The UK-based law has welcomed U.S.-based partners Todd Lowther and Chang-Do Gong
Clifford Chance, a law firm based in London, announced the addition of two U.S.-based partners to its team, Reuters reported.
Todd Lowther, formerly with Shearman & Sterling, is expected to bolster the firm's tax, energy, and infrastructure practices in Houston. Meanwhile, Chang-Do Gong, previously with White & Case, will bring his expertise to Clifford Chance's U.S. mergers and acquisitions practice in New York.
These significant hires come on the same day that Allen & Overy, another London-founded firm, completed its merger with Shearman & Sterling, forming A&O Shearman in a major expansion into the U.S. legal market. Lowther, who will join Clifford Chance's Houston office, specializes in tax matters related to oil and gas transactions. His past clients include notable firms such as EnCap Flatrock Midstream, Cardinal Midstream Partners, J.F. Lehman & Company, and Granite Construction.
In New York, Gong brings extensive experience advising clients in the energy, healthcare, life sciences, media, and technology sectors on domestic and international transactions. His clientele includes Calpine, Avast, Omnicare, and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure.
Clifford Chance established its presence in the U.S. market back in 2000 through a strategic merger with New York-based firm Roger & Wells. Since then, the firm has been steadily accelerating its growth across the U.S., expanding its influence and legal footprint. In Houston, the office now houses 28 lawyers, who have contributed to a "huge boost in profile" within the highly competitive U.S. market. According to a report by Reuters, this rapid expansion allows Clifford Chance to deepen its focus on energy and other key sectors like technology, healthcare, and life sciences.
The firm joins other London-founded firms like Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters, which have been steadily expanding their presence in key U.S. markets over the past decade. Clifford Chance's strategic hiring of Lowther and Gong aligns with this ongoing trend of UK law firms strengthening their U.S. footprint.