Jon Paul Mouttet

About The LawyerJon Paul Mouttet is an energy lawyer in Trinidad and Tobago, serving as Senior Partner at Fitzwilliam Stone Furness‑Smith & Morgan and Head of the firm’s Energy & Tax Departments. He has practised at the firm since 2005, shifting from earlier litigation responsibilities to a primary focus on commercial, transactional and tax litigation work for industrial and energy clients. Mouttet acts regularly as local counsel to international and domestic oil & gas operators, midstream and downstream project developers, petrochemical investors and power‑generation businesses active in Trinidad and Tobago.Recent Developments & RecognitionOver the past year Mouttet has consolidated his standing as one of Trinidad & Tobago’s leading energy lawyers. He retained a Band 1 ranking in General Business Law in the Chambers Global Guide 2026, reflecting sustained peer and client recognition for his work at the intersection of energy, tax and commercial law. In 2026 he also contributed to Chambers’ in‑depth country overview on General Business Law, underscoring his role as an authoritative commentator on the local legal environment for investors. Global Law Experts renewed Mouttet’s exclusive appointment as its specialist in Energy Law for Trinidad & Tobago within the last year, reaffirming his role as a primary referral contact for cross‑border clients seeking on‑the‑ground counsel in the jurisdiction. Leaders‑in‑Law formally endorsed him as their designated Energy Law expert for Trinidad & Tobago, an independent recognition that supplements legal‑rankings visibility with practitioner endorsements from international lawyer directories.Experience & Notable WorkstreamsMouttet’s practice covers the full oil & gas value chain: upstream exploration & production agreements, licensing and production‑sharing frameworks, midstream gas‑transportation and sales arrangements, and downstream petrochemical and fuel‑handling projects. He has acted for multinationals and service companies on exploration licensing, joint ventures, sub‑licences and state enterprise negotiations, and on large industrial projects such as petrochemical and methanol complex developments. He also advises on power‑generation transactions (including gas‑fired and renewable assets), structuring and negotiating commercial and tax terms for project development, and regulatory compliance matters involving environmental and HSE obligations. On the tax side, Mouttet regularly represents clients in appeals before the Tax Appeal Board and provides transactional tax planning in the context of foreign investment and M&A in energy and heavy industry.What Sets Jon Paul Mouttet Apart as an Energy Lawyer in Trinidad & TobagoClients and peers highlight Mouttet’s ability to combine technical legal analysis with pragmatic commercial solutions — particularly where fiscal, licensing and commercial risks intersect. His sustained presence in banded global rankings and frequent engagement with government ministries and state enterprises give him an advantaged perspective when negotiating with regulators or structuring investor protections in production sharing, concession and gas‑supply arrangements. He is regularly called upon to translate complex energy‑sector policy shifts into actionable contractual protections and tax strategies for sponsors, lenders and operators — a capability especially valuable in jurisdictions like Trinidad & Tobago where energy policy and fiscal regimes remain important determinants of project economics.Selected Contributions & Speaking EngagementsIn addition to his written contributions, Mouttet has maintained an active public and professional profile. He co‑authored an in‑depth national overview for Chambers in February 2026 and has contributed chapters and country commentaries to recognised oil & gas and tax publications over several editions. During 2026 he was a panellist at the Law Association of Trinidad & Tobago (LATT) Biennial Law Conference’s Taxation & Fiscal Law panel, where he presented a paper titled “Artificiality: Is the bolted horse finally back in the stable?”Education, Admissions & Professional MembershipsMouttet earned his LL.B. from the University of the West Indies, completed professional training at Hugh Wooding Law School and holds an LL.M. from King’s College London. He was admitted to practice in Trinidad and Tobago in 2005 and to the Guyana Bar in 2021. He is a member of the Law Association of Trinidad & Tobago and the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.Why Specialist Energy Counsel Matters In Trinidad & TobagoTrinidad & Tobago remains a strategically important hydrocarbon and petrochemical jurisdiction in the Caribbean, where project viability depends not only on technical resources but on carefully negotiated fiscal terms, licensing certainty and environmental compliance. The regulatory and tax settings that govern exploration, gas allocation, downstream manufacturing and power generation continue to evolve, making specialist legal advice essential for preserving value and managing sovereign, contractual and tax risk. Engaging an experienced energy lawyer in Trinidad & Tobago early — particularly one who combines litigation experience, tax expertise and transactional practice — helps sponsors, lenders and operators anticipate regulatory change, frame enforceable contractual protections and avoid downstream disputes that can materially affect project returns.Profile SummaryMouttet is a seasoned energy lawyer in Trinidad and Tobago whose practice spans upstream, midstream and downstream transactions, dispute resolution and energy‑sector tax work. Recent reaffirmations of his standing — including the 2026 Chambers Band 1 recognition and renewed appointments across international legal networks — reflect both his sustained market leadership and his active role in shaping practical solutions for energy clients in the region.