Energy, Mining and Resources

For more than thirty years, our practice has grown and matured alongside the Energy, Mining and Resources industry—from the ascendancy of petroleum to the diversification of modern companies into a spectrum of innovative, sustainable technology.

From the intricacies of short-term, offshore immigration, to protectionist policies, to the pressures for speedy immigration exerted by their own partners—we’ve overcome challenges alongside some of the largest energy and resources companies in the industry.

Beyond our deep experience in the industry, our prime value to clients is our unparalleled global scope, with capabilities in more than 170 countries worldwide. We can provide advice about jurisdictions—and moves between combinations of jurisdictions—that other immigration firms can’t match.

 

Clients value us for our:

Speed-to-ground

The operational complexity of any mine, well, or offshore rig is daunting, requiring on-site personnel management that is organized, meticulous and, most of all, efficient.

We strive to embody those same virtues. We work with every level of a client’s team, from high-level planning with HR and global mobility professionals to direct interaction with field-level operation managers.

Together, we achieve truly impressive speed-to-ground, without sacrificing employee experience.

Offshore, short-term solutions

Immigration compliance for offshore employees presents a complex issue for oil and gas companies: The time required to assure real compliance is often longer than the workers’ rotation in the field—and risks and penalties for non-compliance are very real.

In our experience, many companies in the industry rely upon legacy solutions for short-term, offshore appointments—solutions that present a minefield of unexpected compliance issues, especially if a company has not recently faced oversight or engaged in internal policy review.

Fragomen helps clients minimize risk by creating truly compliant short-term solutions for offshore employees. We carefully review existing practices to identify hidden compliance failures, offering a programmatic response that reconciles and remedies short-term assignment policy.

Transactional savvy

Massive internal restructurings, spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions—the energy and resource sectors have been roiled by major transactions during the past few years. Enterprise-altering transactions are a fact of life in the industry. Unfortunately, immigration compliance is often compromised during these tectonic shifts.

Our Knowledge Group is a valued strategic resource for clients contemplating significant transactions—they collaborate with our client teams as we guide clients through the entire deal lifecycle, from initial conception through closing, to minimize work stoppage and compliance lapses.

Rehabilitation Programs

We are often called upon to champion companies who have suffered heavy fines or been banned outright from doing business in a particular country due to serious violations. We perform a thorough internal audit and design a corrective plan to reassure authorities that our new client is fully compliant and is prepared against future lapses.

Even if a new client seems to be fully compliant, we offer a thorough “pulse check” auditing service that examines programs at every level, providing protection against future infractions or fines.

Straight talk on risk

Every energy and resources company walks the line between compliance risk and business reward. For instance, many companies face the choice between being fined for a compliance violation and shutting down operations to correct it.

As trusted business counsel, we provide thorough, clear-eyed risk analysis on any course of action contemplated by our clients, and then recommend a plan for action. This includes issues raised by scheduled shutdowns and turnarounds, as well as unintended interruptions—caused, for instance, by the COVID crisis.

Government affairs acumen

Few industries provoke protectionist fervor from governments more than the energy and resources sectors. We help our clients manage the risks involved in authorizing onshore, construction-heavy projects—the challenges inherent in obtaining the right permits and authorizations, and the higher likelihood of inspections and penalties without them.

Singular firm culture

In harmony with our global reach, our clients enjoy consistent, predictable service worldwide.

When venturing into new regions or jurisdictions, our clients don't need to “start fresh” with a new local office. They’re dealing with one firm—whose knowledge, professionalism, and collaborative culture is the same regardless of location.