Orrick today announced the addition of leading oil and gas sector advisor Peter Roberts to serve as head of the firm’s global oil and gas practice. Peter’s addition follows the firm’s opening last month of a 20-partner Houston office to serve the energy sector. He will be based in the firm’s London office.
Peter is respected globally as an oil and gas practitioner. He acts for clients in connection with project development and financings, as well as asset acquisitions and dispositions, in markets worldwide. He was formerly head of the oil and gas practice at Andrews Kurth.
“I’m delighted to join this dynamic team,” said Peter. “I don’t see a firm more serious than Orrick about growing a top-tier global energy platform. With the firm’s existing world-class talent and continued growth and investment in oil and gas in London, Houston and globally, Orrick is positioned to offer one of the highest quality energy sector teams.”
In January, Orrick announced the opening of its Houston office, significantly bolstering the firm’s now 140-lawyer global Energy & Infrastructure team and adding oil and gas practitioners. Blake H. Winburne, who is based in Houston and is the new co-head of the firm’s global Energy & Infrastructure practice, noted: “Many members of our Houston and worldwide team have worked alongside Peter over the years. He is truly a preeminent practitioner and we look forward to his leadership as we continue to grow our oil and gas platform.”
Peter is top rated in Chambers Global for UK, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, which reports that clients describe him as “a real guru” who “knows the industry side.” He further strengthens Orrick’s Chambers-ranked Africa practice, bringing deep experience in projects in Angola, Mauritania, Guinea, Somalia and Ghana. Orrick has advised on energy and infrastructure investments in 35 African countries and recently established an affiliated office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to support international investment in the region.
Peter is the editor of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators’ Journal of World Energy Law and Business and has written three leading industry textbooks. He serves on the global faculty of the University of Dundee’s Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy. He is a former chair of the International Bar Association’s Oil and Gas Law Committee.
“We are thrilled to add such an experienced and well-known oil and gas advisor as Peter to our London office and global team,” said Orrick Chairman Mitch Zuklie. “With the talent Orrick has added recently in Houston, London, Africa and beyond, the firm is building a truly distinctive offering for the energy sector,” he said.
Peter is the seventh energy team member to join Orrick’s London office in the past year. Last summer, Matthew Williams joined Orrick, leading a five-member energy and infrastructure team from Hogan Lovells. Matthew served as global co-head of Hogan Lovells’ energy team and is co-head of Orrick’s European energy practice.
Earlier this month, Orrick announced the addition of two London partners from Jones Day: Weyinmi Popo brings extensive private equity experience in Anglophone Africa; and Dominic O’Brien adds deep capability in projects in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Source: www.orrick.com
