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Denning Law Journal 2016 Vol 28 Special Issue pp 4-6 

 

UNIVERSITY OF BUCKINGHAM CENTRE FOR 

EXTRACTIVE ENERGY STUDIES 

(UBCEES)  
 

The University of Buckingham Centre for Extractive Energy Studies 

(UBCEES) offers a uniquely holistic approach to the study of extractive 

energy. This ranges from issues of good governance and accountability, 

combating corruption and asset recovery, on to the legal, fiscal and 

competition issues relating to the actual process of the extraction and 

carriage of energy resources and its environmental and social impact. It also 

explores contemporary issues relating to the exploitation and extraction of 

offshore energy from the sea, fracking, community and labour rights in the 

global extractive energy sector, including indigenous community 

participation in the decision-making process of the ownership and the 

sustainable management of energy resources.  

The Centre is led by Professor John Hatchard and Dr. Hephzibah Egede 

(Co-directors) in collaboration with Mr. Jae Sundaram who leads the 

Centre’s Maritime unit. The Centre was launched on October 16 2013 and 

is guided by an Advisory Board which consists of leading academics and 

practitioners in the extractive energy sector. The Board provides expert 

guidance in the development and implementation of the programmes and 

activities of the Centre.  

 

Advisory Board Membership 

 

Current members of the UBCEES Advisory Board are: 

 

I. Mr. Marc Hammerson, Chair, UBCEES Advisory Board, Partner, 

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.  

II. Prof. RG Lee, Head, Birmingham Law School, University of 

Birmingham.  

III. Prof. William Nuttall, Professor of Energy, Open University; 

Fellow, Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge.  

IV. Prof. Peter Slinn, Notre Dame University, Joint General Editor, 

Law Reports of the Commonwealth.  

V. Mr. David Salter, Senior Associate Fellow, School of Law, 

University of Warwick.  

VI. Mr. James Maton, Partner, Cooley LLP.  



UCBEES 

 

 

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VII. Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, Partner, Chris Ogunbanjo & Co, 

First Vice President, Nigerian Stock Exchange.  
 

UBCEES Conferences 

 

Since its inception in 2013, the Centre has hosted a series of energy 

conferences which cover a wide range of topical issues concerning the 

global extractive energy sector.  

 

I. “Current Legal and Policy Issues in the Global Energy Sector” 

(October 2013). 

II. “Governance and Social Issues in the Extractive Energy Sector” (May 

2014). 

III. “Current Legal and Policy Issues in the African Energy Market”  

(October 2014) 

IV. “Marine Life, Oil Spills, Shipping and Piracy: Contemporary 

Maritime Challenges in Offshore Energy Exploitation” (October 

2015) 

V. “Oil and Gas Decommissioning” (May 2016). This conference was 

facilitated and supported by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP 

and Globe Law Publishers. 

 

Forthcoming Conference  

 

The Centre in collaboration with the Open University will host a 

conference on “Nuclear Energy Law, Policy and Regulation” in the first 

quarter of 2017.  

 

UBCEES Energy Club 

 

The Centre has also established a Student Energy Club to encourage the 

discussion of and publication about contemporary energy issues. It provides 

the student community (undergraduate and postgraduate) with learning and 

networking opportunities preparatory to prospective careers in the energy 

sector. The President of the Student Energy Club, Ms. Grace Abakwe-

Atsegwasi, a current doctoral student, was also given an opportunity to 

share highlights of her current doctoral thesis on offshore health, safety and 

environmental regulation in Nigeria at the recently concluded UBCEES 

conference on contemporary maritime challenges in offshore energy 

exploitation.  

 



UCBEES 

 

 

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UBCEES Masterclasses 

 

One of the Centre’s objectives is to further enhance and develop the 

teaching and research of extractive energy specialisms such as Oil and Gas 

Law at the Buckingham Law School. In furtherance of this objective, the 

UBCEES held its first Oil and Gas masterclass for those students taking the 

Oil and Gas Law course at the LLM level. The masterclass, which held on 

March 2nd 2016, was hosted at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (a 

leading law firm consistently recognized for its practice in energy law). The 

masterclass was facilitated by three energy lawyers at Akin Gump and 

covered key areas in oil and gas such as host state contracts, licensing and 

energy disputes. The Centre plans to hold further practitioner led master 

classes to enhance student learning at the Buckingham Law School.  

 

UBCEES Contact Details 

 

Prof John Hatchard: john.hatchard@buckingham.ac.uk 

Dr. Hephzibah Egede: hephzibah.egede@buckingham.ac.uk