Graham Martin
General counsel and company secretary
Tullow Oil
‘If you cut Graham Martin he would bleed Tullow Oil,’ says one leading energy lawyer. Martin is clearly committed to a company that he has been associated with since his private practice days at Vinson & Elkins in the eighties, which has exploration and production assets in 23 countries, including Africa, Europe, South Asia and South America.
‘The key issue currently affecting our business is the general global economic uncertainty and the effect that has on investment,’ says Martin. ‘While the oil and gas sector is not in recession, macroeconomic risks remain unusually high.’
And despite the global spread of Tullow’s business, Martin is not necessarily looking for the seamless international service of global law firms and prefers a more bespoke approach.
‘It has always been horses for courses for us,’ he says. ‘We use who we think is best placed to advise on a particular matter in a particular jurisdiction.’
Law firms used: Ashurst, Clyde & Co, Dickson Minto, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Norton Rose, Vinson & Elkins
2008-present: General counsel and company secretary, Tullow Oil
2004-08: General counsel, Tullow Oil
1997-2004: Legal and commercial director, Tullow Oil