Furthering expansion of its energy practice, Weil, Gotshal & Manges announced Tuesday that deal lawyer Cody Carper joined the firm as a partner in the corporate department based in Houston. He came Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Weil said the addition reflects its continued investment in Texas energy and supports the firm’s ongoing efforts to be at the forefront of advising on ESG, sustainability and environmental issues. Earlier this year, energy partners Omar Samji and Chris Bennett joined Weil’s Houston office.
“We’re delighted to welcome Cody to our rapidly expanding energy practice,” Weil executive partner Barry Wolf said. “His deep industry expertise, background in M&A and private equity and varied experience in the energy sector make him a perfect fit with our growing team in Houston.”
Alfredo Pérez, managing partner of Weil’s Houston office, said with energy investors increasingly focusing on energy transition, including hydrogen, carbon capture, electrification and renewable natural gas, “Weil is committed to providing best-in-market advisors that meet the dynamic needs of our sophisticated global clients.”
Carper focuses on complex energy and infrastructure transactions, including representing private equity sponsors and management teams on acquisitions and divestitures of oil and gas assets, energy financings and joint venture transactions. He also has experience with multiple forms of transition energy, including carbon capture.
While at Skadden, Carper led the team advising family-owned energy producer Macpherson Energy Corp. on its sale to Dallas-based Berry Corp. earlier this year for $70 million. And last year he co-led the team counseling North Hudson Resources, a Houston private equity firm, on its $402 million acquisition of LOGOS Resources II, an energy affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners based in Farmington, N.M. He’s also worked with Samson Energy Resources, Contango Oil & Gas and Southwestern Energy on deals.
Earlier in his career, Carper was the assistant general counsel for Sabine Oil & Gas. Before Skadden, where he spent two years and eight months, he practiced at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Kirkland & Ellis, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Baker McKenzie, Latham & Watkins and Thompson & Knight. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and South Texas College of Law Houston.
“I’m thrilled about the opportunity to join the firm at this exciting time, as the industry strives to meet its decarbonization and climate change goals – with new technologies emerging and market opportunities arising at a breakneck pace,” Carper said. “I look forward to working closely with many of the industry’s finest dealmakers, litigators and restructuring lawyers at Weil.”