Clifford Chance’s Texas expansion continued Wednesday as the firm announced a key lateral hire who bolsters its U.S. tax and energy & infrastructure practices.
The global giant has hired Todd Lowther, the most recent addition in the firm’s wave of notable lateral hires, as part of its growing Houston office, according to a news release.
Previously a partner at Shearman & Sterling, Lowther brings a wealth of specialized energy sector tax experience to Clifford Chance. He advises on the taxation of natural resources, carbon capture tax credits, partnerships, international joint ventures, and other transactions common in the energy space. He also provides general tax guidance on business matters such as formation, reorganization, and structuring for partnerships and LLCs.
Lowther has an extensive background in the structuring, organization and capitalization of private equity funds, as well, and “frequently advises management teams from both a transactional and tax perspective,” according to the release.
“We are always looking to further bolster our tax offering in line with client needs, and Todd’s broad-based experience in the energy space will be an excellent US-based addition to our global team,” said Paul Seraganian, regional head of Tax, Pensions and Employment for Clifford Chance, in the release. With the addition of Lowther, Clifford Chance’s U.S. tax practice now has 24 lawyers.
The Magic Circle firm’s Houston office is led by managing partner Devika Kornbacher, who also serves as Clifford Chance’s co-chair of its Global Tech Group. Since joining Clifford Chance in 2022, Kornbacher has seen her Houston roster of talent consistently expand. Some of the notable Texas corporate lawyers the firm added last year include Jonathan Bobinger, Jonathan Castelan, David Sweeney, Trevor Lavelle, Enoch Varner and Alex Wilde. This year, the hiring hot streak for the Houston office has continued with the additions of corporate M&A counsel Joshua Bernard, energy M&A counsel Joclynn Marsh, energy & infrastructure partner Ty’Meka M. Reeves-Sobers, and Lowther.
“This latest great hire builds on the incredible momentum of our Energy & Infrastructure practice in the U.S. and our growing team in Houston, which now tops 28 attorneys,” said Sharis Pozen, regional managing partner of the Americas, in the release. “The addition of Todd will deliver immediate value to our clients.”
A 2006 graduate of Tulane University Law School, Lowther received his undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Georgia in 2001. “I’m thrilled to be joining this dynamic team and look forward to integrating with the firm as we help clients navigate a very active energy market,” he said in the release.
Some of Lowther’s noteworthy experience includes advising on EnCap Flatrock Midstream’s $1.45 billion sale of Lotus Midstream Operations to Energy Transfer LP, J.F. Lehman & Company’s all-cash purchase of Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. worth $1.2 billion and multiple real estate developers and commercial real estate investors in negotiating joint ventures for developments.