Today on The Energy Executive 360 Podcast, we sit down with Lewis McDonald—Global Co-Head of Energy at world-renowned law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer—for a deep-dive interview on energy law, leadership, and the future of the global energy system. From billion-dollar oil, gas, and renewables deals to the massive rise in global energy demand, Lewis shares how mindfulness, resilience, and international experience has shaped his career across Perth, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo.We explore why the energy transition is not one story but many transitions, why cheap, reliable, and clean energy is the true foundation of prosperity, and how AI is set to transform both energy law and the global value chain. Along the way, Lewis unpacks football analogies, pragmatic insights, and lessons on leadership—challenging us to think differently about energy, business, and the world.What You’ll Learn:⬛ Why Lewis combined his passion for the natural world, law, and energy into a global career—from zoology and climate treaties to billion-dollar deals⬛ How mindfulness, football analogies, and the discipline of presence help him stay grounded in the high-pressure world of global energy law⬛ Lessons from an international career across Perth, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo—and how constant movement shaped his resilience and worldview⬛ The hidden role of lawyers in energy—from structuring billion-dollar transactions to managing the smallest contractual details that keep the global system running⬛ Why the global energy system is bigger than most people imagine—and why renewables growth, while crucial, can’t yet keep pace with rising demand⬛ The importance of R&D, technology, and innovation in driving the next wave of energy solutions, from methane detection satellites to green hydrogen projects⬛ Why the public narrative around oil & gas must change, and how initiatives like PRAGMA aim to create a more pragmatic, balanced conversation about energy transition⬛ The evolution of the energy transition: from “transitions” in the plural to today’s messy, non-linear path, where subsidies, costs, and political will determine outcomes⬛ Advice for the next generation of lawyers and energy professionals—how to build a career, navigate complexity, and embrace serendipity in a sector where opportunity is everywhereEpisode Chapters & Highlights0:00 Introduction1:18 Lewis’ Journey to Energy Law9:55 Lessons from Travelling the World14:00 Power of Being in the Moment, Reflection & Mindfulness18:30 How Big is Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer’s Global Energy Team?19:38 How to Lead a 700-Person Global Team?23:47 What Do Energy Lawyers Do?29:13 The Truth About the Global Energy System…37:40 The Pragma Philosophy: How to Change the Narrative41:50 HSF Kramer’s Energy Vision, Mission & Strategy46:04 The True Origin of the Phrase “Energy Transition”49:55 The Big Oil vs Big Shovel Debate53:58 How is AI Changing the Energy Industry?58:13 Advice to Budding Energy Lawyers1:01:00 Final Question to the Audience – How Will You Be More Present?Herbert Freehills Smith Kramer & Lewis McDonaldFollow Lewis McDonald on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-mcdonald-7a69728/Follow Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer via their website: https://www.hsfkramer.com/The Energy Executive 360 with Emilio FaulmataFollow Emilio on all platforms: linktr.ee/EmilioFaulmataLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliofaulmata/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emiliofaulmata/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emiliofaulmata X: https://x.com/EmilioFaulmata Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emiliofaulmataVisit The Energy Executive 360/ TEE360 STUDIO Website: emiliofaulmata.comSubscribe to The Energy Executive 360 Newsletter: LinkedIn

I am Emilio Miguel Faulkner Matamoros, but from today onwards you may refer to me as Emilio Faulmata...

This is the very beginning of The Energy Executive 360 Podcast. Just me, a mic, a mission — and quite a lot of belief.

I don’t have a big audience (yet). I’m not famous. There’s no studio, no team, no investor. But I do have a vision: to make this the biggest energy podcast in the world, and to change the way people see the energy industry.

In this first episode, I wanted to strip it all back and share who I am, what drives me, and why I’m building this. Think of it as me interviewing myself before the guests come in.

I open up about:

• Growing up between cultures, languages, and worlds of wealth and scarcity.

• The feeling of being underestimated, and how it shaped my mindset.

• Why I believe the only opinion that truly matters is your own.

• How I’ve learned to process fear, failure, and uncertainty — and why that matters more than talent or timing.

• The mission behind this podcast: to bring a new audience to energy, to unleash the voices of the leaders shaping its future, and to rewrite the narratives around the industry.

If you’re listening as a potential supporter, or even as one of the dream guests I’ve reached out to, this is your chance to hear my story before everything kicks off.

This isn’t just a podcast to me. It’s personal. It’s the start of something much bigger.

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The Energy Executive 360 Podcast is here.

Hosted by Emilio Faulmata, this new podcast sits down with the most influential leaders in global energy to uncover their stories, their mindset, and their vision for the future.

For too long, the energy industry has been misunderstood, even vilified. We’re changing that.
By giving energy’s biggest decision-makers a platform to speak openly, honestly, and unfiltered, we’ll reveal the human side of leadership and the truth behind the energy transition.

Energy powers every part of our lives. It is the foundation of human progress. And yet the world rarely hears from the people driving it forward. That changes now.

This is the podcast that takes you behind closed doors — into the minds of the executives shaping our collective future.

🎥 Watch the trailer, subscribe on your favourite platform and follow me below:
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This is just the beginning. The first full episode of The Energy Executive 360 Podcast drops in one week.

Let’s change the narrative. Let’s shape the future — together.