Prominent Energy Lawyer Steve Davis Joins Akin Gump

By Mark Curriden, Senior Legal Affairs Writer
mark.curriden@texaslawbook.net

March 13, 2012 – Prominent international energy lawyer Stephen Davis of Houston has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as a partner in its energy and global transactions practice.

Davis practiced at Vinson & Elkins for nearly three decades and was the managing partner of its Singapore office from 1995 to 2001.

A 1981 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Davis has been involved in several high-profile multi-billion-dollar energy deals, including part of the team that represented the Chinese energy company Sinopec in 2010 when it purchased a 40 percent stake in Repsol’s Brazilian assets for $7.1 billion.

Davis’ work ranges from handling project finance and development-related matters for world-scale refining, petrochemical and other energy projects in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, to guiding mergers and acquisitions, strategic joint ventures and private equity transactions on a global basis, to advising on transactions at the intersection of finance and commodities.

Recently, Mr. Davis has been active on LNG and petrochemical transactions in North America made possible by the development of shale gas resources and related liquids as well as in assisting Asian clients investing in the Americas.

“I’ve been very impressed by Akin Gump’s strategy for international growth,” said Davis. “Our experience in Russia is unmatched. And the firm is seeking to aggressively expand in Asia, which is important because of the continued increased appetite of Asian companies from China, India and Japan for natural resources, especially LNG (liquefied natural gas).”

“Houston is viewed by many as the center of legal expertise on global energy matters, and Akin Gump is perfectly situated to take advantage of it,” he continued.

Christine LaFollette, who is the partner-in-charge of Akin Gump’s Houston office, said Davis is a “huge asset for our clients” because of his experience in “guiding clients through large and complex energy and project financing deals.”

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