Skadden added two oil and gas veterans to its M&A team in Houston. In a news release Monday, the firm said Mingda Zhao and Emery Choi will advise energy and infrastructure clients, as well as private equity funds on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investments and other energy transactions.
Eric Otness, the head of Skadden’s M&A/Corporate Group in Houston, expects the new partners to help clients through complex, innovative and high-stakes transactions thanks to their sophisticated understanding of the energy sector.
Both Zhao and Choi were with White & Case for about five and a half years following stints at Vinson & Elkins in Houston where they worked with Steve Gill, who joined Skadden’s M&A/Corporate Group after more than 23 years at V&E in Houston.
Zhao was at V&E for more than a dozen years, while Choi, who received his juris doctorate from the University of Texas, spent eight years at V&E. Choi did his undergraduate work at Yale University.
Zhao holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and math from Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., and received a J.D. from Georgetown University.
Skadden said Zhao has broad experience advising clients on cross-border transactions and structured or alternative investments. Choi has extensive experience representing energy clients, as well. While at White & Case the two often co-led transactions for the firm. According to the The Lawbook’s Corporate Deal Tracker the two appeared as co-leads on at least 13 deals valued at $11.7 billion. Among those collaborations:
In November 2021, they advised Continental Resources on its $3.25 billion purchase of DPD assets in the Permian Midland Basin from from Pioneer Natural Resources.
In November 2022, they advised Marathon Oil in its $3 billion acquisition of Eagle Ford Shale assets from Warburg Pincus-backed Ensign Natural Resources.
In December 2024, they represented the China National Offshore Oil Corporation in its sale to INEOS of two offshore sites in the Gulf of Mexico for $1.73 billion.
In August 2023, they counseled EnCap in the sale of its share of energy storage provider Broad Reach Power, to the French multinational Engie.
And in March, in their most recently reported collaboration , Choi and Zhang advised Occidental Petroleum on its $905 million sale of 250,000 acres in the D. J. Basin to Dallas-based Elk Range Royalties.
The duo also led transactions involving Devon Energy, Mitsui E&P and Sixth Street.
Skadden said the combined experience of these new partners positions its M&A/Corporate team “to continue providing clients with top-tier guidance and service as companies navigate the evolving complexities of the global energy sector.”
Allen Pusey contributed to this report