Whether a leading energy company, financial institution, private equity sponsor, or government entity, clients turn to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP for its trusted transactional oil and gas team. Oil and gas transactions, capital markets, restructuring and project development, and oil and gas tax advising are the team’s core strengths. Veteran practitioner Michael P. Darden leads the team alongside Rahul Vashi. Darden focuses on international and domestic oil and gas ventures, acquisitions, and divestitures, while Vashi specializes in acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic joint ventures in the upstream and midstream space. Hillary Holmes adds to the practice’s ability with corporations, investment banks, and institutional investors in raising capital. Tull Florey is a key contact for clients in oilfield service, oil and gas exploration and production, oilfield equipment manufacturing, and midstream matters. Chris Atmar is a rising practitioner in oil and gas M&A. Atama Kabad joined the team from Kirkland & Ellis LLP in June 2025, and Simone Tysoe from Latham & Watkins in October. All noted practitioners are based in Houston.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Rahul Vashi has a wealth experience in oil and gas M&A transactions. His calm demeanor is invaluable in negotiations with the other side.’
‘GD has, in my opinion, the best transactional O&G lawyer in the industry. The reps and experience the team brings is unparalleled.’
‘Rahul Vashi and the team he's surrounded himself with make GD's O&G practice standout. Other than being a subject-matter expert and a creative problem solver, it's his bedside manner that sets him apart. He expertly navigates even contentious commercial points to arrive at an efficient draft.'
‘Rahul Vashi brings a wealth of experience with complex upstream oil and gas transactions to the table. He's calm, non-confrontational, but knows exactly what's market and inbounds, and is a huge asset in upstream oil and gas transactions of all types. His knowledge goes well below the surface level, and he shows a real depth of understanding of what drives transactions and valuations, and crafts deal terms that actually protect what matters.’
‘Rahul is extremely responsive, willing to work deep into the night at key moments, and well respected in the small world that is oil and gas M&A.'
- 'Chris Atmar is a standout associate.’
Key clients
- Vital Energy, Inc.
- Diversified Energy Company PLC
- Coterra Energy, Inc.
- Elk Range Royalties
- Vitol Inc
- North Hudson Resource Partners
- IOG Resources
- Selenite Energy Partners LLC
- Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
- Ovintiv Inc.
- Phillips 66
- Lazard Ltd.
Work highlights
Advised 1PointFive, a Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) company and subsidiary of Occidental, on its 25-year carbon dioxide offtake agreement with CF Industries and its joint venture partners JERA Co., Inc. and Mitsui & Co., Inc.
Advised Coterra Energy Inc. on its acquisition of certain assets of Franklin Mountain Energy, a Denver-based energy company focused on the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties in the Permian Basin.
Advised SilverBow Resources, a Houston-based independent exploration and production company, on its entry into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Crescent Energy Company will acquire SilverBow in a transaction valued at $2.1bn.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Michael P. Darden; Rahul Vashi
Other key lawyers
Hillary Holmes; Tull Florey; Michael De Voe Piazza; Adam Whitehouse; Graham Valenta; Chris Atmar; Atama Kabad; Simone Tysoe