Advises clients on domestic and international oil, gas, mining and renewable energy transactions.
Focuses on M&A, project development, joint ventures and corporate matters.

Eduardo Canales counsels public and private companies and private equity funds in complex, multijurisdictional transactions including:

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
Divestitures
Joint ventures
Project development

Eduardo represents developers, sponsors and investors in acquisitions, divestitures, development and operation of oil, gas, mining and renewable energy projects.

Eduardo has a particular focus on the upstream, midstream and oilfield services sectors and provides ongoing advice to clients on a variety of matters, including:

Corporate governance and formation, including country entry
Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreements
Gathering, transportation, treating, supply and offtake agreements
Joint and unit operating agreements
Joint ventures including farmouts, participation agreements and joint development agreements

Representative Work

Represented Apache Corporation in its joint venture with Total S.A. to explore and develop Block 58 offshore Suriname, which included consideration of $175 million in cash and over $5 billion carry on appraisal and development costs.
Represented DEA Deutsche Erodel AG in its acquisition of Sierra Oil and Gas for more than $500 million, including the Zama discovery and six exploration and appraisal blocks, offshore Mexico.
Advised an industrial conglomerate in the acquisition of interests in a mining company that owned a mining concessions in Angola and assisted in the negotiation of the joint venture thereafter.
Represented one of the world’s leading specialists in low carbon energy infrastructure, in its construction debt and tax equity financing of a 300 MW wind project in Texas.
Advised Diamondback Energy Inc. in connection with its $9.2 billion all-stock merger with Energen Corporation.

Represented a public exploration and production (E&P) company in a joint development agreement with private equity fund in connection with a $2.3 billion acquisition of Eagle Ford Shale assets.
Advised a public E&P company in a series of asset acquisitions in the Midland Basin totaling over $700 million.
Counseled Rattler Midstream LP in connection with its $765 million initial public offering of common units.
Represented one of the U.S.’s largest solar manufacturers and developers in the financing, acquisition, development and divestiture of numerous domestic solar projects.
Counseled a major E&P company in a series of five divestitures of producing properties in south and east Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi totaling over $1.2 billion.
Represented a public E&P company in the divestiture of all of its assets in certain shale plays located in Texas and Louisiana totaling over $500 million.
Acted as counsel to an international oil and gas trading and marketing company on multiple projects, including a sale of a West Texas terminal for more than $750 million.
Served as counsel to a major offshore drilling company in the divestiture of its jack-up drilling rig and liftboat fleets worldwide.
Advised private equity funds in the acquisition of a petrochemical facility, an oil and gas services company and drilling equipment.
Counseled a Mexican governmental agency regarding the implementation of energy reforms for the country’s first international oil and gas licensing round.
Represented an international public company in the negotiation, formation and implementation of a joint venture to establish and construct a petroleum products port and terminal in Mexico.
Advised PJSC LUKOIL Oil Company in acquiring stranded assets from Chevron Corporation, successfully increasing the client’s assets outside of Russia, which was a strategic goal for the company.
Counseled a global private equity firm in the acquisition of, and related shareholder financing agreements for, oil and gas assets in Colombia. The transaction allowed the client to gain a foothold in a strategic oil and gas province by year-end 2017. This timing was critical to the client’s business goals.
Represented an international energy conglomerate in the negotiation of offtake agreements for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in the U.S.
Assisted one of the largest oil producers in the Gulf of Mexico with a suite of agreements for the development, construction and installation of two large fixed-leg offshore oil and gas platforms.

Represented a public exploration and production (E&P) company in a joint development agreement with private equity fund in connection with a $2.3 billion acquisition of Eagle Ford Shale assets.
Advised a public E&P company in a series of asset acquisitions in the Midland Basin totaling over $700 million.
Counseled Rattler Midstream LP in connection with its $765 million initial public offering of common units.
Represented one of the U.S.’s largest solar manufacturers and developers in the financing, acquisition, development and divestiture of numerous domestic solar projects.
Counseled a major E&P company in a series of five divestitures of producing properties in south and east Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi totaling over $1.2 billion.
Represented a public E&P company in the divestiture of all of its assets in certain shale plays located in Texas and Louisiana totaling over $500 million.
Acted as counsel to an international oil and gas trading and marketing company on multiple projects, including a sale of a West Texas terminal for more than $750 million.
Served as counsel to a major offshore drilling company in the divestiture of its jack-up drilling rig and liftboat fleets worldwide.
Advised private equity funds in the acquisition of a petrochemical facility, an oil and gas services company and drilling equipment.
Counseled a Mexican governmental agency regarding the implementation of energy reforms for the country’s first international oil and gas licensing round.
Represented an international public company in the negotiation, formation and implementation of a joint venture to establish and construct a petroleum products port and terminal in Mexico.
Advised PJSC LUKOIL Oil Company in acquiring stranded assets from Chevron Corporation, successfully increasing the client’s assets outside of Russia, which was a strategic goal for the company.
Counseled a global private equity firm in the acquisition of, and related shareholder financing agreements for, oil and gas assets in Colombia. The transaction allowed the client to gain a foothold in a strategic oil and gas province by year-end 2017. This timing was critical to the client’s business goals.
Represented an international energy conglomerate in the negotiation of offtake agreements for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in the U.S.
Assisted one of the largest oil producers in the Gulf of Mexico with a suite of agreements for the development, construction and installation of two large fixed-leg offshore oil and gas platforms.

Languages
English
Spanish

Education
LL.M., University of Houston Law Center, 2017
J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, cum laude, 2013
B.A., University of Texas at Austin, 2009

Bar Admissions
Texas

Recognitions

The Legal 500 Latin America, Projects and Energy, 2021.
Latino Lawyers Magazine, Top Latino Lawyers, 2020.

Affiliations and Public Service

Member, World Affairs Council, 2015-present.
Member, Houston Bar Association, 2015-present.
Member, Houston Young Lawyers Association, 2015-present.
Member, Young Professionals in Energy, 2015-present.
Member, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, 2015-present.
Member, Institute for Energy Law, 2015-present.
Member, Hispanic National Bar Association, 2015-present.
Member, Pathfinder Program, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, 2019-present.
Vice Chair, Akin Latinx Firm Resource Group, 2018-present.

Speeches and Publications

“Comparative Discussion of 'Clean Energy' Tax and Policy Transition Issues Challenging Energy Investments in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.,” University of Houston Law Center International Energy Tax Conference and Houston Business and Tax Law Journal Annual Symposium, (Conference, February 28, 2025).
“Tax and Energy Investment Climate vis-à-vis Mexico's Presidential Election, ” University of Houston Law Center International Energy Tax Conference and Houston Business and Tax Law Journal Annual Symposium, (Conference, March 22, 2024).
“Risk Mitigation in International Energy Ventures,” Institute for Energy Law, (Webinar, August 26, 2020).