Haynes Boone has added Sudan I. Maccio as a partner in its Energy, Electricity, and Natural Resources Group in its Houston office. This appointment reflects the firm’s commitment to the Venezuelan market, for which it launched a dedicated energy and infrastructure working group in early 2026. This group is tasked with managing the regulatory changes resulting from recent modifications to U.S. sanctions policy and the Venezuelan hydrocarbon regime.
Maccio is Venezuelan, dually licensed in Texas and Venezuela, and has over thirty years of experience in oil, gas, refining, and petrochemical transactions. He has held senior management positions at PDVSA, Baker Hughes, Eni, Ecopetrol, and PetroTal. His profile is primarily that of an in-house lawyer—not a private practice lawyer—with a focus on structuring and executing transactions in Latin American markets with high regulatory risk.
This addition strengthens Haynes Boone’s position as a leading firm for international energy investors evaluating the Venezuelan market during its reopening. The firm thus addresses a specific client need: simultaneous guidance on compliance with U.S. regulations and the Venezuelan legal framework.
“Houston is at the heart of the global energy and trade ecosystem, and our clients rely on us for expert advice on cross-border transactions,” said Ricardo García-Moreno, managing partner of the Houston office. “The Sudan experience significantly enhances our ability to support energy sector clients operating in an increasingly international market.”
“With one of the world’s largest untapped oil and gas reserves, Venezuela presents a transformative opportunity as it reopens to global investment,” said Maccio. “The firm’s energy division, along with its network of contacts in Texas and internationally, provides the ideal platform to help investors capitalize on the activity that will define this new phase.”
“Clients are actively evaluating opportunities in Venezuela, but they face a highly complex environment with stringent regulatory compliance considerations,” added Larry Pascal, co-chair of the International Practice Group. “Sudan brings local knowledge combined with U.S. legal experience.”
