The first part of the 31st annual session of the International Seabed Authority (“ISA”) Council was held in Kingston, Jamaica from 9 to 19 March 2026. After more than a decade of negotiations, mounting geopolitical pressure...more
3/26/2026
/ Biodiversity ,
Environmental Impact Statements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Foreign Policy ,
Geopolitical Risks ,
Impact Assessments ,
Investment ,
Minerals ,
Mining Contracts ,
Permits ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Resource Extraction ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Sustainability ,
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
Escalating tensions in the Middle East over the weekend create immediate sensitivity in global oil and LNG markets, particularly because of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Gulf shipping...more
3/2/2026
/ Contract Disputes ,
Contract Terms ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Energy Market ,
Energy Policy ,
Export Controls ,
Force Majeure Clause ,
Geopolitical Risks ,
Iran ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Qatar ,
Risk Management ,
Supply Chain
On 22 November 2025, the United Kingdom’s (“UK”) Government launched Vision 2035, the third iteration of its Critical Minerals Strategy since summer 2022 (the “CMS”)....more
2/18/2026
/ Clean Energy ,
Defense Sector ,
Economic Growth ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Geopolitical Risks ,
International Trade ,
Investment ,
Minerals ,
Mining ,
National Security ,
Partnerships ,
Rare Earth Metals ,
Recycling ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainability ,
UK
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) is “accelerating” its efforts to revive deep-sea mining, regulated in the United States under the once-dormant Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (“DSHMRA”). We...more
2/9/2026
/ Comment Period ,
Environmental Impact Statements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Review ,
Government Agencies ,
License Applications ,
Mineral Exploration ,
Minerals ,
Mining ,
Moratorium ,
National Security ,
NEPA ,
NOAA ,
Permits ,
Public Comment ,
Public Hearing ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Supply Chain ,
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
Certain areas of the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction are rich in deposits of polymetallic nodules, which contain concentrations of critical minerals important for industrial development such as nickel, copper,...more
2/2/2026
/ Environmental Impact Statements ,
Executive Orders ,
Government Agencies ,
International Waters ,
Mineral Exploration ,
Minerals ,
Mining ,
NEPA ,
NOAA ,
Permits ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
On January 21, 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) published a final rule consolidating the process for U.S. companies to obtain exploration licenses and permits for commercial recovery of...more
1/28/2026
/ Comment Period ,
Environmental Impact Statements ,
Environmental Review ,
Executive Orders ,
Final Rules ,
International Waters ,
Mineral Exploration ,
Mineral Extraction ,
Minerals ,
Mining ,
NEPA ,
NOAA ,
Permits ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Resource Extraction ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Trump Administration
The energy industry in 2025 was defined by a perfect storm of challenges, where disputes arising from policy, regulatory ambiguity, international judicial rulings, and market volatility reshaped the industry’s landscape....more
1/16/2026
/ Arbitration ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
Arbitration Awards ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Commercial Litigation ,
Destination Restriction Clauses ,
Dispute Resolution ,
Energy Charter Treaty ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Infrastructure ,
International Arbitration ,
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Take-or-Pay Contracts ,
Uranium
In the first in our series on JOA issues, we discuss the recent Stabroek JOA Arbitration decision and what it means for JOA parties considering their own JOA Change in Control provisions. Chevron Corporation’s (“Chevron”)...more
8/1/2025
/ Acquisitions ,
Arbitration ,
Change in Control ,
Contract Terms ,
Dispute Resolution ,
Energy Sector ,
Joint Operating Agreement ,
Joint Venture ,
Merger Agreements ,
Mergers ,
Oil & Gas ,
Right of First Refusal
As part of our ongoing monitoring of international and domestic legal developments, this article provides an update on the International Seabed Authority’s (“ISA”) Council Part II of the 30th Session and the National Oceanic...more
As global demand for critical minerals intensifies — driven by the energy transition, technological innovation, and geopolitical competition — deep-sea mining has emerged as a potential frontier in resource development. At...more
4/30/2025
/ Executive Orders ,
International Trade ,
Minerals ,
National Security ,
NOAA ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Supply Chain ,
Trump Administration ,
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ,
United States
Two parallel regulatory regimes for deep-sea mining have begun to emerge in recent years. On the one hand, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United...more
When parties plan to resolve disputes by arbitration, there are several key considerations regarding procedure. In the fourth of a multi-part series, we look at two key features to consider when drafting (and applying) your...more
Disputes dominated the energy landscape in 2024, with the energy industry facing complex and sometimes contradictory challenges. As the world continues to grapple with the energy transition, energy security, global policy...more
The International Court of Justice has been asked to issue an advisory opinion on this question, and is currently hearing submissions from States, NGOs and international organisations. The International Court of Justice...more
Two ICSID tribunals have recently upheld Spain’s intra-European Union (EU) jurisdictional objections in two arbitrations pursuant to the Energy Charter Treaty (“ECT”). Both cases arise out of Spain’s decision to modify its...more
When parties plan to resolve disputes by arbitration, there are several key considerations regarding procedure. In the third of a multi-part series, we look at two key features to consider when drafting (and applying) your...more
With the entering into force of the European Union’s (“EU”) Critical Raw Materials Act (“CRMA”), the memorandum of understanding between the EU and Serbia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) and...more
9/3/2024
/ Energy Tax Incentives ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Exploitation ,
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ,
International Energy Agency (IEA) ,
Mineral Exploration ,
Serbia ,
Supply Chain ,
Tax Credits ,
UK
We have been following the International Seabed Authority (“ISA”) Council’s negotiations and drafting of the Exploitation Rules, Regulations and Procedures (“Exploitation RRPs”) for the deep seabed beyond national...more
On 19 July 2024, the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Serbia (“Serbia”) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) creating a strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, battery value chains and electric...more
8/8/2024
/ Climate Action Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Commodities ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Policies ,
EU ,
Infrastructure ,
Memorandum of Understanding ,
Mineral Extraction ,
Serbia ,
Strategic Partnerships ,
Supply Agreements ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Projects
What should firms do to support employees dealing with baby loss or fertility issues? There’s been a recent nationwide survey conducted by the Fertility Network UK which surveyed more than 3,000 people and revealed the...more
When parties plan to resolve disputes by arbitration, there are several key considerations regarding procedure. In the second of a multi-part series, we look at two key features to consider when drafting (and applying) your...more
Deep-sea mining activities on the seabed and ocean floor beyond national waters are a risky and capital-intensive venture. The unpredictability of little-known ecosystems and environmental impacts translate into regulatory...more
Deep-sea mining activities in the seabed and ocean floor beyond national jurisdiction, including the collection of polymetallic nodules, are governed by the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the agreement...more
In part one of an explainer series about international deep-sea mining regulation, Louise Woods and Elena Guillet share advice for setting up sponsorship agreements between contractors and sponsoring states. The ISA has...more
7/19/2024
/ Contractors ,
Exploitation ,
International Waters ,
Investment ,
Jurisdiction ,
Mineral Exploration ,
Minerals ,
Mining ,
Sponsorship Agreements ,
Supply Chain ,
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
Reliable supplies of critical raw materials are essential for the green transition and to ensure the competitiveness of key national industries. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the US and the European Union’s Critical...more