Main Divisions of the Legal Affairs Department

1. Litigation Affairs

2. Land and Registration Affairs

3. Contracts and Legal Advisory Affairs

4. Legal Consultation Affairs

5. Contract Dispute Resolution Board

6. Administrative Integrity Promotion and Anti-Corruption Working Group

Functions and Responsibilities of the Legal Affairs Department

1. Litigation Affairs

The Litigation Affairs Division is responsible for:

  • Cooperating in the preparation, drafting, and management of legal claims, petitions, pleadings, and litigation matters.
  • Establishing specialized committees to evaluate disputed matters from technical, legal, and financial perspectives and preparing reports for the Company's Board of Directors regarding the likelihood of success or failure in litigation.
  • Supervising the activities of company attorneys and legal experts, providing guidance and resolving legal challenges related to petitions and defense briefs, and directly handling significant cases referred to general courts (civil and criminal), specialized courts, the High Registration Council, and the Administrative Justice Court.
  • Reviewing and providing legal opinions on disciplinary and misconduct cases involving employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, and pursuing such matters through competent judicial authorities.
  • Preparing legal petitions, complaints, and defense statements.
  • Examining and taking appropriate action regarding lawsuits, complaints, claims, and correspondence related to breaches and violations by foreign companies contracting with NIORDC and its subsidiaries.
  • Initiating and pursuing international claims arising from contracts with foreign entities before domestic courts, foreign courts, and international tribunals.
  • Following up on judicial decisions and obtaining final and enforceable judgments.

2. Land and Registration Affairs

The Land and Registration Affairs Division is responsible for:

  • Investigating and obtaining official information regarding the registration status of lands and properties required by the Company through relevant registration authorities, endowment organizations, or the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and securing necessary certificates and approvals.
  • Negotiating with property owners regarding purchase prices and completing property acquisition transactions, including preparation of purchase deeds and payment procedures.
  • Assessing damages incurred by neighboring landowners along pipeline routes, negotiating settlements, paying compensation, and obtaining formal waivers and releases of claims through official notary offices.
  • Managing the sale, transfer, return, and protection of company-owned lands and properties, and coordinating with governmental and local authorities to resolve land-related issues.
  • Registering ownership documents, paying registration fees, and maintaining title deeds.
  • Preparing and registering lease agreements, purchase and sale contracts, mortgage deeds, and other property-related legal instruments through official notary offices.
  • Registering articles of association, company registrations, trademarks, and patents.
  • Preparing and obtaining undertakings from scholarship recipients, trainees, and other individuals receiving educational support from the Company, as well as obtaining required legal commitments from employees and contractors where necessary.

3. Contracts and Legal Advisory Affairs

This division is responsible for:

  • Reviewing and preparing legal documentation required for tendering and contracting activities related to construction, engineering, technical services, transportation, consulting, and specialized projects of NIORDC and its subsidiaries.
  • Participating in preliminary negotiations and correspondence related to project agreements and contracts.
  • Supervising the preparation of standard general contract conditions and communicating them to management units and subsidiary companies.
  • Reviewing and providing legal opinions regarding contractual instruments such as undertakings, powers of attorney, guarantees, assignments, and related documents.
  • Compiling and maintaining legal opinions concerning domestic contracts and distributing them among legal consultants and experts.
  • Contributing to the formulation of NIORDC’s overall policies relating to international petroleum matters.
  • Providing legal opinions concerning disputes and claims arising from damages to company assets and pursuing legal actions before national and international authorities to recover losses and protect company interests.
  • Supervising the preparation and drafting of contracts required by management units and subsidiary companies in accordance with corporate policies and national regulations.
  • Reviewing and providing legal opinions on employment and labor-related issues, employee complaints, disciplinary violations, and criminal or administrative proceedings in accordance with applicable laws and company regulations.
  • Providing legal review and opinions regarding documents associated with employee retirement, buyout, and separation arrangements and coordinating company representation before notary offices when required.

4. Legal Consultation Affairs

The Legal Consultation Division is responsible for:

  • Providing legal advice and opinions upon request from managers and organizational units to ensure compliance of company activities with applicable laws and regulations governing corporate affairs, banking, finance, foreign exchange, commerce, industry, mining, insurance, and related sectors.
  • Reviewing and providing legal opinions concerning complaints filed by individuals or legal entities against the Company and its employees.
  • Providing legal opinions regarding documentation related to employee retirement and buyout arrangements.
  • Reviewing legal issues and challenges raised by management units and subsidiary companies.
  • Advising management and organizational units on legal approaches and solutions to ensure that company activities comply with applicable laws and regulations governing corporations, banking, finance, foreign exchange, commerce, and other related fields.
  • Assisting company departments in interpreting and implementing internal regulations while considering legal principles, company interests, and the specific requirements of the petroleum industry.

5. Contract Dispute Resolution Board

To resolve contractual disputes arising between employers and contractors, the Contract Dispute Resolution Board was established by order of the Minister of Petroleum, with support from the legal departments of the principal petroleum companies.

The Board operates pursuant to Clause 6, Paragraph (B), Article 3 of the Law on the Duties and Authorities of the Ministry of Petroleum (approved on 9 May 2012) and in accordance with procedures issued by the Minister of Petroleum.

Its responsibilities include:

  • Implementing the Contract Dispute Resolution Procedure issued under Circular No. 20112-1/28 dated 27 August 2014.
  • Establishing and administering Contract Dispute Resolution Boards.
  • Reviewing contractual disputes among principal petroleum companies and their subsidiaries arising from differing interpretations of contractual texts, circulars, or contractual provisions.
  • Issuing interim orders requiring performance or suspension of contractual obligations where necessary.
  • Resolving contractual disputes outside the framework of formal arbitration proceedings.

6. Administrative Integrity Promotion and Anti-Corruption Working Group

The Administrative Integrity Promotion and Anti-Corruption Working Group was established by decree of the Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Managing Director of NIORDC and operates under the leadership of the Legal Affairs Department.

Its responsibilities include:

  • Implementing the Eight-Article Directive issued by the Supreme Leader on 30 April 2001 regarding comprehensive efforts to combat financial and economic corruption.
  • Implementing the Law on the Promotion of Administrative Integrity and Combating Corruption.
  • Implementing Presidential Directive No. 156667 dated 25 December 2013 concerning the necessity of combating economic corruption, particularly abuses arising from sanctions.
  • Implementing the Ministry of Petroleum directive dated 14 January 2014 concerning the establishment of the Administrative Integrity Promotion and Anti-Corruption Headquarters within NIORDC.
  • Promoting administrative integrity and pursuing systematic, sustainable, and lawful measures to combat economic corruption.
  • Identifying corruption-prone processes and vulnerabilities and developing preventive measures to address them.

 


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