Press Releases
HFW Continues International Expansion with Houston Energy Partner Hire
Sector-focused law firm HFW has boosted its Houston office and its global energy practice with the hire of partner Derek J. Anchondo.
Derek specialises in oil & gas and energy transactions, and joins the firm from Greenberg Traurig.
HFW now has eight partners and 19 lawyers in Houston, having launched in the city in January 2017 via a fully-integrated transatlantic merger with U.S. law firm Legge, Farrow, Kimmitt, McGrath & Brown. The office advises multinational clients on dispute resolution, transactions and regulation in the energy, oil and gas, shipping, insurance, finance, construction, and travel and cruise sectors.
HFW's global energy practice, meanwhile, now has 32 partners and more than 100 lawyers in 19 international offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Energy is one of the firm's six core sectors, alongside aerospace, commodities, construction, insurance and shipping.
Glenn Legge, Partner, HFW Houston:
"I am very pleased to welcome such an experienced and high quality lawyer to the firm. Derek has an outstanding reputation in the market and further strengthens our energy and resources offering to clients in the United States and globally."
Derek advises public and private companies on complex transactions including M&A and joint ventures; financing; upstream exploration and production activities, including conventional and unconventional resources; offshore and onshore drilling; the procurement of equipment or services; the purchase or supply of crude oil or natural gas; joint operating agreements, production sharing agreements, and host-country work contracts; and engineering, procurement and construction.
He also acts on U.S. regulatory filings, anti-bribery compliance, environmental regulatory compliance and corporate compliance, and advises clients on maritime and offshore matters including shipbuilding contracts, vessel repair and modification agreements, and supply and towing contracts for maritime vessels.
Derek previously held senior in-house roles and two large international oilfield services providers, and as a fluent Spanish speaker, will help develop the firm's fast-growing Latin America practice. HFW acts for several clients in the Brazilian energy sector and recently entered into a cooperation arrangement with a newly-established Brazilian law firm, CAL.
Derek J. Anchondo, Partner, HFW:
"I am thrilled to be joining a firm so deeply committed to the energy and oil & gas sectors. My clients will benefit from HFW's considerable industry expertise and its extensive international network. I am also excited about the opportunity to help build the firm's corporate and transactional practices in the United States."
Derek's hire continues a period of sustained international expansion at HFW.
The firm has now added 20 new partners so far in 2018, including nine internal promotions and 11 lateral hires across Brussels,Dubai,Hong Kong, Houston, London, Rio de Janeiro and Singapore.
HFW has also completed seven international mergers or associations since January 2016.
Richard Crump, Global Senior Partner, HFW:
"Our merger with Legge Farrow was always intended to be the first step in developing a broader offering in Houston and across the United States. The U.S. is a key market for each of our six global industry groups – aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance and shipping – and we are actively targeting opportunities to further strengthen our offering in the cities that are important to our clients and those sectors."
ABOUT HFW:
HFW is a leading global law firm in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance and shipping sectors. The firm has almost 600 fee-earners, including 180 partners, based in 18 offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. We take a progressive approach to our roles in commercial business – thinking creatively and pragmatically to support our clients. HFW prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture.
For further information, please contact:
Chris Johnson
Head of Communications
D +44 (0)20 7264 8159
M +44 (0)7976 939864
E chris.johnson@hfw.com
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