Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP made a significant impression in the US oil and gas market with the hire of Rahul Vashi from Kirkland & Ellis LLP in May 2023, whose formidable transactional capabilities bolsters an already prolific team that advises on landmark M&A, with client Pioneer Natural Resources’ merger with ExxonMobil highlighting this. The group is highly active across the entire value chain, working with energy producers and asset managers on both company and project-based upstream acquisitions, midstream mergers, and disposals of manufacturing and distribution centers, as well as negotiating lease agreements. Vashi is joined as practice head by Michael P. Darden, a practitioner with vast sector experience whose practice spans oil and LNG transactions and financings as well as wider gas ventures such as carbon capture, utilization and sequestration projects. Hillary Holmes has been active on acquisition, disposal and merger deals whilst also possessing a formidable capital markets offering, while Michael De Voe Piazza co-heads the firm’s private equity group and largely focuses on matters of this nature. Tull Florey also comes recommended for his wide-spanning expertise. The team operates out of Houston.
Key clients
- Patterson-UTI Energy
- Ovintiv, Inc.
- Occidental Petroleum and its subsidiary Oxy low Carbon Ventures
- Ridgemar Energy
- Percussion Petroleum II
- Intrepid Partners
- Reliance Marcellus
- Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Shell Midstream Partners
- Mesquite Energy
- Oaktree Capital Management
- Pioneer Natural Resources
Work highlights
- Advised Pioneer Natural Resources on its $64.5 billion merger with ExxonMobil.
- Advised South Jersey Industries in its $8.1 billion sale to Infrastructure Investments Fund, a private investment vehicle advised by J.P.
- Advising Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. on its $5.4 billion merger with NexTier Oilfield Solutions Inc.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Michael P. Darden, Rahul Vashi