Shearman & Sterling launches an office in Houston with six partners – its second Texas office following its Austin office opening in March. The Houston-based team significantly expands the firm’s existing global energy capabilities with a focus on oil and gas transactions and projects, in complement to the firm’s existing highly regarded global energy group, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.

The new partners include Hugh Tucker, Jeremy Kennedy and Coleson Bruce who join from Baker Botts; Sarah McLean and Todd Lowther who join from Thompson & Knight; and Omar Samji who joins from Jones Day. Tucker, the former Chairman of the Oil & Gas and Projects practices at Baker Botts, will lead the Texas practice and McLean joins as the Deputy Head of the Texas Practice.

The team will work with Shearman & Sterling’s market-leading practices to advise clients on a full range of mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and project-related work across the oil and gas spectrum.

“Our new Houston team’s tremendous reputation, particularly in upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas transactions, provides great synergies with our existing global energy offering and bolsters our client offering on the ground in one of the world’s leading, and extremely active, energy markets,” said David Beveridge, Shearman & Sterling’s Senior Partner. “The launch of our Houston office advances our growth plans in the United States while furthering the firm’s industry group strategy.”

Hugh Tucker, Head of Shearman & Sterling’s Texas practice: “We are thrilled to join Shearman & Sterling. The firm’s prominence in the global energy industry, combined with its leading mergers and acquisition and projects practices, provide our clients with access to a truly global elite service.”

McLean and Bruce will split their time between the firm’s Houston and Austin offices.

About the New Houston Team

Hugh Tucker advises on complex transactions in the oil and gas, chemical and energy industries, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and project development and financing. Hugh graduated from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1982 where he achieved Order of the Coif distinction. He earned his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1979.

Jeremy Kennedy’s practice focuses on upstream, midstream and downstream transactions in the domestic and international energy and petrochemical sectors, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and project development. Jeremy graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2003 where he was Editor‐in‐Chief of the Texas Tech Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif. He earned his B.B.A. from The University of Texas in 1998.

Coleson Bruce focuses on complex commercial transactions in the energy industry, including the acquisition and divestiture of energy companies and assets, joint venture / development arrangements and the evaluation and structuring of proposed transactions. Coleson’s practice includes extensive work on cross-border transactions, associated foreign investment regulations, and cross-border risk mitigation. Coleson graduated in 2009 from The University of Texas School of Law. He earned his A.B. from Yale University in 2004.

Sarah McLean focuses on private equity transactional work in the oil and gas sector, particularly portfolio company investments and acquisitions and divestitures of upstream, midstream and downstream assets and companies. Sarah graduated Order of the Coif from The University of Texas School of Law in 1999 and was notes editor on the Texas Law Review. In 1995, she earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with honors, from Oklahoma State University.

Todd Lowther focuses on U.S. federal and state tax matters arising in connection with M&A and fund-related transactions, with a particular emphasis on tax planning for upstream, midstream and downstream energy transactions. Todd graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School in 2006. In 2001, he earned a B.B.A./Accounting degree from the University of Georgia.

Omar Samji advises public and private oil and gas companies in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors on mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, project development, joint ventures and other business combinations. Omar graduated as a Stone Scholar from Columbia Law School in 2004 and earned his B.Com in 1999 from McGill University.

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