Kevin Brophy and Ming Lei Join Winston & Strawn in Houston Office

Winston & Strawn recently announced the addition of Kevin Brophy and Ming Lei as partners in the firm’s Houston Office and as members of the Transactions Department.

Kevin focuses his practice on energy-related matters, including the upstream and midstream sectors. He regularly advises on investments and financings of energy projects and assets, including, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, asset acquisitions and dispositions, and acquisitions and dispositions of the equity of energy companies. Kevin regularly works with family offices, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as public and private companies, in connection with such matters. Kevin also advises on the formation, structuring, and governance of major private equity funds. Kevin previously served as general counsel for the energy funds of an energy private equity firm for over fourteen years. 

Ming advises clients on domestic and international mergers, divestitures and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments, project finance and development, and complex commercial contracts in all aspects of the energy and infrastructure sector, including oil and gas exploration, midstream pipeline, marine terminalling and storage, refinery and petrochemical, and energy transition. Additionally, Ming brings extensive experience advising China-based companies on their investments, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance matters in the U.S.

“Kevin and Ming’s extensive experience executing all manner of sophisticated transactions for energy and infrastructure clients combined with their strong networks in the energy sector enhance Winston’s position in Texas as one of the strongest firms for handling these transactions,” said Houston Office Managing Partner Mike Blankenship in the press release announcing their arrival. “Their complementary skills will help expand our work with private equity firms and other companies operating in the energy sector.”

“Winston’s transactions team has a first-class reputation,” Kevin said in an interview with Law360. “We are excited to join the firm’s growing Houston office and look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues to advance Winston’s oil and gas practice in Texas and beyond. Winston’s depth of talented attorneys across the energy spectrum will help provide our clients with the best possible service.”

“Winston & Strawn has a strong reputation and established presence in the Houston and Texas markets, particularly for sophisticated energy, private equity and M&A transactions,” Ming told Law360. “The firm is dedicated to its ongoing growth and leadership in these key areas.”

Kevin and Ming’s move to Winston has been covered in the following media outlets:

• “2 McDermott Energy M&A, Private Equity Partners Jump to Winston in Houston,” Texas Lawyer
• “Winston Snags Two McDermott Energy Partners,” The Texas Lawbook
• “Winston & Strawn Adds McDermott Transaction Pros In Texas,” Law360
• “Winston & Strawn Recruits Brophy, Lei as Transactions Partners,” Bloomberg Law
• “Daily Docket Newsletter,” Reuters
• “Talk of the Town,” Attorney At Law Magazine
• “Wake Up Call Newsletter,” Bloomberg Law