Ben Smith is based in Fulbright's Hong Kong office, where he advises on oil and gas matters and transactions.

Ben has a particular focus on the development of LNG Projects and the long term sale and purchase of LNG, but also advises on all types of upstream developments, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures. 

Ben has been seconded to a supermajor in the UK for seven months and to a Japanese trading house in Tokyo for two years. On both secondments he advised on oil and gas related matters.

Ben was commended for "providing a top-class service and superb advice" and highlighted as an "associate to watch" by Chambers Asia Pacific (2011) and Chambers Global (2011).

Ben was identified as a leading individual in the 2012 edition of The Legal 500 China edition where he was described as "an experienced and capable lawyer". 

Ben is listed in Legal Media Group's Guide to Leading Practitioners (Expert Guides): China - Energy (2011).

• Advising a potential buyer of BP's Colombian businesses
• Advising the largest offtaker in connection with the development of the Singapore LNG terminal
• Advising participants in offshore blocks in the South China Sea on sales of gas in China
• Advising the seller on the first ever agreement to sell coalbed methane derived LNG to an Asian buyer
• Advising an Asian LNG buyer on the terms of a long term LNG purchase
• Advising a Hong Kong power company on the negotiation of the terms of a long term LNG purchase and the associated LNG terminal use arrangements
• Advising an Asian client on the terms of a terminal use agreement and the sale of regasified LNG
• Representation of an independent oil company on the sale of a subsidiary holding an interest in a production sharing contract in Indonesia
• Representation of a UK listed independent oil company on the acquisition of a number of upstream interests in West Africa
• Representation of a UK based international gas company on the acquisition of an interest in a Production Sharing Contract in Algeria
• Advising an LNG Project on an analysis of its suite of LNG sales agreements identifying commercial strategic and tactical advantages and weaknesses
• Advising an international oil and gas company in relation to the joint venture arrangements for an international oil pipeline in the Caspian Region
• Representation of a UK listed independent oil company on the sale of most of its gas production in Ukraine
• Representation of and advice to a super major on the commissioning of an LNG terminal in Europe, including advising on inter shipper issues, LNG procurement, and "Use-it-or-lose-it" rules
• Representation of a UK based international gas company on its acquisition of an interest in the development of a new LNG terminal in the UK
• Advising a super major on the terms of its bid to supply LNG to the Quintero Bay LNG terminal in Chile
• Representation of a super major in relation to a medium term contract to sell portfolio LNG in the Atlantic basin
• Advising several entities on the terms of LNG Spot Cargo Master Agreements
• Representation of a Japanese trading house in relation to the sale of LNG into a major US terminal
• Representation of a Japanese trading house in relation to its LNG trading business, including drafting and negotiating LNG Spot Cargo Master Agreements
• Representation of a Japanese trading house in connection with projects to develop an LNG terminal on the West Coast of North America

• The Law Society
• The Association of International Petroleum Negotiators

• Chambers Asia Pacific (2011) ranked as an "Associate to watch" in Energy & Natural Resources: China

• Co-author, "New Business Opportunities Expected, but Are Troubling Times Also Ahead for Investors in Libya?", Fulbright Briefing, September 6, 2011
• "Asia-Pacific's Shifting LNG Market", Petroleum Economist, November 2010 
• "LNG Buyer, Beware", Energy Risk, Q1 2009
• "Are More Warranties Needed for LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements?", LNG Business Review, January 2009
• "LNG: First Glimmers of a New Dawn for Long-term Buyers?", LNG Business Review, October 2008
• "The Role of Short Term Trading in the LNG Markets of the Future", Oxford Energy Forum, November 2004

• "Negotiating and Drafting Long Term LNG Sales & Purchase Agreements" Masterclass, Natural Gas Logistics, Handling & Contracts Asia 2011, Bali, July 2011
• "How Central Asian Gas Will Influence Global Markets", 6th Annual Asia Gas Congress, Beijing, April 2011
• "Issues for a New LNG Buyer to Consider", 3rd Annual China LNG Summit, Shanghai, January 2011
• "Dealmaking with LNG Aggregators in Asia", AIPN Regional Chapter Meeting, Australia and Asia Pacific Chapter, Singapore, June 2010
• "Negotiating Successful LNG and Gas Contracts", World Gas Exchange Asia 2009, Shanghai, November 2009
• "LNG Spot Trading - Risks and Opportunities", 5^th Annual Asia Gas Congress 2009, Beijing, October 2009
• "LNG Aggregators in Asian Markets", 2^nd Asia LNG Forum 2009, Shenzhen, September 2009
• Panel member, 3^rd Annual LNG World Conference, Tokyo, July 2008
• Chairman, AIPN LNG Conference, London, 8 March 2006
• "LNG Trading: Developments in Long Term LNG SPAs and the Development of Master Agreements", City Gas Club, London, 21 January 2006

Additionally Ben presents courses and workshops on LNG and gas contracting.

1997 - Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, College of Law, London
1996 - Diploma in Law, College of Law, London
1994 - B.A., Medieval & Modern History, Royal Holloway & Bedford New College, University of London

Ben was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 2000.