Opening Facts

In 2023, the author was instructed by an international law firm to act as an expert witness in an international arbitration (the LCIA Case) between an oil company "Company A" and a downhole services provider "Company B". VassPetro Limited was hired to testify for Company A. At issue was the proper interpretation of a "knock-for-knock" (K4K) clause found in a downhole services contract (Downhole Services Contract). The Downhole Services Contract was subject to English law as well "as by principles and practice generally accepted in the international petroleum industry". Under the facts at issue, Company A also contracted with a drilling company (Company C) which employed a certain individual (X). Due to the alleged fault of Company B, X was tragically killed. The estate of X reached a settlement with Company B. ...