Top Energy Private Equity Dealmaker Clay Brett Joins Gibson Dunn in Houston
Firm News | August 24, 2026
Gibson Dunn announced today that Clay Brett has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in its Private Equity and Energy and Infrastructure Practice Groups.
Clay is a preeminent advisor on M&A, investment, and financing matters in the energy industry, with experience in principal investor and general counsel roles. He represents sponsors and portfolio companies across the capital lifecycle throughout the sector.
“Clay is one of the leading private equity lawyers in the energy sector. His experience advising sponsors across the investment lifecycle, combined with his time on the investor side, gives him a unique perspective on the commercial and legal issues that drive successful transactions,” said Michael Piazza, Co-Chair of the U.S. Private Equity Practice Group. “I’ve known Clay for more than a decade and have worked both alongside and across the table from him, so I know firsthand the caliber of lawyer he is. His arrival further enhances our ability to advise sponsors and investors on sophisticated energy and infrastructure transactions.”
“Houston is the global center for energy investment, with capital flowing across traditional oil and gas, power, infrastructure, and energy transition opportunities,” said Rahul Vashi, Co-Chair of the Oil and Gas Practice Group. “Clay has built an exceptional practice spanning these sectors and brings a sophisticated understanding of the commercial and investment forces shaping today’s energy landscape. He deepens our market-leading capabilities in some of the most active areas of energy investment and positions us to meet growing client demand.”
“I’m excited to join Gibson Dunn at a time of tremendous opportunity across the energy and infrastructure sectors,” said Clay. “The firm has built the premier cross-disciplinary platform for sponsors, investors, and companies deploying private capital across power, infrastructure, transition and traditional energy markets. I’m looking forward to demonstrating our industry-leading abilities alongside this supremely talented team.”
Clay’s arrival continues Gibson Dunn’s strategic expansion in Houston and adds further depth to the firm’s premier energy and private equity platform. His addition follows the recent arrivals of Omar Samji and Atma Kabad and reflects the firm’s continued investment in advising sponsors and investors across the energy and infrastructure sectors.
About Clay Brett
Clay’s energy subsector expertise includes upstream, midstream, LNG, oilfield services, drillships, distributed power generation, solar, battery storage, CNG, RNG, CCUS and helium extraction, among others. His transactional experience is remarkably broad, spanning M&A, A&D, structured equity, structured credit, fund and investment vehicle formation, drillcos, derivatives, joint ventures, commercial agreements, and management incentives.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Clay was a partner at an international law firm. Previously, he was a partner and investment principal at Millennial Energy Partners, where he led investment origination, structuring, negotiation, and risk management for Millennial’s affiliated York Tactical Energy Fund. Additionally, he served as General Counsel of an upstream portfolio company operating in the STACK play of Oklahoma.