Mr Andrew Calder > Kirkland & Ellis LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

The ‘top-notch team’ at Kirkland & Ellis LLP represents major players in the oil and gas market on large-scale transactions, with demonstrable experience advising energy companies and private equity funds and standout expertise in asset-backed deals involving assets located in significant domestic shale and conventional plays, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Other key areas of focus include M&A, private equity, fund formations, capital markets, project finance and restructuring. Andrew Calder, who advises on high-value M&A, securities law and corporate governance matters, jointly leads the team alongside Anthony Speier, who is an expert in acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. David Castro handles the purchase and sale of various assets in the midstream and upstream oil and gas sector, while Sean Wheeler’s practice includes securities offerings, M&A and corporate governance work. William Benitez advises on energy transactions related to venture capital investments, leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations and Lindsey Jaquillard focuses on acquisitions and joint ventures in the upstream oil and gas market. All named partners are based in the firm’s Houston office. Rahul Vashi left the firm in May 2023.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP has a strong energy presence in Texas, New York, California, Washington DC and San Francisco, handling matters related to acquisition and sale of energy and infrastructure assets, alongside private transactions and acquisitions of minority assets. The firm has also been involved in a number of matters involving unique technology in the renewable and alternative power space, such as a recent matter for Gates Frontier, which was led by Kristin Mendoza  and involved advising the company in connection with its additional investment in TerraPower, yielding more finance to further its work in advanced nuclear energy technologies and medicine. Andrew Calder focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and corporate and securities law, while Rhett Van Syoc  has an experienced practice in domestic and international M&A in energy mining and infrastructure, with an emphasis on private equity and complex joint ventures. Rohit Chaudhry specializes in energy and project finance transactions, sales and acquisitions, alongside project restructurings across the energy sector, likewise Allan Kirk stands out for his work in broad matters including power generation, energy services, midstream and refining. Robert Eberhardt and William Nicholson both joined from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, while Kate Rainey Willson joined from Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Complex and high-value transactional work lies at the heart of Kirkland & Ellis LLP ‘s renewable energy sector offering, which sees lawyers with significant experience in M&A and project finance advise clients, including major private equity and infrastructure funds, on a broad range of portfolio acquisitions and project transactions. Taking in account the growing importance of ESG related issues in the renewable energy sector, the firm’s offering of a separate ESG & Impact Practice Group is also noted. The practice is jointly led by Andrew Calder in Houston and notable private equity, project finance, and project restructuring partner Rohit Chaudhry in Washington DC. The firm also has a strong offering in Texas, where Houston’s Cyril Jones and John Pitts – who are currently working on advising Archaea Energy Inc on its sale to BP p.l.c. for approximately $4.1bn – are both noted, as is Kevin Crews in Dallas, whose experience extends to investments in the biofuels sector. Kristin Mendoza in New York and Roald Nashi in Washington DC are also recommended for their M&A and financing expertise. The team was further strengthened with the arrival of New York’s Robert Eberhardt and William Nicholson from Norton Rose Fulbright in February 2022.