Baker Botts L.L.P. stands out for its broad practice and depth of talent and is a leader in the energy, utilities and renewable energy sectors. Corporate operations, mergers and acquisitions and project development. The firm has experience handling mega-utility mergers and is involved in capital markets transactions, bankruptcies and restructurings, and energy asset auctions. as well as investments in energy and utilities by strategic players and private equity funds, development and financing of energy projects, and wholesale and retail transactions in the energy sector. Based in Washington DC, Elaine Walsh is responsible for energy company mergers, energy asset acquisitions, divestitures and investments, and the development of power generation and transportation and fuel storage projects. She leads the team with Michael Didriksen, a New York-based transaction specialist. Ryan Holcomb leads the team at Bracewell LLP in Houston, advising private equity investors, energy companies, utilities, financial institutions and commodity trading companies in the energy sector. The team`s extensive experience includes the production of all types of fuels, transfer, acquisition and disposal of conventional energy assets, joint ventures, equity investments, project finance and energy project development.
Another area of strength of the practice is that of financial products in the energy sector, including physical and financial commodities and hedging. Shearman & Sterling LLP is recommended for its “extensive experience across disciplines” and offers in-depth market knowledge covering upstream, intermediate and downstream issues. The firm also has particular expertise in private equity and advises sponsors and managers on oil and gas transactions. Hugh Tucker focuses on commercial transactions related to the oil and gas, chemical and real estate sectors, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, project development and financing. He leads the Houston-based team alongside Sarah McLean, whose strengths are private equity transactions, particularly portfolio company investments, upstream and midstream oil and gas asset acquisitions and divestitures, and midstream sector joint ventures. Another important name is Coleson Bruce in Austin, who handles a number of business transactions in the energy sector. The team continues to grow, and in 2021 she joined Jones Day`s Emily Leitch, Baker Botts L.L.P.`s Daniel Tristan and Avant Energy Legal Counsel Gabriel Salinas. The team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is “beyond exception”. He is known for managing issues in the FERC regulatory space and is also adept at advising on pipelines, the CFTC and government procurement issues. The group also frequently advises clients on evolving cybersecurity issues, including compliance issues related to corporate responses to the Department of Homeland Security`s new Transportation Security Administration Security Policy; Associate Arjun Ramadevanahalli leads these issues. Kirstin Gibbs, a “world-class lawyer,” leads the practice and has experience managing the unique regulatory challenges associated with LNG regasification and liquefaction terminals. Levi McAllister is the key name for its expertise in emissions trading and carbon pricing.
Stephen Spina leads the company`s energy practice. All persons are residents of Washington, DC. Former Practice Manager Kathryn Sutton retired in October 2021. McGuireWoods LLP combines expertise in energy trading and energy transactions with experience in utilities and can handle a variety of conventional energy issues. The firm has experience representing infrastructure and private equity funds involved in mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector – and recently helped create the Southeast Energy Exchange Market, an innovative project to create a centralized, automated energy exchange in hours. Based in Richmond, Joanne Katsantonis focuses on mergers and acquisitions, energy transactions and financing and is co-principal in Baltimore with Brian Kelly. He advises clients in the energy and finance sector on a range of transactional matters. “McGuire Woods has unique experience across all industries and with our clients. McGuireWoods stands out for its strong banking and strong employees who are able to support its partners efficiently and effectively. They are flexible in billing arrangements to meet customer needs. They are also great partners who go beyond just legal advice.
They have an in-house legal practice that is innovative and very useful. In addition, they are constantly seeking advice from clients on innovative ways to improve the partnership. Led by Patrick Gillard of Philadelphia and supported by numerous lawyers across the firm`s national network, Ballard Spahr LLP`s energy team plays a key role in developers, limited partners, tax equity investors and lenders in a variety of renewable energy acquisitions, construction contracts, and project development and financing agreements. In accordance with federal and state regulations affecting work in this area, the team continues to be very active in managing M&A and financing mandates related to distributed generation and large-scale solar and wind projects. The company is also well versed in structuring transactions with more tailored and innovative mandates, particularly in terms of acquisition and equity and debt financing of several community solar projects, a fast-growing market niche. “A true force to be reckoned with,” Norton Rose Fulbright`s “diversified renewable energy supply” is engaged by developers, investors and lenders across the industry`s corporate and financing activities. However, the company is perhaps best known for its work on the borrower/sponsor side and is regularly involved in some of the largest M&A mandates on the market, including its work for Danish wind energy company Ørsted in the $510 million acquisition of Shaw`s Deepwater Wind Holdings. Led by Keith Martin, Washington DC`s “Dean of Energy Tax Worldwide,” the team is also at the forefront of the tax stock market and is often the first port of call for clients looking for the most commercial and creative solutions to maximize tax benefits in the industry. Benjamin Koenigsberg, a New York-based partner, leads the project team alongside Martin and is “very active in space” for lenders and borrowers, with a particularly strong track record of offshore wind transactions.
