A Houston partner boasting a two-decade track record of guiding notable energy industry transactions has left Mayer Brown to become the head of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s U.S. oil and gas practice, the firm announced Wednesday.
Carl von Merz, who advises private equity funds and both public and private companies on their equity investments, is known for specializing in joint ventures, M&A and divestitures, with a focus on upstream, midstream and energy transition sectors.
“Carl adds to the firm’s deep reservoir of upstream oil and gas experience with a demonstrated ability to navigate complex energy transactions on behalf of private equity investors and their portfolio companies as well as public and private global energy companies,” said Mike O’Leary, co-head of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s corporate team. “We are thrilled to welcome Carl to the firm.”
Prior to joining Hunton Andrews Kurth, von Merz led the Houston corporate practice and directed the U.S. upstream energy practice at Mayer Brown. Von Merz’s exit from Mayer Brown is the second notable Houston departure this year.
Before that, he served as the lead in-house M&A counsel for Statoil, an international energy company. He also spent time as a partner at the Houston offices of Bracewell, in addition to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.
Some of his career highlights include facilitating a private equity-backed company’s purchase of assets in the Bakken Shale and representing over $450 million in acquisitions for a private equity-backed upstream company in the Permian Basin. He has also provided legal counsel for public and private companies involved in carbon capture, use and sequestration projects in Texas and Louisiana, according to a news release.
“Carl also brings valuable experience in the energy transition space, which remains a key driver for legal services in Texas and across the country,” added Hunton Andrews Kurth corporate partner Ian Goldberg. “Investors and energy producers continue to aggressively pursue opportunities relating to a range of developing technology and new energy sources.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 1999 and is a 2003 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School.