HOUSTON – McGuireWoods continues expanding its nationally recognized energy industry capabilities with the arrival of Houston M&A partner Edmund Daniels, who has significant experience in senior leadership roles at major energy companies and financial firms.
Daniels has an extensive background in conventional and renewable energy asset and commodity transactions, with an emphasis on joint ventures to develop, own and operate power plants and gas pipelines. He also handles acquisition and disposition of energy assets, including power plants, natural gas and fuel oil pipelines, gas storage facilities and real estate.
Daniels joins McGuireWoods from Haynes and Boone. He previously was general counsel and chief compliance officer at Panda Power Funds, advising a family of private equity funds with more than $6 billion invested in seven gigawatts of power generation projects around the United States. He focused on fund formation, equity raising, project development, acquisition and disposition, commodity transactions and regulatory affairs, as well as complex finance transactions.
Before joining Panda Power Funds, Daniels was a managing director at JP Morgan Chase, serving as an assistant general counsel in the Houston office where the firm’s North American power and gas groups and the commodities principal investments group were based. Earlier in his career, he was assistant general counsel for mergers and acquisitions and power plant development at NRG Energy.
“Our clients will benefit tremendously from Eddy’s experience in commodity transactions, M&A deals, project development and finance, and private equity investing,” said partner Brian Kelly, leader of McGuireWoods’ energy industry team.
Daniels joins a McGuireWoods practice that consistently ranks among the leaders in U.S. and global M&A deals — including private equity transactions — in league tables published by Bloomberg and Refinitiv. The firm’s M&A practice has earned nationwide recognition from Chambers USA and The Legal 500. McGuireWoods also was a finalist for best energy practice in The American Lawyer’s inaugural Corporate Departments of the Year awards.
“Eddy brings a client’s perspective of the challenges and opportunities energy companies and investors face in today’s market, which is essential to helping them achieve their business goals,” said Michael Woodard, chair of McGuireWoods’ M&A and Energy Transactional Department.
“The insight Eddy brings from in-house roles at top energy companies and financial firms adds even more power to our growing client service capabilities in Houston,” added Yasser Madriz, managing partner of the Houston office.
Daniels is the fifth partner to join McGuireWoods’ Houston office this year. His arrival follows the recent additions of private equity partner Garrett Johnston, labor and employment partner Jason Huebinger, and healthcare partners Janice Suchyta and Jonathan Ishee.
“McGuireWoods is a recognized leader for innovative, industry-focused client service, particularly for clients doing business in the energy sector,” Daniels said. “I am excited to join this world-class team and be part of the firm’s continued growth in Texas.”
McGuireWoods LLP is a leading international law firm with 1,100 lawyers in 21 offices worldwide.