Frankfurt, August 10th, 2006 – US oil company Moncrief Oil International, Inc. filed multi-billion-dollar suits against
Ludwigshafen-based chemicals corporation BASF AG and its subsidiary Wintershall AG.
Moncrief claims compensation for damages due to its exclusion from the exploitation of the Jushno-Russkoye gas field in Siberia, as ostensibly agreed with a subsidiary of Russian
natural gas corporation Gazprom. Moncrief claims that BASF and Wintershall induced Gazprom and its affiliates to repudiate various contractual obligations owed to Moncrief. The
German companies recently signed an agreement with Gazprom to mutually exploit the gas field. BASF and Wintershall do not recognize any legal foundation for the claims and do not
see their agreement with Gazprom affected.
As early as 2005 Moncrief filed a suit in a Texas district court against Gazprom, Wintershall and E.ON subsidiary Ruhrgas. The court dismissed the complaint for lack of jurisdiction. Moncrief has appealed the court’s decision.
BASF and Wintershall have selected Dr. Mark C. Hilgard, partner in the Frankfurt office of the international law firm Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, to represent them in court. Dr. Hilgard has successfully defended BASF in several other litigation and arbitration matters.
For example, Dr. Hilgard has defended BASF against claims brought by parties alleging damages in connection with the worldwide vitamin cartel. On that matter, Dr. Hilgard
succeeded in having all claims dismissed.
Representatives of BASF/Wintershall Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
(Frankfurt): Dr. Mark C. Hilgard (lead partner), Associate: Dr. Jan Kraayvanger
About Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw:
With a staff of over 1,400 attorneys in six European and seven US cities, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP is
one of the leading international business law firms, and was one of the first transatlantic law firms in Germany.
Its client-base includes 65 of the Fortune 100, countless DAX-listed companies and leading mid-caps, as well as
international financial service providers. From its German offices in Frankfurt/Main, Cologne and Berlin, 100
lawyers act as counsel for German and international clients, covering a broad range of complex legal issues.
Should you have questions, please contact:
Dr. Mark C. Hilgard
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, Frankfurt
Ph: +49 69 – 7941 2271
mhilgard@mayerbrownrowe.com
www.mayerbrownrowe.com
