Sidley Austin has strengthened its energy practice in Houston, hiring Morgan, Lewis & Bockius partners David Asmus and Brian Bradshaw, who have worked together on oil and gas deals in Houston for years.

Asmus said the timing was right to make a move because the oil and gas market is in recovery mode.

“There is a great opportunity here at Sidley, with the resources they have already built up in Houston. They put themselves in the handful of firms on the list that everybody is calling for big transactions,” he said.