Kaam Sahely > Vinson & Elkins LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Based in Houston, Vinson & Elkins LLP’s construction practice acts for chemical and energy companies in various joint ventures, in addition to advising on all aspects of project financing. Kaam Sahely leads the team and acts for investors, developers and other participants in high-profile infrastructure and energy investments and projects. With expertise in project developments in Latin America, Alan Alexander is handling a series of arbitrations for the Panama Canal Authority following significant technical construction disputes, while Stephanie Coco’s assists a renewable energy gas producer in a joint venture, developing 39 landfill gas to RNG projects. Vestita Kuntz is another key contact in the group.

Vinson & Elkins LLP has a strong track record advising the full spectrum of clients involved in the renewable energy sector, from tax equity investors, commercial bank lenders, and private equity funds, to project sponsors and developers. In recent years the firm has also received work from clients more usually associated with traditional energy projects, as they seek counsel on investments in cleaner energy. Assistance with financing clean energy projects under the inflation reduction act has been a specific popular subject for new work. Kaam Sahely in Austin co-leads the department and in this area stands out for his experience in renewable and sustainable energy assets. In Houston, fellow practice co-head Danielle Patterson continues to handle a number of transactions in the renewables space. On the financing side, Michael Joyce at the Los Angeles office is a key senior name, along with Sean Moran in Austin. Eamon Nolan is a key contact for financing transactions at the New York office, which also houses Aaron Prince, who recently advised on a major solar project. Lauren Collins (Los Angeles) focuses on tax matters related to project finance and has a strong presence in renewables, as does Peter Marshall (Dallas), who is a prominent M&A and finance lawyer.

Vinson & Elkins LLP fields a team of ‘knowledgeable and commercial’ practitioners that provide ‘excellent advice and judgment’ across an array of important transactions. The firm is a frequent port-of-call to a growing roster of top name clients that include independent oil and gas exploration and production companies, prominent private equity firms, hedge funds, and investment banks, with a notable focus on the upstream and midstream space. Recent work highlights include multi-billion dollar upstream asset acquisitions, midstream joint venture merger transactions, as well as vast company takeovers. The practice is jointly led by Kaam Sahely, Danielle Patterson, and Matthew Strock, with Patterson and Strock particularly singled out for their wealth of expertise pertaining to M&A and private equity. ‘Real thought leaders’ Matthew Falcone and Lande Spottswood are ‘terrific’ across the full range of hydrocarbon transactions, with the former especially well regarded for his financial sponsor-oriented work and the latter for her expertise in public company mergers or change-of-control transactions. Bryan Loocke has overseen a multitude of matters involving high quality asset consolidations involving major active basins, particularly the Permian Basin, while Austin’s Douglas Bland focuses on midstream transactions, from pipelines to natural gas storage facilities. Keith Fullenweider has recently been active on multi-billion dollar upstream assets and gathering and processing asset deals. Shay Kuperman also comes highly recommended for his capabilities across the entire oil & gas spectrum. Other than Bland, the team operates out of Houston.