Sheppard Mullin Grows Energy Team with Los Angeles, Houston Partners Justin Boose and Phil Lau
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is pleased to announce that partners Justin Boose and Phil Lau have joined the firm’s Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance industry team. Boose was most recently the co-head of Holland & Knight’s Renewable Energy practice, and Lau was most recently an Energy and Corporate & Securities partner at Mayer Brown.
Boose and Lau are the latest additions to join the firm’s growing energy team in the last 18 months, following partners Jeffrey Escobar, Michael Malfettone, Thomas DeSplinter, Jennifer Brough, Bruce Grabow and Julie Marion.
Boose, based in Los Angeles, is an energy attorney with a national practice specializing in conventional and renewable power transactions. He represents sponsors, developers, investors, private equity and infrastructure funds and regulated and nonregulated utilities in transactions involving renewable and traditional energy projects. His experience is heavily concentrated in solar, wind and energy storage projects, but also spans fuel cell, anaerobic digester, natural gas, liquified natural gas, cogeneration, ethanol, biogas, biomass, waste-to-energy, water, carbon capture and mitigation, green hydrogen, EV charging, e-mobility and energy efficiency projects. He advises clients throughout the entire project life cycle, from origination through operation and disposition. He is a recognized leader in energy transition and sustainable infrastructure, regularly handling tax equity, debt and private equity transactions as well as M&A and project management deals.
Lau, based in Houston, is an energy commercial transactions and construction attorney with a focus in the midstream and downstream sectors as well as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects. He advises domestic and international clients on a wide range of agreements, including those involving crude oil and natural gas gathering, processing, fractionation and transportation, as well as natural gas liquids sales, produced water disposal, and storage and terminalling for various bulk hydrocarbon products. Additionally, he handles engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for pipelines and processing facilities and represents clients in acquisitions, divestitures and greenfield and brownfield energy infrastructure development.
“As the country continues to see unprecedented energy needs, we are thrilled to be growing our team and expanding our capabilities with Justin and Phil,” said Luca Salvi, chair of Sheppard Mullin. “Their experience across various energy sectors strengthens our ability to meet clients’ evolving needs and reinforces our commitment to delivering the best client service across the full energy value chain.”
“We are witnessing a pivotal moment in the energy industry, and Justin and Phil provide additional depth to our team to help support our clients as they navigate new and more complex projects,” said Tony Toranto, co-leader of the Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance industry team.
Boose received his B.A., with honors, from Whitman College and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Willamette University School of Law.
Lau received his B.A., with highest honors, from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
About Sheppard Mullin’s Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance Industry Team
Sheppard Mullin’s Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance team, which includes more than 125 attorneys nationwide, is frequently ranked as one of the leading energy transactional and regulatory practices in the U.S. by Chambers USA, Legal 500 and among the Best Law Firms for Energy Law by Best Lawyers. The team was named a finalist for American Lawyer’s Energy Practice Group of the Year in 2024 and awarded Proximo’s 2024 North America Solar Deal of the Year for its work representing Greenbacker Renewable Energy in securing nearly $1 billion in financing for the Cider Solar project. The team is comprised of highly specialized attorneys with the requisite electrical power, oil and natural gas, renewables and biofuels experience to understand our clients’ objectives. Our collaborative and client-focused approach sets us apart from other law firms and is the reason the largest and most innovative energy industry players – including leading utilities, pipeline operators, municipalities, independent power producers, commercial banks, equity and tax investors, EPC contractors, and energy technology companies – come to us for assistance on their most important energy-related legal matters.