O’Melveny announced today that highly regarded energy lawyer Ryan Sears has joined the firm as a partner in Dallas, where he will serve in the firm’s Project Development & Real Estate Practice Group and Energy Industry Group. Sears comes to O’Melveny from the Dallas office of Gray Reed & McGraw LLP, where he led the Energy Transactions Practice and Energy Industry Team.

Consistently named one of the best lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine and recognized as a “Rising Star” in Texas Super Lawyers, Sears is a trusted and respected advisor to independent oil and gas companies—many backed by private equity or family companies—in the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors.

Sears focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and asset deals. He also serves clients as outside general counsel, advising on day-to-day matters—debt and equity arrangements, operating contracts, entity structuring, vendor contracts, title and environmental issues, and corporate governance matters.

Sears has served as Chair of the Energy Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association, and as a member of the Energy Section of the Houston Bar Association and the Energy and Natural Resources Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He is also a sought-after speaker and writer on the evolution of both energy law and energy transactions.

With the addition of Sears, O’Melveny now has a total of nearly 60 lawyers—including 22 partners—in its Dallas, Austin, and Houston offices, all hired since the firm opened in Texas just one year ago. Sears joins Dallas partner Jason Schumacher, Austin partners Katie Coleman and Phillip Oldham, and Houston partners Monica Hwang and Steven Torello to form one of the top oil and gas teams in the market.

“We are delighted to welcome Ryan to O’Melveny. His stellar credentials and deep experience in the energy sector will be an immediate asset to our clients. And as we continue to expand our roster of A-list energy-focused partners in Texas, Ryan’s impressive talent, sterling reputation, and client-centric approach make him a perfect addition to the firm,” said O’Melveny Chair Bradley J. Butwin.

“I’ve always viewed O’Melveny as a powerhouse, and over the past year, I’ve been impressed with how quickly the firm has established a leading presence in Texas,” said Sears. “O’Melveny’s momentum in the state is remarkable, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. I’m confident that my clients will benefit from O’Melveny’s global platform, and I’m excited to help strengthen O’Melveny’s top-notch energy team.”

Sears earned his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.