Peter O'Driscoll

Peter O’Driscoll is co-head of Orrick's Global Private Equity Group and chairs Orrick's New York corporate department.  He has extensive experience in cross-border M&A, private equity and capital markets transactions in various emerging markets, Europe and the United States.  Although Peter has advised on transactions in a variety of sectors, a number of the transactions on which he has recently worked have been in the telecommunications, minerals and energy sectors.  Peter practiced in New York from 1987 to 1991 and in London from 1991 until June 2010.  He currently divides his time between New York and London.

Peter's notable engagements include advising the following.

• Telenor ASA and VimpelCom Ltd. in connection with the formation of VimpelCom Ltd., a US$23.8 billion NYSE-listed emerging market mobile operator, the contribution of Telenor ASA's mobile assets in Russia and Ukraine to VimpelCom Ltd., and VimpelCom Ltd.'s registered U.S. exchange offer and Russian voluntary tender offer for the shares and ADRs of OJSC "Vimpel-Communications".
• Telenor ASA on its five-year long defense against efforts to undermine the ownership of its mobile assets in Russia and Ukraine.
• FESCO, a trans-CIS integrated transport company, on its US$637 million Rule 144A/Reg. S global equity offering, including negotiating significant equity stakes taken by a multilateral and a sovereign wealth fund.
• SouthWest Energy, an independent African oil and gas company in connection with its capital raising and exploration and production activities.
• An emerging market private equity fund on the restructuring of its investment in a consumer sector business in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
• An emerging market private equity fund as lead investor in a Series A-2 convertible redeemable preferred share round for a prominent Russian software and services business.
• An emerging market private equity fund as investor in a retail clothing business in Moscow.
• An emerging market private equity fund on its acquisition of gold and copper mining assets in the Republic of Georgia.
• Telenor ASA on its investment in OJSC "Vimpel-Communications," an NYSE-listed Russian mobile operator, including advising on the first proxy fight involving a publicly traded Russian company.
• Nelson Resources Ltd., an AIM-listed oil and gas company active in Kazakhstan, on its acquisition of control of Chaparral Resources Inc., a U.S. publicly traded oil and gas company active in Kazakhstan.
• Telenor ASA on its acquisition of Gonofone and Marubeni's shares in GrameenPhone, a Bangladesh mobile operator.
• A European oil and gas company on Asian gas supply and LNG sales issues.
• Telenor ASA on its acquisition of 100% of Comincom/Combellga, a Russian competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), and the subsequent exchange of shares in Comincom for a 23% stake in Golden Telecom, Inc., a U.S. publicly traded telecommunications company active in Russia.
• Telenor ASA on its acquisition of control of CJSC "Kyivstar G.S.M.", a Ukrainian mobile operator.
• Tsavo Energy and its shareholders on the successful project financing of the Tsavo II independent power project in Kenya.
• A Nigerian independent oil and gas company on its acquisition of a 40% stake in an offshore oil and gas field located in Nigeria from Baker Hughes and the subsequent sale of that stake to PetroSA.
• Williams International on its acquisition and subsequent sale of a stake in AB Mazeikiu Nafta, a Lithuanian oil refinery, port and terminal company.
• An emerging market private equity fund on its acquisition of stakes in two independent oil and gas companies active in the CIS.
• Sakhalin Energy and its shareholders on the successful project financing of the Sakhalin II- Phase I offshore oil and gas project in the Russian Far East.

During the period between 2005 and 2010, Peter co-led the Orrick team representing Telenor ASA and its affiliates in four arbitration proceedings in New York and Geneva, two of which resulted in final awards, and numerous litigation proceedings in the Southern District of New York, Russia and Ukraine, including the proceedings to enforce an arbitration award that led to the decision by the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Telenor Mobile v. Storm LLC et al., 584 F. 3d 396 (2d Cir. 2009). The American Lawyer noted that "[t]he interplay between courts, tribunals, and -- potentially -- treaty panels is showcased in the contest for Russian mobile phone operator VimpelCom between Alfa and Norway's Telenor ASA."  These arbitrations were recognized as among the top 10 arbitrations in The American Lawyer Arbitration Scorecard for 2007.  The Economist described the dispute as "one of Russia’s longest-running and most bitter boardroom battles."

Admitted in

• New York
• Registered Foreign Lawyer in England and Wales

Memberships

• Association of the Bar of the City of New York
• American Bar Association
• International Bar Association

Multimedia

Speeches & Programs

• Chairman, Panel Discussion, "Deal Structuring," IFC's 12th Annual Global Private Equity Conference in Association with EMPEA, Returning to Growth: Private Equity in Emerging Markets, Washington, D.C., May 2010
• Chairman, Panel Discussion, "Deal Structuring," IFC's 11th Annual Global Private Equity Conference in Association with EMPEA, Managing Risk and Finding Opportunities Amid Uncertain Times, Washington, D.C., May 2009
• Chairman, Panel Discussion, "Deal Structuring," IFC's 10th Annual Global Private Equity Conference in Association with EMPEA, Creating Opportunities and Building Value, Washington, D.C., May 2008
• "Structuring M&A Transactions that involve Russian Public Companies," M&A Strategies and Opportunities in Russian Oil and Gas, Houston, April 2004
• "Due Diligence on Russian Companies," The Art and Science of Russian M&A conference, Moscow, November 2003
• Chairman, Panel Discussion, "Infrastructure Finance: Bridging the Gaps," Russia 2001—Funding the Future, Euromoney Conference, Moscow, September 2001
• "PSAs in Russia and the CIS," Structuring and Negotiating PSAs in the CIS—A Checklist for Lenders, Moscow, February 2000
• "Training Workshop on Commercial Law," Financial and Risk Analysis in the Privatization of Transport Infrastructure, The Tanzanian Financial and Legal Management Upgrading Project, The International Development Law Institute (IDLI), Arusha, Tanzania, April 21-22, 1999
• "Negotiating and Structuring Profitable & Stable PSAs," PSAs in the FSU—Measuring the Impact of an Uncertain Statutory Framework and Unstable Economy on their Performance, London, January 1999
• "Country Risk in Emerging Markets--Applying Advanced Project Finance Country Risk Techniques," Project Finance Case Study, Emerging Market Investor Conference, London, June 1998
• "Investment Opportunities & Legislative Developments in Sakhalin Island Oil & Gas," Financing PSAs--Risk Allocation and Security Structures, London, June 1998