Houston in focus as A&O Shearman and Clifford Chance make senior hires

A&O Shearman and Clifford Chance have both added senior talent in Houston as international firms continue to invest in the American energy capital.

A&O Shearman has welcomed Andrew Lanius from Simpson Thacher as head of its US energy and infrastructure finance offering. His practice is focused on private capital-backed deals across the sector.

“Andrew’s arrival is another important step in strengthening our Texas offering,” said Bill Nelson, Texas managing partner at A&O Shearman. “Houston is a critical market for our energy and infrastructure clients, and the work we do here drives opportunities across the firm’s global practice.”

Clifford Chance, meanwhile, which opened its Houston office in 2023, has added disputes firepower with the hire of J. Laurens Wilkes from Winston & Strawn who will lead the firm’s global infrastructure disputes practice.

Also joining the Houston contentious team is Caitlin Gernert, who arrives as a partner from O’Melveny & Myers where she was a counsel.

Houston managing partner Alex Wilde said the pair’s “significant sector experience builds on the strong momentum of our Houston office and will be instrumental in further expanding our capabilities, while also strengthening our global platform."

Houston heats up

Houston has emerged as one of the most important legal markets in the US in recent years, driven by a wave of private capital flowing into infrastructure and energy transition work in particular.

Many major energy and natural resources companies are headquartered in the city, while a growing number of tech and telecoms businesses have also shifted operations to Texas.

Among the elite UK firms, Freshfields is understood to be weighing a Texas launch, as it continues its US expansion push. New York heavyweight Paul Weiss opened in Houston earlier this year - and this week announced the hire of two new partners from Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins.