Pipelines & Midstream Activities

Oil and gas pipelines and midstream energy infrastructure projects represent one of the most highly regulated and legally complex segments of the global energy sector. Transmission and transportation networks, storage facilities, LNG terminals and related midstream assets operate at the intersection of public law, energy regulation, international investment law and long-term commercial arrangements. These projects are frequently cross-border in nature and involve multiple jurisdictions, regulatory authorities and stakeholders, requiring sophisticated legal coordination and comparative regulatory insight.

Mermeroglu Legal provides comprehensive legal advisory services for pipeline and midstream energy infrastructure projects operating under diverse national and international energy regulatory regimes. The firm advises on crude oil and natural gas pipelines, transmission and transportation systems, storage facilities, LNG infrastructure and integrated midstream assets. Its advisory approach combines sector-specific expertise with comparative legal analysis and coordinated multi-jurisdictional legal structuring.

Through its international legal network, Mermeroglu Legal supports project sponsors, pipeline operators, energy companies, EPC contractors, investors and financial institutions throughout the full lifecycle of pipeline and midstream projects. Legal services extend from early-stage project structuring, route planning and regulatory strategy to licensing and permitting, contractual implementation, tariff and capacity arrangements, risk allocation and dispute resolution, including international arbitration.

Pipeline & Midstream Project Structuring

Pipeline and midstream projects are typically developed through dedicated project companies (special purpose vehicles – SPVs) that function as the legal, regulatory and financial nucleus of the project. Effective SPV structuring is essential to ensure regulatory compliance, project bankability and long-term operational flexibility.

Mermeroglu Legal advises on SPV formation, ownership and governance structures, shareholder arrangements, financing interfaces and risk allocation mechanisms. Particular attention is given to aligning corporate structures with licensing requirements, public law constraints, lender expectations and long-term operational considerations. This integrated approach ensures that project entities remain resilient throughout construction, operation, expansion and refinancing phases.

Energy Regulation & Licensing Frameworks

Energy regulation and licensing form the legal backbone of all pipeline and midstream infrastructure projects. Licensing regimes determine who may construct and operate energy infrastructure, under what conditions, at what capacity and subject to which tariff, access and compliance obligations.

Mermeroglu Legal advises on energy regulation and licensing strategies across multiple jurisdictions, including permitting processes, license scope and duration, amendment and transfer procedures, regulatory compliance and interaction with energy authorities. The firm places particular emphasis on regulatory change, third-party access obligations, tariff regulation and operational transparency requirements, all of which have direct implications for commercial viability and financing.

Regulation is approached not as a static compliance exercise, but as a strategic element shaping project structure, contractual arrangements and long-term risk exposure.

Transportation, Throughput & Operational Agreements

Transportation, throughput, capacity reservation and operations agreements constitute the operational and commercial core of pipeline and midstream projects. These agreements govern how hydrocarbons are transported, how capacity is allocated and monetised, and how predictable long-term revenue streams are secured.
Mermeroglu Legal advises on the structuring and negotiation of transportation and throughput agreements, ship-or-pay and take-or-pay arrangements, tariff mechanisms, balancing and nomination systems, and operations and maintenance (O&M) contracts. Legal advisory focuses on ensuring that contractual frameworks are fully aligned with regulatory requirements, technical design and financing models, and that they function effectively in day-to-day operations.

Transit, Route & Cross-Border Coordination

Transit and route structuring is a decisive component of cross-border pipeline and midstream projects. Legal frameworks governing land access, expropriation, easement rights, environmental approvals and cross-border coordination directly affect construction feasibility, project timelines and operational continuity. Mermeroglu Legal supports clients in route planning, permit sequencing, stakeholder engagement and cross-border regulatory coordination. Advisory services aim to ensure that transit arrangements remain legally robust, commercially viable and compatible with international financing and risk management standards.


Disputes, Risk Management & International Arbitration

Pipeline and midstream projects are inherently exposed to dispute risk arising from construction delays, cost overruns, regulatory intervention, tariff disputes, capacity constraints, force majeure events and political or sovereign actions. Mermeroglu Legal advises on dispute prevention strategies at the structuring and contract drafting stage and represents clients in dispute resolution proceedings, including arbitration under ICC, ICSID and UNCITRAL rules. The firm supports disputes arising from EPC contracts, transportation and throughput agreements, joint ventures, host government arrangements and regulatory measures. Dispute resolution strategy is integrated into project planning from the outset, ensuring that governing law, escalation mechanisms and arbitration clauses support enforceable and commercially meaningful outcomes.

Integrated Advisory Approach

Mermeroglu Legal approaches energy, oil & gas and midstream infrastructure projects through an integrated legal model combining regulatory expertise, contractual structuring and dispute resolution capability. By aligning legal frameworks with technical, commercial and financing realities, the firm supports clients in developing, operating and protecting complex pipeline and midstream assets across jurisdictions.

This integrated approach enables clients to navigate regulatory complexity, manage cross-border risk and achieve legally sound and sustainable project outcomes.