Bracewell LLP

Aaron Roffwarg

Aaron Roffwarg, chair of the firm's real estate department, counsels clients on strategic transactions in a creative, efficient and effective manner. He represents and counsels clients in transactions that involve real estate and construction projects, including synthetic lease and sale-leaseback transactions, complex midstream oil and gas projects, pipelines and terminals used to transport oil, gas and other petroleum products and merchant electric generation facilities. He represents private equity investors, developers, financial institutions and utilities in transactions that include acquisitions and divestitures of assets and companies, structured finance, leveraged finance, project development and project finance. In addition, Aaron regularly represents healthcare organizations regarding real estate development and mergers and acquisitions transactions. · Real Estate

Alamdar S. Hamdani

Alamdar Hamdani is a highly regarded trial lawyer who joined Bracewell following a 17-year career with the United States Department of Justice in which he held various leadership roles. He draws on his leadership and experience as a federal prosecutor in large, complex national security and white-collar cases to advise companies and corporate executives on government investigations and compliance matters related to cybersecurity, national security, regulatory enforcement and procurement fraud. Alamdar served as the 24th presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas from December 2022 until January 2025. He led one of the largest US Attorney’s Offices in the Department of Justice with 400 employees, including 200 federal prosecutors across six offices. Under his leadership, the office handled more than 10,000 criminal cases and maintained an average conviction rate of 95 percent in cases involving official corruption and national security matters. At the same time, the Civil Division filed over 2,500 cases, including a historic $85 million settlement against a cardiac imaging company. · Government Investigations

Alan Stewart

Alan Stewart focuses his practice on financing transactions in the energy industry. He helps represent lenders and borrowers in syndicated, secured and unsecured, traditional and debt financings, corporate finance transactions, cross-border facilities and Chapter 11 restructurings. During law school, Alan served as a judicial intern to the Honorable George C. Hanks, Jr. of the United States District Court of the Southern District of Texas and to the Honorable Russell Lloyd of the First Court of Appeals of Texas. He worked as an intelligence analyst with the National Security Agency prior to pursuing a legal career. · Energy Finance

Alex Dimock

Alex Dimock serves those interested in distressed real estate by combining complex transactional and litigation strategies to maximize value. Alex represents all manner of financial institutions, servicers, receivers, private equity funds, and high-net-worth individuals throughout the United States. Alex leads Bracewell’s real estate special situations group, which offers cradle-to-grave expertise for real estate workouts. Alex’s team routinely handles, for example, pre-negotiation agreements, default and acceleration notices, foreclosures, injunction hearings, bankruptcy filings, arbitrations, state and federal trials and appeals, receivership matters, forbearance agreements, modifications, assumptions, note sales, asset sales, tax issues and leasing matters. · Real Estate

Allan Taffet

Allan Taffet has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in complex civil disputes through trial and appeal. Allan represents multiple institutional clients in the financial services industry and capital markets in cases that involve securities, structured derivatives, employment and non-competition, breach of contract and contract construction, fraud, RICO, shareholder and partnership disputes and dissolutions. Over the last two decades, Allan has tried numerous cases in federal and state courts and before arbitration panels and administrative bodies. · Securities

Allison Perry

Allison Perry focuses on employee benefits, executive compensation, and employment tax, drawing on eight years of in-house experience as the lead employment tax advisor for Shell in the United States and 15 prior years in private practice. Allison works with clients of all sizes on a broad range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, including qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, employment agreements, severance arrangements, change-in-control agreements, equity-based compensation, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, welfare benefit plans, other fringe benefit arrangements, and the implications of IRC Sections 162(m), 409A, and 280G. Her work spans the full lifecycle of employee benefit and executive compensation arrangements — from design and implementation through administration and compliance — including non-discrimination requirements, contributions and distributions, plan amendments, and voluntary compliance program submissions. · Employee Benefits

