Skadden adds Drew Baldinger in Houston

Skadden adds Drew Baldinger in Houston

As M&A vice-chair, Drew Baldinger worked at DLA Piper

In Houston, Skadden Arps Meagher & Flom has hired practice co-chair as its partner from DLA Piper's US energy.

Worked as vice chair of the firm's M&A practice after six years at DLA Piper, Drew Baldinger connects its New York firm. As part of a wider revamp of DLA Piper's US corporate sub-groups, he was hired as vice-chair in early 2020.

Based on off take, gas supply, transportation and other key contracts in the oil and gas sector, Baldinger is in the job of clients counselling. Regarding conventional and renewable energy technologies, he also directs project developers, private equity firms and portfolio companies on M&A, financing and project development matters. It includes gas-to-liquids, solar, wind and geothermal generation projects.

"Baldinger's experience in handling private equity transactions in the upstream, midstream and renewable energy sectors would be "of remarkable value" to the firm's clients," said Lance Brasher, Skadden's energy and infrastructure group partner and global head.

Beginning his legal career with a stretch at Akin Gump between 2005 and 2007, the move perceives Baldinger's return to Skadden, where he was an associate for five years.

"Skadden's energy and transactional practices in the world are among the best. As the industry becomes progressively globalized, the firm's platform and resources will provide key opportunities in international markets," informed Baldinger. "I look ahead to work again with many colleagues with whom have long-established relation."

Based across the firm's offices in Washington DC, Hong Kong, New York and Houston, Skadden comprises of eight partners' wider energy and infrastructure group.

Baldinger's arrival brings its lawyer headcount to 26 in the firm's office in Houston. The Skadden's sole Texas location also houses securities partner and office head Noelle Reed, litigation partner Allen Lanstra and M&A partners Eric Otness and Cody Carper, inaugurated in 1993.

From January till March, 2022, Skadden led Refinitiv's global M&A legal advisory league table by deal value, having worked on 49 deals worth more or less $146bn.

Kathleen Saunders Gregor, the other new partner laterals at the firm, joined the firm's tax controversy and litigation group in Boston in April from Ropes & Gray. The firm also added Raymond Bogenrief, a corporate partner in April 2022 in Chicago from White & Case.

Julie Gao, Skadden's China practice head left the firm in April 2022 after working for a decade as its top Asia capital markets lawyer, to be CFO at ByteDance, the owner of TikTok.

Skadden saw veteran trial lawyer John Neukom exit for Debevoise & Plimpton, Neukom boosting Debevoise's IP litigation group in its recently-launched San Francisco office in March 2022.

Regarding Baldinger's departure, DLA Piper did not immediately respond.