Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP significantly strengthened its oil and gas transactional offering in 2024, adding former Shearman & Sterling private equity head Sarah McLean in January, alongside Dale Smith from Mayer Brown and Holt Foster from Sidley Austin LLP, who joined in June. McLean and Foster now co-lead the practice from Houston and Dallas, respectively, with McLean continuing to advise financial sponsors, funds, and management teams on company and asset acquisitions and disposals, while Foster counsels a broad client base on M&A, private equity, and venture capital transactions across the energy sector. Archie Fallon also helms the practice and is a key contact for brownfield energy investments, while co-head Brad Honeycutt handles sponsor and management-side private equity instructions in the upstream and midstream. Tan Lu has a broad practice spanning M&A, joint ventures, commercial agreements, and drilling and oilfield services, whereas Tony Johnston is recognised for his private equity work, advising funds, management teams, and family offices. Erin Kaufman   also comes recommended. Johnston sits with Holt in Dallas. The rest of the team advises from Houston.