Texas firm Haynes and Boone, which opened an office in London when it merged with the U.K. firm Curtis Davis Garrard in 2016, bolstered its oil and gas and renewables practice with the hire of Anna Nerush.

Nerush, who joined as a partner on Monday, came from Addleshaw Goddard in London, where she was a partner and co-head of the firm's Central Asia business group.

Nerush said Haynes and Boone has a wide practice mix that supports her energy, oil and gas and renewables practice. She said the firm's client roster and quality of work are impressive.

“The firm is undoubtedly a heavyweight and a champion … especially in Houston,” she said, noting that she was attracted by that and that the firm embraces innovative thinking.

Anna Nerush

Nerush declined to identify her clients but said she does work for oil and gas companies, including independents, majors and private equity funds on onshore and offshore corporate matters, including M&A and joint ventures. Nerush is fluent in Russian and said she used to do a lot of inbound energy industry work in Russia and other nearby countries, particularly Kazakhstan, although that work has declined.

“Clearly, the political markets have changed somewhat,” she said. “That's not to say there are not deals happening in the market, but given the sector and given the types of clients that I advise historically in the region, that work is on hold.”

Jeff Nichols, a partner in Houston who is co-chairman of the Haynes and Boone energy practice group, said that Nerush's experience handling upstream, midstream and downstream projects in such regions as the United Kingdom, Russia, Africa, and Central Asia is a big addition to the firm.

“Anna complements the firm's historical strength in the transactional side of the energy sector and adds vital capabilities to our London office, namely, the ability to do highly sophisticated M&A deals in energy markets worldwide,” Nichols said in a statement.

Haynes and Boone's merger with Curtis Davis gave the Dallas-based firm a London office with 20 lawyers. The firm has doubled its partner head count in London since then, adding lawyers who do arbitration, M&A, capital markets work, finance, energy and shipping.

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