CLIFF VRIELINK has over 25 years of experience advising private equity, infrastructure and other financial investors, public companies and private companies actively engaging or investing in the energy industry. This experience spans the energy spectrum, from the upstream oil and gas sector (onshore, offshore and internationally) to the midstream sector (natural gas, crude oil, liquids and CO2 pipelines processing facilities and gas and liquids storage assets) to downstream (refining, marketing and distribution), as well as spanning power generation, oilfield service and energy trading. He has represented clients throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
Cliff is a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee, serves as co-managing partner of Sidley’s Houston office and is the global leader of the Energy and Infrastructure practice. He is a member of the firm’s M&A and Private Equity practices.
Cliff has advised on more than 40 transactions with a combined value of over $20 billion since 2018. Recent representative matters include:
- Represented Key Capture Energy, LLC, a developer of large-scale energy storage projects, in an agreement to be acquired by SK E&S Co., Ltd.
- Represented Enbridge, Inc. in its transaction with Encap Flatrock Midstream to acquire Moda Midstream Operating, LLC, including North America’s largest crude export terminal, for US$3 billion in cash.
- Represented Evolve Transition Infrastructure LP, a portfolio company of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, in its agreement to pursue the creation of Levo Mobility LLC, a proposed new sustainable infrastructure joint venture aimed at accelerating the deployment of electric fleets, including thousands of zero-emission electric school buses nationwide.
Strong leadership in advising clients has earned Cliff acknowledgment in numerous industry publications. Cliff is currently ranked in Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A-Texas, been selected as a leading Energy lawyer in Who’s Who Legal for 2019 and is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Energy Law. Additionally he has been showcased in Euromoney’s 2018 Energy and Environment Expert Guide, as well as named to Texas Lawyer’s 2020 “Texas Trailblazers” list and recognized in Oil & Gas Investor, Midstream Business and E&P Magazine. Cliff has also been featured in The Oil and Gas Investor, Midstream Business, Houston Business Journal, The Oil Council’s publication and other publications for his thought leadership.