Navigating the new M&A landscape

Firmer oil prices are fuelling an upswing in merger activity, but what are the new legal trends energy firms need to be aware of?

By Jean Forrest, partner, Cassius LLP While some headwinds remain, oil and gas market fundamentals now appear more stable. Oil prices are well above the 2016 nadir, and both drilling and production continue to rise-upstream companies should consider further optimizing and consolidating their asset portfolios for a potential recovery. Oilfield services (OFS) companies will likely need to continue to expand completions offerings as the US-drilled but uncompleted well count continues to increase. US exports of oil, refined products, and natural gas are expected to grow-potentially shifting the domestic and international energy trade balance-and may provide opportunities for well-positioned mids