Firm to open Houston office with 10 partners, including seven lateral hires, boosting domestic and global capability in energy hub
International law firm Clifford Chance announced today the expansion of its global energy & infrastructure practice in the US with the hire of seven Houston-based partners. They will join Clifford Chance's growing US energy team in a newly-established Houston office, and form part of the firm's 300+ lawyer global energy & infrastructure team. New York-based partners Devika Kornbacher (Co-Head Global Tech Group) and Alexander Leff (Tax Equity), and Paris-based energy partner Anthony Giustini will relocate to support the expansion. The office is expected to grow in the coming months as the firm further strengthens its capabilities in the US and global energy markets to meet client demand.
Global Managing Partner Charles Adams says, "This move reflects an extended period of planning to ensure we identified a strong cohort of talented partners. Expanding our global energy offering in Houston, the world's leading energy hub, reflects our strategy to build out our capability in geographies and sectors critical to our clients' future growth. Energy transition is a priority for our clients and our depth of knowledge across technologies and jurisdictions in this sector positions Clifford Chance to add real value to businesses pursuing a sustainable path."
Bringing in-depth knowledge of the US domestic energy & infrastructure market, the team will provide significant on-the-ground support to US and international clients across the full breadth of traditional and renewable energy matters including carbon capture and trading, clean hydrogen, digital infrastructure and infratech, energy infrastructure, batteries, new nuclear and renewables across M&A/corporate, project finance and development, regulatory, tax equity, leveraged financing, litigation, restructuring, capital markets and private equity/funds activity.
Regional Managing Partner for the Americas Sharis Pozen adds, "Establishing our presence in Houston marks a continuation of our client-focused, strategic US expansion and the ability to scale our business, bringing the very best of our global capabilities to serve the fast-growing energy, technology and healthcare & life sciences sectors. These talented partners will form part of our global energy & infrastructure team, positioning us to more readily support both domestic and international clients."