Kenny Paton

Kenny Paton is Head of Oil & Gas for the Middle East and Counsel in the Projects practice at Dentons in Abu Dhabi, specializing in Oil and Gas Law. He has over 25 years of experience across the oil and gas value chain globally, particularly in the North Sea, Africa, and the Middle East, having worked both in‑house and in private practice for international law firms in London, Aberdeen, and Cape Town.

Kenny acts for the private sector, governments, and NOCs in upstream, midstream, and downstream projects, with a particular focus on gas developments, domestic utilization, LNG, and petroleum import/export projects. Notable matters include leading corporate and asset disposals of a large US independent's entire North Sea interest portfolio; advising on farm‑in to Blocks 11b/12b offshore South Africa; advising a South African government on its LNG import‑to‑power IPP procurement program; providing legal support on gas import feasibility studies in Southern Africa; advising on the structuring and project financing of a greenfield refinery project in Africa; and advising on the negotiation and drafting of six LNG sale and purchase agreements for the Guangdong LNG Import Project. He has also advised NIOC on behalf of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum on a contractual framework for LNG/gas projects.

He holds an LL.B (Hons) and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Dundee (1995, 1996) and is admitted as a Solicitor in Scotland and England and Wales. He is a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN).

Kenny has been recognized by legal directories as a Leading Individual and oil and gas specialist, particularly in the North Sea and African markets.