Denton Wilde Sapte’s role in the privatisation of power and water in Oman is a clear sign of success for the firm’s Middle East strategy. The Muscat office houses local lawyers as well as English and US qualifieds.
The consortium of international advisers, also comprising ABN Amro Bank and engineers Mott MacDonald, was appointed by the Sultanate in June 1999. The Barka power and water plant is the second independent power project Dentons has closed for the government since then.
The privatisation project also includes the unbundling and corporatising of the government’s ministry of electricity and water, writing new legislation, establishing a new regulator and privatising up to eight new industry companies. In addition, the Dentons’ team has taken over work from Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle on the Salalah power concession.
The Dentons’ team is led by energy and infrastructure partner Christopher McGee-Osborne and includes other London partners Michael Doble and Susan Farmer and Muscat partner Alasdair Jeffrey.
