The Houston office of global law firm K&L Gates LLP has added Daniel P. LeFort as a partner in the energy, infrastructure and resources practice area. He joins K&L Gates from Eversheds Sutherland LLP.

Concentrating his practice on U.S. and global energy projects, LeFort advises clients on major projects in the natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petrochemical, and oil and electric utility sectors. In addition to his substantial experience in the areas of LNG projects and LNG transactions, including the structuring, development, construction, and financing of LNG terminals and related infrastructure and facilities, he also advises on the sale, transportation, importation, and exportation of LNG, LPG, and other petroleum products.

“Dan is a highly experienced global transaction lawyer who has served as a trusted adviser to some of the world’s largest energy companies,” said Randel R. Young, administrative partner of K&L Gates’ Houston office and a co-leader of the firm’s global energy, infrastructure and resources practice. “We are excited for the opportunities that Dan will have to further develop his practice on our integrated global platform, including benefitting from the strength of the firm’s presence throughout Asia and in the Middle East.”

LeFort’s more than 40 years of experience — which has included roles as both outside legal counsel and in-house counsel with energy companies such as Shell Oil, ExxonMobil, and Qatar Petroleum — has involved counseling clients on upstream, midstream, and downstream matters, ranging from oil and gas leases, production sharing and concession contracts and joint operating agreements, to pipelines, processing and other midstream oil and gas facilities, and refineries and petrochemical plants. He has lived in the Middle East, Japan, and Southeast Asia and worked with clients on matters in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Washington, D.C., partner Steven C. Sparling, a co-leader of K&L Gates’ energy, infrastructure and resources practice area, stated: “We are delighted to add a high-caliber energy projects and transaction lawyer like Dan to our U.S. and global platform. Based in Houston and working closely with our Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Doha, London, New York, and other offices across our global platform, Dan will add significant depth to our teams handling international project development and cross-border investments and transactions generally, while particularly extending our global LNG and natural gas practice, where he is a recognized leader in the construction and development of LNG facilities and related infrastructure. Dan’s deep experience in advising energy clients in Asia and the Middle East adds significant resources to our extensive practice representing U.S. and multinational energy companies in both of those regions.”

LeFort’s arrival follows the addition of several other lawyers to K&L Gates’ energy, infrastructure and resources practice, both in and outside of Texas, in recent months, including Fort Worth/Houston partners Joseph Regan and Adam Plumbley; Houston of counsel Zachary Ferreira; New York/Houston partner Toshi Yoshida; and Washington, D.C., partner Elias Hinckley and counsel James Wrathall. In September, the Houston office also welcomed Anil H. Patel, Ph.D., as a partner in the firm’s pharma and biopharma litigation practice.

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