SNR Denton Adds Cross-Border Energy M&A Team With Outbound Chinese Investment Focus

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- SNR Denton announced today that Jonathan D. Cahn, Marian M. Hagler and Guly Sabahi have joined the firm's Washington, DC, office as partners in its Corporate practice and the firm's award-winning 350-member Energy, Transport and Infrastructure sector team. Cahn will assume a leadership role as US head of Emerging Markets Energy Strategies.

Cahn, Hagler and Sabahi, who join SNR Denton from Baker & McKenzie LLP, have more than 25 years of experience in a diverse range of cross-border energy investment and financing transactions. "The sophisticated cross-border experience that Jonathan, Marian and Guly bring to SNR Denton expands our capability to lead on high-level M&A transactions in the energy industry worldwide," said Joseph J. Andrew, global chairman of SNR Denton. "This is a unique team -- known for its ability to create and structure relationships that work -- frequently where sensitive geopolitical issues are in play."

Cahn is widely credited with opening Central Asia to China energy investment when in 1997, as legal counsel to the government of Kazakhstan, he secured Kazakhstan's agreement to invite the China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation (CNODC) to participate in the privatization tender of Kazakhstan's oil company, Aktyubemunaigaz. CNODC not only acquired the Kazakhstan oil producer but agreed to build the pipeline between China and Kazakhstan. "Several years later, we were privileged to represent CNODC in the construction and financing of the pipeline," Cahn remarked.

A hallmark of Cahn's, Hagler's and Sabahi's practice has been the representation of Chinese companies making investments abroad, as well representing parties seeking investment or partnership with Chinese investors. This has involved a number of "firsts." The team led the representation of China Investment Corporation, China's sovereign wealth fund, in its first direct investment -- into Nobel Holdings Investments Ltd., the Russian oil company -- followed by  representation of the Chinese National Overseas Oil Company (CNOOC) in its successful $3.2 billion investment in Bridas Energy Holdings Ltd., a first for CNOOC in Latin America. The team is currently representing other Chinese investors in major outbound investment transactions.

The partners' experience extends beyond representing Chinese energy investors to include work performed on behalf of Middle East and African investors, as well as international oil majors and infrastructure companies.

"We are elated to join the firm during this period of continued growth for SNR Denton, and we are looking forward to working with our excellent team throughout the Asia Pacific region, including in Beijing and Hong Kong," said Cahn. "Having been across the table from the firm's top-tier lawyers and professionals across the globe for many years, we know the strong presence SNR Denton enjoys in every corner of the ETI sector worldwide. Partnering together going forward will allow us to better serve our clients with the integrated approach their business needs demand."

Cahn received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from Harvard University. While at prior law firms, he was managing partner of Beijing, Almaty and Moscow offices. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is chair of the Board of Trustees of Phelps Stokes Fund, a 100-year old philanthropic organization known for its contributions to education and social development in the US, Africa and Latin America. Many organizations trace their roots to Phelps Stokes, including the United Negro College Fund (now UNCF), the American Indian College and the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Hagler has more than 20 years of experience as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer in the energy sector, developing strategies for and advising on projects in the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, Russia and Central Asia. She specializes in advising national oil companies and international energy companies on their foreign upstream acquisitions. She also frequently speaks and writes on investment strategy and international anti-money laundering compliance.

Hagler received her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, an M.S. degree cum laude from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and her A.B. magna cum laude from the University of California at Berkeley. Hagler has served as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University and is fluent in English and Russian.

Sabahi's practice focuses on the representation of state-owned companies and private investors in acquisitions and joint venture transactions involving oil and gas assets in the Middle East, Africa and the CIS. She has extensive experience structuring cross-border investment transactions; managing complex multi-jurisdictional diligence reviews of oil and gas companies and their upstream, midstream and downstream assets; advising on exploration and production agreements and related legal and fiscal regimes; and negotiating a wide variety of transaction agreements, including acquisition agreements, joint venture agreements and joint operating agreements.

Sabahi received an LL.B. with Distinction from Fergana State University and an LL.M. with Distinction from Georgetown University Law Center. She is fluent in English, Russian and Uzbek.

Cahn, Hagler and Sabahi complement a group of more than 70 new partners, counsel, principals and senior advisors who have joined SNR Denton worldwide since the combination that created the firm nearly a year ago. 

SNR Denton is swiftly executing a commitment to build its Asia Pacific regional presence through expansion into this critical financial center. The firm is now among the fastest-growing law firms in China with locations in Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore. SNR Denton has more than 60 lawyers and professionals in the region, and these latest arrivals further the firm's commitment to the region. This year, with the arrival of more than 50 lawyers and professionals, the firm has developed capabilities to serve clients beyond its offices and into Korea, Japan and other current and emerging regional markets.

Gary Klein and Andrew Killin of Klein Landau & Romm assisted SNR Denton in the recruitment of Cahn, Hagler and Sabahi.

About SNR Denton

SNR Denton is a client-focused international legal practice delivering quality and value. We serve clients in key business and financial centers from more than 60 locations in 43 countries, through offices, associate firms and special alliances across the US, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the CIS, Asia Pacific and Africa, making us a top 25 legal services provider by lawyers and professionals worldwide. Joining the complementary top tier practices of its founding firms -- Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP and Denton Wilde Sapte LLP -- SNR Denton offers business, government and institutional clients premier service and a disciplined focus to meet evolving needs in eight key industry sectors: Energy, Transport and Infrastructure; Financial Institutions and Funds; Government; Health and Life Sciences; Insurance; Manufacturing; Real Estate, Retail and Hotels; and Technology, Media and Telecommunications. Please see snrdenton.com for more information and Legal Notices.