Kenny Paton

Head of Oil and Gas, Middle East at Dentons

Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates

About

Kenny is Head of Oil & Gas Middle East for Dentons and is based in Abu Dhabi. He has over 25 years experience working for Oil & Gas and related infrastructure clients internationally particularly in the Middle East, Africa and other emerging markets. Kenny learnt his trade in the North Sea and then worked in-house for a Major on a long term secondment and in private practice for international firms in London and Aberdeen and Cape Town on projects across the globe. He returned to Dentons in early 2019 following 5 years living in Cape Town working for an international law firm across Sub Saharan Africa acting on many of the leading Energy and gas to power projects on the continent. Kenny is now leading Dentons’ Oil & Gas practice in the Middle East and continues to also be heavily involved in advising clients on E&P deals and projects in Africa and Latin America including most recently Guyana.

Experience

  • Dentons (Full-time · 7 yrs 6 mos)
    • Head of Oil and Gas for the Middle East
      May 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 2 mos

    • Counsel, Oil & Gas Lead (Scotland)
      Jan 2019 - May 2023 · 4 yrs 5 mos

  • Partner at Webber Wentzel (in alliance with Linklaters)
    Mar 2014 - Sep 2018 · 4 yrs 7 mos

    Kenny was a Partner and Head of Oil & Gas in the Energy/Projects Group at Webber Wentzel (in alliance with Linklaters). Kenny has extensive experience, both in-house and in private practice, advising major and independent companies on all aspects of projects in the Energy sector worldwide. He has over 13 years' experience specialising in international oil and gas transactions and has worked on both upstream and midstream projects with a particular specialism in development projects. Kenny’s in-house experience also includes working as group general counsel at FTSE 250 oil services company Expro Group, over a years' secondment at Total and a prolonged period in China representing CNOOC and BP on the Guangdong LNG Import Project. His expertise has been recognised by Chambers Global (Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas), which refers to Kenny is a "leader in his field” and Legal 500 (Projects, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, Scotland). Chambers & Partners, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, UK: "Clients and peers are impressed with Kenneth Paton's negotiation skills and subject knowledge” and in 2014 said “Sources highlight that Kenneth Paton is very well respected, with one interviewee saying “I hear very good things about him”. Paton led on the…Noble Energy divestment” Chambers Guide as a "leader in his field" in the Chambers Guide and has recognised that Kenny "is regarded as a real talent in the upstream oil and gas world". Legal 500 Directory, Projects, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, Scotland, said he is "highly recommended". Kenny is dual qualified (English and Scots law).

  • Partner, Energy and Natural Resources at Bond Dickinson
    Aug 2007 - Feb 2014 · 6 yrs 7 mos

    Oil & Gas Partner specializing in all aspects of Upstream projects in the UK and internationally.

  • Senior Associate at McGrigors
    Jun 2003 - Aug 2007 · 4 yrs 3 mos

    Part of Oil & Gas team hired from Ledingham Chalmers

  • Solicitor at Denton Wilde Sapte
    Jul 2001 - Jul 2003 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Solicitor in the Energy and Infrastructure Group of an international law firm specializing in international Upstream transactions with a heavy emphasis on LNG.