Amber Dodds

Amber Dodds counsels employers in all areas of employment law. Her advice includes analysis and direction on employment and benefits issues, such as leave administration, employee investigations, use of background checks and consumer reports, employee discipline and preventing harassment and retaliation claims. She drafts employment policies and employee handbooks specific to client industry and management needs. Amber also routinely advises on employee pay practices, such as compliance with overtime, per diem, pay deduction, and exemption classification requirements. She has experience advising clients on compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulations, including the General Duty Clause, Process Safety Management, and a variety of industry or hazard-specific regulations. In addition to regulatory and employment-law compliance, Amber represents employers in pre-litigation administrative investigation and hearings, settlement negotiations, and federal and state court litigation. Her litigation matters have included a variety of employment-law claims, such as retaliation, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour issues, as well as general civil litigation matters in the public, private and religious organization employer context. Amber is also experienced in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action litigation, including class certification and notice issues. Amber served as an intern in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas with the Honorable Lee Yeakel and the Texas First Court of Appeals with Justice Evelyn V. Keyes. · Employment Law

Amy Halevy

Amy Halevy counsels and represents employers in all areas of employment law. She guides her business clients in the preparation and application of employment policies and procedures. Amy also provides valued advice in assisting with complex and high level company investigations when there are concerns of employee misconduct or in other areas related to the employment relationship. She serves in the role of trusted advisor by helping clients with difficult employee terminations. · Employment Law

Andrew Bueso

Andrew Bueso represents both lenders and borrowers in a broad range of traditional and bespoke secured and unsecured credit transactions. He advises clients on leveraged and investment-grade credit facilities, including reserve-based loans, acquisition financings, holdco facilities, multicurrency facilities, and cross-border facilities, as well as distressed credits in restructuring and workout situations. Andrew’s practice spans a variety of industries, with a particular focus on the energy sector. He regularly represents renewable and traditional energy companies, as well as domestic and international financial institutions, in financings involving energy infrastructure, renewable energy projects, exploration and production assets, midstream systems, oilfield services, and commodity trading and storage assets. · Finance

Andrew Shaw

Andrew Shaw uses his public policy experience and knowledge of Congress and the Executive Branch to guide clients on federal legislative and regulatory issues impacting the energy and environmental sectors. He advises clients on a range of issues, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations, climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean/renewable energy incentives, nuclear power, oil and gas, grid modernization, trade and foreign policy. In addition, he develops and implements government affairs strategies for domestic and international clients in engaging with Congress, the Executive Branch, industry associations and nongovernmental organizations. · Energy

Andrew T. Prihoda

Andrew (Andy) Prihoda counsels governmental entities on state and local government finance matters, including public finance, infrastructure development, and public private partnerships (PPP). He serves as bond counsel to state and local issuers, as well as underwriter’s counsel, disclosure counsel, borrower’s counsel, and bank counsel. Andy also assists governmental entities in matters involving the investment of public funds, state legislation, and other public law matters. Prior to private practice, Andy served as deputy chief of the Public Finance Division in the Office of the Texas Attorney General. In this role, he coordinated Division rulemaking efforts, and functioned as a liaison between the Division and other state agencies. He also frequently testified before and served as a resource to the Texas Legislature regarding a variety of public finance-related topics. · Public Finance

Andrew W. Monk

Andy’s practice focuses on representing public and private companies in a variety of corporate and securities transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and private placements, entity formation and capitalization, joint ventures and other strategic business combinations, as well as ongoing governance matters. · Corporate and Securities

Ann Navaro

Ann Navaro advises on and litigates under the federal laws and policies governing natural resources and the environment. After more than 25 years as a top litigator and policy adviser to the federal government, Ann brings exceptional insight and acumen to clients seeking to build infrastructure, produce valuable natural resources, or improve government policies and programs affecting their businesses. She has held senior legal and policy positions at the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Department of the Interior, including most recently as Counselor to the Solicitor at the Department of the Interior. Ann spent more than 10 years as a trial lawyer in the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the US Department of Justice, as well as 10 years litigating and managing civil works litigation for the Army Corps. · Environmental Law

Anne Lapierre

Partner · Energy

Annie Cook

Annie Cook represents oil and natural gas pipeline, terminal and LNG facility operators with regard to transportation, safety and related laws. Annie regularly advises clients on construction and siting, incident response, regulatory compliance, litigation strategy and enforcement defense under the Pipeline Safety Act, the Natural Gas Act and related state laws. Annie has assisted clients in successfully challenging administrative agency actions at the federal appellate level. She also assists with confidential and large-scale investigations and compliance audits to identify legal risks and prepare defenses on enforcement matters, including investigations led by the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General. · Energy Regulatory

