Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison is opening an office in Houston as it pushes deeper into energy M&A and infrastructure work, naming leading deal lawyer Sean T. Wheeler as head of the new location, co-chair of Global M&A, and a partner at the firm. Houston-based M&A lawyer Debbie P. Yee will also join as a partner, strengthening the firm’s ability to serve energy companies, infrastructure clients, and private equity sponsors in a market that sits at the center of U.S. energy and industrial dealmaking.
The Houston expansion is designed to complement Paul, Weiss’s longstanding energy M&A franchise while building additional momentum in infrastructure and project finance. The firm framed the move as a strategic fit with client demand, given Houston’s concentration of energy leaders and its increasingly diversified economy. Leadership described the office opening as a natural next step in the firm’s growth plan and a way to be closer to core clients and transaction flow in the region.
Wheeler arrives with a transaction résumé spanning multiple sectors, with a particular emphasis on large-scale energy and infrastructure deals. His recent work includes advising Marathon Oil Corporation on its $22.5 billion all-stock sale to ConocoPhillips, ONEOK on its $18.8 billion acquisition of Magellan Midstream Partners, and Energy Transfer on its $7.1 billion acquisition of Crestwood Equity Partners. He also advised NexTier Oilfield Solutions in its merger of equals with Patterson-UTI Energy, creating a combined total enterprise value of $5.4 billion, Callon Petroleum on its $4.5 billion all-stock sale to APA Corporation, and Permian Resources on its $4.5 billion all-stock acquisition of Earthstone Energy. Wheeler has been recognized by multiple industry ranking organizations and publications, and holds a B.S. from the University of Alabama and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Yee is known for leading multibillion-dollar transactions for major energy companies and private equity sponsors, with additional strength in infrastructure investments. Her recent work includes advising TPG Rise Climate Transition Infrastructure on its $2.2 billion acquisition of Altus Power and Blackstone Infrastructure on its pending $11.5 billion take-private of TXNM Energy. She has also received industry recognition and holds a B.S. from New York University and a J.D. from New York Law School.
Paul, Weiss positioned the Houston opening as part of a broader build-out of its infrastructure and project finance capabilities, pointing to recent partner additions and leadership hires in the U.S. and the UK. The firm also highlighted its involvement in some of the largest recent energy M&A deals and a wide range of infrastructure transactions across digital infrastructure, communications, semiconductors and utilities, reflecting an intent to serve clients whose investments increasingly span traditional energy, power, and adjacent infrastructure verticals.
KEY QUOTES
“Sean is the country’s most talented and accomplished deal lawyer in the energy space. He is the ideal leader to spearhead our expansion into Houston.”
“Debbie is a star M&A lawyer with strong experience leading major energy and infrastructure deals. We are thrilled to welcome her.”
Scott A. Barshay, Chair Of The Corporate Department, Paul, Weiss
“Houston is a booming business epicenter that is home to many of our clients. Houston’s dynamic business environment, world-class energy sector and rapidly diversifying economy make it an ideal market for the next step in our firm’s growth trajectory.”
Brad S. Karp, Chairman, Paul, Weiss
