Humzah Q. Yazdani is an associate in our US Private Equity Group in Houston and is part of the firm’s Energy Innovation team.

Humzah was the 2019-2020 MD Anderson Research Fellow at the Institute for Transnational Law, where his research focused on carbon pricing and the role of ancillary policies in curbing GHG emissions. Additionally, in 2019-20, Humzah completed his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Global Energy and Environmental Law at The University of Texas School of Law on a Fulbright scholarship awarded by the U.S. Department of State. In 2020, Humzah was one of 50 Global Shapers from around the world selected by the World Economic Forum to attend its Annual Meeting in Davos.

After earning his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of London in 2011, Humzah pursued the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at BPP Law School, London. In 2012, he was called to the bar at The Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn. Since then, Humzah has practiced law in the areas of commercial and transactional law with a focus on the energy and power sectors.

Humzah’s diverse experiences have ranged from working at top law firms, where he has worked on multiple energy and infrastructure projects, including wind, solar, and natural gas power projects. He has also worked in upstream as well as downstream sectors, and has substantial LNG experience. In 2014, Humzah worked for a USAID project, where he assisted the Government of Pakistan in formulating and amending the policies and regulatory framework of Pakistan's energy sector. His most recent engagement prior to joining Shearman & Sterling was with a state-owned entity tasked to set up the entire LNG infrastructure and value chain in the country.

• Representation of Oak Valley Mineral and Land LP in connection with the formation of Rabbit Run Royalty Partners, LLC
• Represented EnCap Flatrock Midstream in connection with the formation of EFM Braz Holdings, LLC and an equity commitment to Brazos Midstream Holdings III, LLC
• Representation of Elephant Resources, LLC in connection with the sale of its operating subsidiaries to RedElephant Resources, LLC, and equity commitment from RedStorm Energy Partners
• Worked for Pakistan LNG Limited, state-owned entity tasked to set up the entire LNG value chain in the country, which involved drafting and negotiating LNG Sales and Purchase Agreements, LNG Terminal Operations and Services Agreement, RLNG Sales and Transportation Agreements, and Agreement to Allocate Unutilized Terminal Capacity. *
• Advised multiple companies in setting up of Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and renewable power projects in Pakistan. This included multiple RLNG power plants, two 50 MW wind power projects, a 10 MW solar power project, a 660-MW coal power project. Specific tasks performed in this respect include drafting and vetting of, and offering advice in connection with, the key agreements involved in such projects such as the Implementation Agreement, Power Purchase Agreement, Engineering, Procurement and Construction contracts and Operation and Maintenance Agreements, Interconnection Agreements, Fuel/Gas Supply Agreements (where applicable), and Financing Documents. Involvement also included getting the necessary regulatory approvals. *
• Represented a state-owned entity in the construction of an 800-km gas pipeline, which entailed drafting and negotiating a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) Agreement and Gas Transportation Agreement. *

*Denotes prior firm experience

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)
• ABA’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER)
• The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, England
• Punjab Bar Council

Awards & Accolades

• Fulbright Scholarship – US Department of State (2019-20)
• MD Anderson Research Fellow 2019-20 – Institute of Transnational Law
• Davos50 – World Economic Forum (2020)

Publications

• Contracts, Financing Are Key To 2023 Clean Hydrogen Growth – Law360
• Inflation Reduction Act A Boon To Hydrogen, Carbon Capture – Law360
• The bright spots in a complicated ESG framework – World Economic Forum
• No Carbon Left Behind: Carbon Pricing and The Role Of Supplementary Policies – Texas Environmental Law Journal
• Why transmission and distribution are the clean energy transition's secret weapons – World Economic Forum
• How cities are leading the energy transition – World Economic Forum
• Why policy-makers need a climate toolbox, not a silver bullet – World Economic Forum