Arnaud Bélisaire

Partner · Energy

Austin T. Lee

Austin Lee represents and counsels clients in the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas properties, as well as a broad range of transactional and operational matters regarding upstream and midstream operations. In addition, Austin also counsels clients in the upstream and midstream space who are dealing with distressed situations, whether in the form of restructuring financial arrangements or acquiring or divesting properties. Additionally, Austin represents lenders and borrowers with respect to the financing of oil and gas properties; pipeline systems and other midstream assets; and other development facilities. · Oil and Gas

Barbara Jones

Barbara S. Jones, former judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, focuses her practice on corporate monitorships, compliance issues, internal investigations and arbitrations and mediations. During her 16-year term in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Jones presided over a diverse range of cases, including accounting and securities fraud, antitrust, fraud and corruption involving city contracts and federal loan programs, labor racketeering and terrorism. In May 2010, Judge Jones was appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States to serve on the seven-member Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation; she served on the panel until October 2012. · Corporate Monitorships

Barron Wallace

As a result of his experience with virtually all types of governmental entities and diverse finance structures, Barron Wallace’s public finance practice is both unique and broad. His clients benefit from his knowledge of traditional and highly structured project finance conduit transactions involving state agencies, cities, school districts, airports, higher education, housing, industrial development, private and primary secondary schools, cultural arts organizations, regional mobility authorities, special districts and not-for-profit organizations. His multifaceted practice spans traditional municipal finance, tax increment finance, urban redevelopment, as well as general public law. · Public Finance

Benjamin Martin

Ben Martin has experience assisting clients throughout a legal entity’s life-cycle, from its incorporation and establishment of governance procedures to its termination through merger, conversion or other business combination. His M&A experience includes the representation of public companies, private investment firms and private companies in the acquisition and sale of public and private companies. In his M&A experience, he has coordinated with financial advisors to the firm’s clients to help manage robust auction processes in search of the most attractive disposition opportunity. He has also assisted clients in their investment in strategic joint ventures. Ben has also represented issuers in various securities offerings that have collectively raised more than $8 billion. · Mergers and Acquisitions

Blakely Fernandez

Blakely Latham Fernandez focuses her practice in the space where business and government intersect, recognizing that complex business issues and solutions often exist in a political environment, just as complex public issues and solutions often benefit from private partnerships. She represents both governmental entities and private sector clients in structuring projects that include public benefit and, often, incentives. As a former elected official, she recognizes the stewardship and political considerations that are an important part of project development. · Government and Public Policy

Boris Shkuta

Boris Shkuta focuses on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulation and compliance for electric power companies and natural gas pipelines. He represents energy clients in a diverse array of FERC and federal court proceedings including, for example, representation of pipelines in rate case litigation before administrative law judges; natural gas pipelines in complex bankruptcy proceedings; and electric transmission developers in high stakes FERC and federal appeals court proceedings. Boris also frequently advises generation developers navigating complex generation interconnection processes. In addition, he has significant experience working on Administrative Procedure Act issues, especially in connection with rule-making proceedings such as FERC’s recent changes to its natural gas certificate policy statement. · Energy Regulatory

Bradley Benoit

For over 20 years, Brad Benoit has maintained a practice that serves both plaintiffs and defendants, something that sets him apart from many other litigators. This balance helps him see both sides of a case more clearly and provide his clients with a broader approach to complex commercial litigation. Following along with Bracewell's core strengths, Brad focuses on representing clients in energy-related litigation, securities/derivative litigation, and bankruptcy-related litigation. · Commercial Litigation

Brett W. Rector

Brett Rector focuses his litigation practice on healthcare and commercial disputes. He represents all types of healthcare providers, including hospital systems, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, physicians groups and individual physicians. He has significant experience litigating disputes involving managed care, billing and reimbursement, employment, contracts, restrictive covenants and other complex commercial matters. He also represents healthcare clients in regulatory and compliance matters, including government investigations, qui tam suits and matters relating to alleged violations of federal and state anti-kickback provisions and Stark laws. Brett has notable experience as a stand-up litigator, having successfully briefed and argued a variety of procedural, discovery and dispositive motions. He has also assisted in preparing and trying multiple cases to verdict, as well as examining and cross-examining both fact and expert witnesses during deposition. · Healthcare Litigation

