Shearman & Sterling launches an office in Houston – its second Texas office following its Austin office opening in March. The Houston-based team significantly expands the firm’s existing global energy capabilities with a focus on oil and gas transactions and projects, in complement to the firm’s existing highly regarded global energy group, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.

The new partners include Sarah McLean and Todd Lowther who join from Thompson & Knight. McLean joins as the Deputy Head of the Texas Practice.

The team will work with Shearman & Sterling’s market-leading practices to advise clients on a full range of mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and project-related work across the oil and gas spectrum.

“Our new Houston team’s tremendous reputation, particularly in upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas transactions, provides great synergies with our existing global energy offering and bolsters our client offering on the ground in one of the world’s leading, and extremely active, energy markets,” said David Beveridge, Shearman & Sterling’s Senior Partner. “The launch of our Houston office advances our growth plans in the United States while furthering the firm’s industry group strategy.”

McLean will split her time between the firm’s Houston and Austin offices.

About the New Houston Team

Sarah McLean focuses on private equity transactional work in the oil and gas sector, particularly portfolio company investments and acquisitions and divestitures of upstream, midstream and downstream assets and companies. Sarah graduated Order of the Coif from The University of Texas School of Law in 1999 and was notes editor on the Texas Law Review. In 1995, she earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with honors, from Oklahoma State University.

Todd Lowther focuses on U.S. federal and state tax matters arising in connection with M&A and fund-related transactions, with a particular emphasis on tax planning for upstream, midstream and downstream energy transactions. Todd graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School in 2006. In 2001, he earned a B.B.A./Accounting degree from the University of Georgia.