When Sidley Austin opened its Texas office in 2012, oil was over $100 a barrel and energy M&A activity had reached a 10-year high. Last year, the price of oil collapsed into negative territory, and deal activity in Texas was the worst in nearly 10 years. On June 1, the price for West Texas Intermediate topped $68 a barrel, the highest price in more than two years.

Texas Lawyer spoke recently with Cliff Vrielink, co-managing partner of Sidley's Houston office and the global leader of the firm's energy and infrastructure practice, about the wild ride oil prices are on and the outlook for the market as the industry slowly comes back from the COVID-19 pandemic.