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 team includes partner Todd Lowther who joins from Thompson & Knight. Todd 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.

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.”