Omar Samji is a Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions partner and co-leads the firm’s Energy Innovation team.   

He represents companies and investors in M&A, joint ventures, and project development in cutting edge sectors of the energy industry including: hydrogen; carbon capture, use and sequestration (CCUS); energy storage; and green industry.  He is a frequent speaker on the topic of low carbon energy and decarbonization. 

Omar is described by clients as a “very measured” lawyer who delivers “fantastic results” (Chambers USA) and recognized as a “Most Effective Dealmaker” (Texas Lawyer 2020) and “Notable Practitioner” (IFLR1000 2022).

M&A and Project Development

• DT Midstream (formerly DTE Pipeline Company), in connection with
  • Its acquisition of private equity backed M5’s Louisiana assets for US$2.65 billion
  • Its acquisition of private equity backed M3’s Appalachia assets for US$1.3 billion
  • Its acquisition of a 30% equity stake in Stonewall Gas Gathering for US$275 million
• ESM Acquisition Company’s US$300 million public stock offering to seek to acquire a low carbon energy business
• Ethanol plant owner’s development of on-site carbon capture and sequestration facilities in the Midwest Microgrid operator’s development of a renewable energy powered microgrid to serve a municipality in California
• Midstream company’s development of facilities to store carbon dioxide captured from its natural gas treaters in Texas
• NextEra Energy’s decarbonization venture’s acquisition and financing of multiple data centers
• Phoenix Park Energy Marketing’s acquisition of Twin Eagle’s energy trading business
• Private hydrogen company’s development of vehicle fueling infrastructure and related equity financing
• Private equity backed company in the development of a series of carbon capture facilities for commonly owned ethanol facilities
• Publicly traded integrated midstream operator in current negotiations to provide carbon capture and sequestration for upstream natural gas producers.
• Rangeland Energy in connection with four consecutive equity commitments from EnCap Flatrock Midstream
• Rangeland Energy in
  • Its sale of Rangeland Energy I to Inergy
  • Its sale of Rangeland Energy II to Andeavor
• SJ Industries’ acquisition through its renewables business of two fuel cell energy projects in New York
• Titan Energy’s sale of substantially all its assets through a series of transactions
• WhiteHawk Income Corporation in its purchase of up to a 25% undivided interest in assets of Three Rivers Royalty

Joint Ventures

• Humble Midstream’s (a portfolio company of EnCap Flatrock Midstream) joint development and marketing of a low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production and export facility with Enbridge Inc.
• American Energy Partners’, in connection with
  • Its US$4 billion joint venture with Energy Transfer Partners
  • Its US$500 million joint venture with Regency Energy Partners
• The Energy & Minerals Group’s (EMG) US$600 joint venture with Tailwater Capital
• Frontier Midstream IV’s (a portfolio company of Energy Spectrum Capital) joint venture with Concho Resources
• OGE Energy’s joint venture with CenterPoint and ArcLight to create an US$11 billion master limited partnership
• Oryx Midstream’s (a portfolio company of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners) joint venture with Rattler Midstream
• Rangeland Energy’s joint venture with Delek Logistics Partners
• SJ Industries’ joint venture with Captona to acquire and operate renewable energy projects
• Targa Resources Partners’ two joint ventures with Sanchez Energy

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Institute for Energy Law advisory board
• Past Member, Texas Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law advisory board
• Past member, Law360's Energy editorial advisory board

Awards & Accolades

• IFLR1000, recognized as a “Notable Practitioner” (2022)
• Chambers USA, recognized as a leading lawyer in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) – Nationwide (2022)
• Chambers USA, recognized as an “Up and Coming” lawyer in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) – Nationwide (2021)
• Texas Lawyer, named a “Most Effective Dealmaker” (2020)
• Legal 500 US, recommended in energy transactions (2015)
• Law360 “Rising Star” (2013)

Speaking Engagements

• Town Hall: Accelerated Uptake, Energy Transition Capital Conference (May 10, 2022)
• Representations and Warranties Clauses in Commercial Contracts: Avoiding Drafting and Negotiation Pitfalls, Strafford (March 22, 2022)
• Thriving in a Low Carbon Era: Oil & Gas Companies of the Future, Northam Energy Capital Assembly (October 14, 2021)
• Survival of The Fittest: New Ways to Capitalize on New Opportunities, NAPE Summit Global Business Conference (August 18, 2021)
• ESG Opportunities in Midstream and Infrastructure, Energy Infrastructure Council (February 24, 2021)
• Energy Restructurings and the Impact on Midstream Companies, Energy Infrastructure Council (September 15, 2020)
• Buying Assets Out of Bankruptcy, IPAA Industry Insights (July 29, 2020)
• Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law Symposium (February 21, 2020)
• Current State of the Energy Market, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward (January 25, 2018)
• The Institute for Energy Law’s 67th Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference (February 18-19, 2016)
• Deal Making in the Oil and Gas Industry, The Center for Professional Education, Inc.’s SEC Conference (December 8, 2015)
• 2015 Regional Energy Conference: Navigating Turbulences in Global Energy Markets (October 15, 2015)
• Risks and Opportunities for Energy Companies and Investors (May 7, 2015)
• Alternative Funding Sources for Energy Companies, Mergers & Acquisitions Conference, Institute for Energy Law (April 14, 2015)
• Key Fiduciary Duty Issues in Specific M&A Scenarios, Mergers & Acquisitions / Acquisitions & Disposals Conference, Institute for Energy Law (May 28-29, 2014)

Publications

• Inflation Reduction Act A Boon To Hydrogen, Carbon Capture, Law360 (September 7, 2022)
• A Look At 2 Frameworks For Decarbonizing Heavy Industry, Law360 (August 10,2022)
• Gulf Coast Offshore Wind Opportunities and Challenges, Law360 (September 3, 2021)
• Key Considerations for Midstream Contracts in Today’s Distressed Environment, State Bar of Texas Newsletter – Currents (Summer 2020)
• 4 Title Protections in Upstream Oil & Gas Acquisitions, Texas Lawyer (July 14, 2014)
• Obstacles to foreign development of shale gas, EPmag.com (November 1, 2013)