Zuwaina Al Rawahi, Team Lead, Petroleum Development Oman 
Frank Alexander, Partner, Dentons Calgary

Frank Alexander is a partner in the Calgary office of Dentons Canada LLP. Although Frank’s practice is focused on international energy law (petroleum projects outside of North America), he also advises on large, Canadian petroleum projects. He has 35 years of experience in petroleum projects worldwide and is the leader of Dentons Canada LLP International Petroleum Practice Group. Frank has assisted with international energy projects in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and the former Soviet Union. His practice includes government petroleum contracts (including PSCs), JOAs, farmout agreements, AMI agreements, unitization agreements, gas sales agreements, study and bid agreements, and structure for the security of investment (inclusive of investment treaty and dispute resolution considerations) and tax efficiency.

Frank's clients have included some of the largest integrated international energy companies as well as smaller ones new to the international arena. Frank negotiated and drafted the first gas sales agreement in the history of Pakistan based on international fuel parity and he also negotiated and drafted one of the first government petroleum contracts to be signed in the Caspian region. Frank also does upstream petroleum regime design work for host countries.

Frank acted as a counsel to HRT Participações em Petróleo S.A. (Brazilian), having the overall responsibility for its $700 million acquisition of UNX Energy Corporation. (Canadian) by way of a plan of arrangement and issuance by HRT of listed global depositary shares in consideration therefor, and as lead counsel on a multi-billion dollar Canadian oil sands acquisition.

Frank also serves as an arbitration counsel (including ICSID matters), has been called upon to serve as an arbitrator, and regularly acts as an expert witness in connection with international arbitration and court proceedings regarding international petroleum contract matters. 

In addition to his international energy work for clients, Frank teaches international petroleum contracts and negotiations at in-house courses for clients, seminars, and universities around the world. He is one of the founders of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), which now has over 3,500 members worldwide, and has served on the Board of Directors of the AIPN and also as the AIPN Regional Chapter Director for Canada. Frank has also been involved with drafting AIPN model contracts and is the author of several books and articles on international petroleum law.