Attorney Single

OVERVIEW
Dr. David Mestres Ridge is a distinguished Energy & Arbitration Specialist, whose profound expertise is central to Rive & Co.’s strategic advisory capabilities. He combines a deep technical understanding with sophisticated legal acumen, holding an LLB (First Class), an LLM by Research in Offshore Law, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London. Dr. Ridge’s unique insights into the Songo Songo field and its stakeholders are unparalleled, stemming from his extensive prior involvement with PAE PanAfrican Energy Corporation and direct advisory roles to the Government of Tanzania on complex international arbitration matters.

EXPERIENCE
Dr. Ridge’s extensive experience includes:
● Energy Sector Transactions & Advisory:
○ Swala Oil & Gas (Tanzania) plc. (2010-2023): Negotiated the acquisition of up to 40% in three distinct phases in PAE PanAfrican Energy Corporation, a transaction involving multiple jurisdictions, including arranging a $25-million debt financing with a major US Private Equity fund. Completed the company’s successful listing on the Dar Es Salaam stock exchange, the first-ever listing of an oil and gas company on an
East African exchange. Negotiated and implemented Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) with the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania, and subsequent farm-outs in each of these three licences.
○ Black Marlin Energy (2008-2010): Acted as ‘in-house investment banker’ to Black Marlin Energy on its successful US$50-million listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and subsequent sale to Afren plc at a premium to the listing price.
○ Independent Commercial Contractor (2000-2006): Negotiated, drafted, and implemented agreements for both individual oil and gas fields and multi-field core areas. Conducted legal and commercial due diligence on asset acquisitions, both domestically in the UK and internationally.
○ Total Oil Marine (1998-2000): Managed a number of joint ventures in which Total had minority interests and the disposal or farm-out of the UK exploration portfolio acquired by Total following its mergers with Fina and Elf.

● Arbitration & Disputes:
○ Government of Tanzania (September 2024 – December 2024): Advised the Government of Tanzania regarding a threatened billion-plus international arbitration claim, including assessing appropriate legislative responses at the national level to hedge against potential negative findings in arbitration, with a Magic Circle firm managing the actual arbitration process on behalf of the Government.
○ Three Graces Legal (March 2023 – Feb. 2024): Assisted with a US$167m+ million energy dispute where a party in administration claimed direct and consequential losses caused by the other party’s breach of contract.
● Corporate & Finance:
○ Royal Bank of Canada (2006-2008): Advised private companies on debt and equity finance raises, or in syndicated borrowing, for both oil and gas and infrastructure projects.
○ Company Formation & Restoration (January – February 2025): Established and closed UK-registered companies, including commencing a corporate restoration under ss. 1024-1028 Companies Act 2026.

CREDENTIALS
● Education: LLB (First Class), London Metropolitan University; LLM by Research in Offshore Law, Aberdeen University; Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Imperial College, London; MSc in Uranium Mining, St. Andrews University; BSc Applied Geology, Sunderland Polytechnic.
● Languages: English (Fluent), Spanish (Fluent), German (High-Level), French (Conversational), Catalan (Fluent), Swahili (Basic).
● Publications: “”Maximising Economic Recovery’ of UKCS Oil and Gas- Implying Good Faith into Joint Venture Agreements” (2022) 20 Oil. Gas and Energy Law, Issue 3; “Comparing the approach to mergers in the competition regulations of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar” (2022) 43 European Competition Law Review., Issue 8, 384-393; “OSPAR 1998- A naked Emperor?” – With Styles, S., (1999), Oil and Gas Law and Taxation Review, 147-150.
● CPD: AI in Legal Services Delivery (March 2025), Representations, Warranties and
Indemnities (March 2025).