisions of assigned contracts are administered to ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions. Daniel ensures the project Contracts Manager is advised as to the scope, financial, and risk features of applicable contracts.

He is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park, with a bachelor in Accounting and obtained an MBA from the University of Virginia.

Santiago is a graduate of University of Melbourne where he earned an LLB and the University of Dundee, Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, where he earned an LLM.

Most Recent Transactions Include:

• Advising the oil and gas service companies on employment law with a focus on restructuring overflow staff, adapting work places, modifying remuneration agreements and agreed pay scale classifications etc.
• Representing a client in court on a claim for recovery of damages caused by improper performance of a contract.
• Representing and defending a major oil services company in the first and appellate instance courts in Malabo against a claim of former contractor.
• Representing and defending an international oilfield services company in courts against a substantial claim by a state agency.
• Advising an entrepreneur on the acquisition of fast food restaurant chain in from the USA to Equatorial Guinea.
• Advising clients on establishing legal entities, branches, and representative offices and conducting business in the Equatorial Guinea, as well as related corporate, commercial, employment, and immigration matters.
• Advising a medical service contractor in relation to the drafting and negotiations of a concession contract for the operation of a public hospital in Equatorial Guinea.
• Representing an American provider of commercial cleaning, sanitation and hygiene solutions in distribution agreements contracts in Equatorial Guinea
• Representing a US insurance company in the construction of a hospital in the mainland of Equatorial Guinea

Ariel has provided strategic advice on acquisitions, divestments, joint venture agreements, host government contracts and concessions, construction and service contracts, financing agreements, compliance programs, as well as litigation and arbitration. Ariel has advised governments in Africa, corporations and non-governmental organizations on corporate social responsibility, transparency and international compliance laws.

He is a graduate of Cambridge University. He earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane University and an LLM (Oil and Gas) University of Dundee

He is a graduate of the University of Michigan University Of Barcelona and earned a Doctor of Law from the University of Puerto Rico.