Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that it plans to open an office in Houston, Texas and that Robert R. Rabalais will be joining that office as a partner in the Banking and Credit Practice Group. Establishment of a Houston office will enhance the Firm’s ability to serve clients in the energy sector, including financial institutions, corporate clients and private equity firms involved in oil and gas transactions. In addition, the Houston office’s focus on the energy sector will provide synergies with the Firm’s global offices.

“Opening in Houston is a natural outgrowth of our already strong and long-standing energy practice,” said Pete Ruegger, Chairman of the Firm’s Executive Committee. “The Houston office, with a resident partner as talented as Robert Rabalais, will provide a tremendous benefit to our clients active in the oil and gas space.  Our breadth and depth of experience across all of the major corporate practice areas are well matched for the sophisticated transactions that are centered in the Houston market.”

Corporate partner David Lieberman, Head of the Firm’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group, said of Mr. Rabalais, “We are delighted that Robert will be joining us as we launch our Houston office.  His banking expertise and understanding of the local market complements our strong capital markets practice in the oil and gas space as well as our M&A practice, which ranked among the top firms for Texas-related transactions in 2010. There are few Houston-based oil and gas finance lawyers as skilled and as well respected as Robert.”

Mr. Rabalais welcomed the upcoming move, saying, “I look forward to joining such an exceptional firm, with a long history of energy expertise, and helping to build a strong Houston-based practice.”  Mr. Rabalais’ practice focuses on a range of commercial and capital markets financings and derivatives transactions in the oil and gas exploration and production and related service segments. He received both a Bachelor of Science and a J.D. from Louisiana State University, graduating from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1989.  Mr. Rabalais is currently a partner in Vinson & Elkins LLP.

In addition to Mr. Rabalais, Mr. Lieberman will be heavily involved in engagements in Houston and will maintain a regular presence there while being based in New York. The Houston office also will be supported by partners Bill Curbow, Wilson Neely, Gary Sellers and Andrew Smith in New York, all of whom are active participants in the Firm’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group and have significant experience in Houston-based matters.

The Firm expects to formally open the Houston office in mid-2011, and the office initially will be staffed with eight to ten professionals based in Houston.

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