Omar Samji is a partner in Shearman & Sterling’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice and Energy Industry Group.

His practice focuses on strategic transactions, private equity investments, joint ventures, and project development for clients in the energy industry, with a particular emphasis on energy transition, low carbon energy, energy-related infrastructure, and midstream transactions.

Omar is a frequent speaker and author on trends in the energy industry, particularly in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and private equity, and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Institute for Energy Law.

Omar is recognized by Chambers USA, the Legal 500 US, and Law360.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• DTE Energy in its acquisition of M5’s Louisiana midstream assets for $2.65 billion
• DTE Energy in its acquisition of a 30% stake in Stonewall Gas Gathering for $275 million
• DTE Energy in its acquisition of M3’s Appalachia midstream assets for $1.3 billion
• Phoenix Park Energy Marketing in connection with its acquisition of Twin Eagle’s energy trading business
• Rangeland Energy in its sale of Rangeland Energy II to Andeavor
• Rangeland Energy in its sale of Rangeland Energy I to Inergy
• Titan Energy in its sale of substantially all its assets and wind down of operations
• Energy infrastructure company in its acquisition of gasification business from major independent energy company
• Castleton Commodities International in its acquisition of energy assets in New Mexico
• Atlas Pipeline Partners in its acquisition of private equity backed TEAK Midstream for $1 billion
• Atlas Pipeline Partners on its acquisition of private equity backed Cardinal Midstream for $603.4 million
• Access Midstream Partners on its acquisition of midstream assets from Chesapeake Energy Corporation for $2.16 billion
• MidAmerican Energy Company (Berkshire Hathaway Energy) in its acquisition of the Topaz solar project from First Solar
• MidAmerican Energy Company (Berkshire Hathaway Energy) in its acquisition of a 49% interest in the Agua Caliente solar project from NRG Energy

Joint Ventures and Equity Investments

• Energy services utility holding company in the formation of a joint venture which will develop, own and operate renewable energy projects, and in the joint venture’s acquisition of two fuel cell projects in New York
• The Energy & Minerals Group (EMG) in forming a $600 joint venture with Tailwater Capital 
• Oryx Midstream, a portfolio company of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, in its joint venture with Rattler Midstream
• Frontier Midstream IV, a portfolio company of Energy Spectrum Capital, in its joint venture with Concho Resources
• OGE Energy in forming a joint venture with CenterPoint and ArcLight creating $11 billion master limited partnership
• American Energy Partners in forming a $4 billion joint venture with Energy Transfer Partners
• American Energy Partners in forming a $500 million joint venture with Regency Energy Partners
• Investment banking and securities firm in connection with a $95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility
• Targa Resources Partners in forming two joint ventures with Sanchez Energy
• Rangeland Energy in forming a joint venture with Delek Logistics Partners
• Rangeland Energy in securing three private equity commitments totaling over $600 million
• eSolar in its issuance of preferred equity to, and related technology licensing arrangement with, GE Energy

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Institute for Energy Law advisory board
• Member, Texas Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law advisory board
• Past member, Law360's Energy editorial advisory board

Awards & Accolades

• Chambers USA, recognized as an “Up and Coming” lawyer in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) – Nationwide (2020)
• Legal 500 US, recommended in Energy Transactions (2015)
• Law360 “Rising Star” (2013)

Speaking Engagements

• Energy Restructurings and the Impact on Midstream Companies, panelist for Energy Infrastructure Council's Webinar (September 15, 2020)
• Buying Assets Out of Bankruptcy, moderator for IPAA’s Industry Insights Webinar (July 29, 2020)
• Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law Symposium (February 21, 2020)
• Current State of the Energy Market, Lessons Learned and the Way Forward (January 25, 2018)
• The Institute for Energy Law’s 67th Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference (February 18-19, 2016)
• Deal Making in the Oil and Gas Industry, The Center for Professional Education, Inc.’s SEC Conference (December 8, 2015)
• 2015 Regional Energy Conference: Navigating Turbulences in Global Energy Markets (October 15, 2015)
• Risks and Opportunities for Energy Companies and Investors (May 7, 2015)
• Turmoil in the Oil Patch (April 29, 2015)
• Alternative Funding Sources for Energy Companies, Mergers & Acquisitions Conference, Institute for Energy Law (April 14, 2015)
• Key Fiduciary Duty Issues in Specific M&A Scenarios, Mergers & Acquisitions / Acquisitions & Disposals Conference, Institute For Energy Law (May 28-29, 2014)
• Success Strategies and Key Lessons for Young Lawyers, Business Development, Marketing and Networking Strategies (February 28, 2014)

Publications

• Key Considerations for Midstream Contracts in Today’s Distressed Environment, State Bar of Texas Newsletter – Currents (Summer 2020)
• 4 Title Protections in Upstream Oil & Gas Acquisitions, Texas Lawyer (July 14, 2014)
• Obstacles to foreign development of shale gas, EPmag.com (November 1, 2013)