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A&O Shearman adds depth to U.S. energy and infrastructure offering with strategic partner hire in Houston

A&O Shearman adds depth to U.S. energy and infrastructure offering with strategic partner hire in Houston
Published Date
May 2 2026
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Image of Adam Hakki
Adam HakkiPartner, Co-Chair Executive Committee/Board and U.S. Chair, New York
Image of Bill Nelson
Bill NelsonPartner, Houston
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Andrew LaniusPartner, Houston
A&O Shearman today announces the addition of partner W. Andrew Lanius to its Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure (ENRI) practice in Houston, Texas. He will serve as the head of U.S. energy and infrastructure finance.

Andrew has built a strong lender and sponsor-facing finance practice at the intersection of private capital and energy and infrastructure. He combines strong origination capabilities with an elite execution skillset. He will enhance the firm's energy and infrastructure finance and private credit offerings, with natural ties to debt finance, corporate M&A/PE, and capital markets teams across the U.S. and globally. 

“Andrew’s arrival is another important step in strengthening our Texas offering,” said Bill Nelson, Texas managing partner at A&O Shearman. “Houston is a critical market for our energy and infrastructure clients, and the work we do here drives opportunities across the firm’s global practice. Andrew brings experience that will immediately benefit clients in Texas and well beyond.” 

“The addition of Andrew complements our existing energy and infrastructure strengths and expands our U.S. finance capabilities, while supporting our broader U.S. growth plans. Moreover, we are very pleased to add greater depth to our Texas offering, where we have tremendous talent and strong local roots.”

Kent Rowey, global co-head for Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure at A&O Shearman, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to our team. His experience in leading on complex energy and infrastructure projects and financings through the delivery of innovative solutions is an excellent match for our firm’s distinguished track record in major projects across the energy spectrum. Amid the ongoing transformation of the energy industry, Andrew’s insight and leadership will be instrumental in helping our clients navigate and deliver the next generation of energy assets.” 

A&O Shearman's Texas practice has advised on some of the state's most significant mandates, including recently advising Texas Instruments on its USD7.5 billion acquisition of Silicon Labs; the shareholders of Serra Verde in its USD2.8bn combination with USA Rare Earth; LPL Financial Holdings Inc. on its USD2.7bn acquisition of Commonwealth Financial Network; EGH Acquisition Corp. on its USD1.2bn combination with Hecate Energy Group; CSW Industrials on its USD650 million acquisition of Motors & Armatures Parts; and Granite Construction in its combined USD710m acquisitions of Warren Paving and Papich Construction. 

Andrew, who joins the firm from Simpson Thacher, is the latest step in A&O Shearman's sustained investment in U.S. talent across multiple practice areas. In recent months, the firm has welcomed a series of lateral hires that together further build out its U.S. capabilities: Paul Astolfi (ENRI, Dallas), Katy McNeil (ENRI, Chicago), who boosted the firm's renewables and energy transition offering and established its new Chicago presence – an office which has since expanded with the addition of Valentine Bleicher from Kirkland & Ellis, further deepening the firm's private equity and M&A capabilities. 

In New York, the firm has made a series of targeted hires including: Michael Kim (Capital Markets), former head of Americas Capital Markets Legal at Morgan Stanley; Ned Schodek (Restructuring), who returned to the firm from Schulte Roth & Zabel; Jan Sysel (Fund Finance), who joined from Fried Frank to lead the U.S. fund finance practice; Nick Ramphal (M&A), who rejoined from Cadwalader to support the firm's expanding U.S. M&A offering. Catherine Hein, a former senior U.S. Department of the Treasury official and national security lawyer, joined in Washington, D.C. strengthening the firm's CFIUS offering; and Kathryn Mims, also in Washington, D.C., joined from White & Case to support the firm’s U.S. antitrust practice. 

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