Global law firm White & Case LLP has opened an office in Houston to
further strengthen its leading Global Oil & Gas Industry Group, initially
adding three new partners to the firm and relocating a fourth. The firm expects
to announce a number of further lateral partners in the coming weeks.
James (Jay) Cuclis joins the firm from Vinson &
Elkins and will lead the firm’s Houston office as the Office
Executive Partner. He is joined by partners Christopher Richardson and Charlie
Ofner, who have joined from Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP. Saul Daniel, an
English-qualified White & Case partner who has practiced in London and Abu
Dhabi, has also joined the firm’s Houston office. All four partners
are members of the firm’s Global Oil & Gas Industry Group.
“Houston is the global capital of the oil & gas
industry, with more than 5,000 energy firms doing business in the metropolitan region,”
said White & Case partner Philip Stopford, co-head of the firm’s Global
Oil & Gas Industry Group. “Jay, Chris and Charlie bring extensive energy
experience both domestically and internationally, allowing us to take on more
work in the energy sector globally, but with a particular focus on the
Americas.”
Jason Webber, partner and co-head of the firm’s Global Oil
& Gas Industry Group, commented, “We are tremendously excited to welcome
Jay, Chris and Charlie to the firm. Their addition in Houston adds
new expertise to our offering in the domestic and global upstream sector — and
also super-charges our existing practices in US oil & gas infrastructure,
liquefied natural gas and downstream project development.”
Cuclis, Richardson and Ofner each bring a unique skill set
to the firm’s existing energy practice. Each lawyer has considerable expertise
working on acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures and project
development, including LNG, petrochemical and pipeline projects.
“An office in Houston furthers the firm’s strategy
to grow in the United States while supporting the firm’s industry
priority groups,” says Executive Committee member Dave Koschik, who heads
White & Case’s US Growth Team. “The Houston office will be
focused primarily on strengthening our Global Oil & Gas Industry Group by
identifying and nurturing deep and enduring corporate client relationships
within that industry. With offices in 30 countries, we are uniquely positioned
to provide one-stop legal services to US-based energy clients on their
investments around the world, as well as to represent international investors
in the US energy sector.
“In the coming months and years, we plan to expand in Houston,
serving clients across multiple practices and industries. Our goal is to have
at least 15 partners and 50 total lawyers across the core transactional
practices of corporate, finance and projects,” Koschik concluded.
White & Case’s new Houston office is its
seventh location in the US and its 43rd globally.
Sam Bonson
Sam is an aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He is currently working as a content writer, journalist & editor as he continues to expand his horizons.
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