Brian Patterson

Brian Patterson is a skilled litigator and advisor who represents employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters. His practice encompasses non-competition agreements, wage and hour disputes, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement actions, whistleblower issues, executive employment contracts, and employment discrimination. Brian also has extensive experience overseeing and conducting sensitive workplace investigations. In his litigation practice, Brian has extensive trial experience, particularly in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) cases, disputes involving restrictive covenant agreements, and matters arising from the separation of senior executives. He has also successfully defended employers against individual and class action claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in both state and federal courts. Beyond litigation, Brian has significant experience leading the labor and employment aspects of major corporate transactions, ensuring seamless integration and compliance in complex business deals. · Labor and Employment

Brian R. Rogers

Brian Rogers advises private debt funds, banks and other financial institutions, commodity merchants, private equity funds, family offices, and public and private companies in a variety of debt financing transactions in all levels of the capital structure, including term loans, asset-based loans, unitranche, intermediations, monetizations, prepayments, trade finance, leveraged buyouts, restructurings, rescue financings and other special situation transactions. Brian has extensive experience negotiating transactions relating to renewable and conventional energy and commodities, infrastructure and related asset classes, and his practice includes a focus on structured transactions involving commodities and energy, including some of the market-leading transactions in the space. · Banking and Finance

Brian Teaff

Brian Teaff has a multifaceted tax practice, advising clients in connection with tax-exempt financings and other business transactions in the public finance area, as well as counseling public charities and private foundations on a wide range of tax planning and compliance matters. In addition, Brian advises a variety of types of clients with respect to the "opportunity zone" provisions enacted under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. · Tax

Brian Tompkins

Brian Tompkins’ practice focuses on patent prosecution, patent portfolio analysis and client counseling. He serves clients in the software, computer and petroleum industries. Brian has also advised clients on product development strategies and has provided opinions of counsel and patent landscape analyses. · Patent Prosecution

Britt Steckman

Britt Steckman focuses her practice on civil and criminal litigation and federal securities law. Her clients include individuals, broker-dealers, municipal advisors, large and medium sized investment banks, municipal issuers, nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, and energy companies, among others. Britt defends enforcement actions by state and federal authorities; advises clients on compliance matters; conducts internal investigations; represents clients in all stages of civil litigation, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations and administrative litigation; and advises on federal securities law issues in municipal securities transactions. Her experience includes federal securities laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) including establishing and maintaining compliance programs, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the False Claims Act (FCA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Natural Gas Act. Britt also has experience with appeals. · Civil Litigation

Brittany M. Pemberton

Brittany Pemberton advises energy, oil and gas, and industrial clients in environmental regulatory compliance and enforcement matters, including handling stationary source enforcement and compliance matters under the Clean Air Act (CAA) before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies. She also represents companies and trade associations participating in the federal rulemaking process, including developing comments on a variety of EPA, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) proposals and challenging final agency rules in federal court. Her practice also regularly includes representing companies in administrative appeals before federal agencies, such as the DOI. In particular, Brittany's experience includes extensive Administrative Procedure Act litigation and rulemaking comments surrounding cap-and-trade regulatory regimes and research regarding the permitting process for deep geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide. Additionally, Brittany has experience obtaining federal and state authorizations for major projects and transactions and in defending these government authorizations in court. · Environmental Law

Bryan Dumesnil

Bryan Dumesnil provides Bracewell’s clients with the intense dedication needed when facing complex litigation challenges. Although most cases are resolved outside the courtroom, a trial lawyer must be willing and able to try a case in order to achieve the best results for the client. Bryan knows this, and that is why he approaches every case as if it will be tried. By doing so, Bryan is prepared to zealously protect his clients and their interests if a negotiated resolution is not possible.

Bryan L. Clark

Bryan Clark represents clients in matters across the oil and gas midstream sector. As managing associate general counsel at Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. from 2012 to 2024, he has a strong commercial and regulatory understanding of marketing and midstream matters involving crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, as well as electricity matters involving distribution, transmission and purchasing. He also has extensive experience with unregulated, day-to-day midstream contracts, including processing, gathering, interconnections, TSAs and blending agreements. At Pioneer, Mr. Clark served as the company’s primary midstream counsel and as its lead counsel on energy transition matters, including wind and solar development. He also advised Pioneer’s board of directors, executive management and senior officers on matters involving complex commercial transactions, federal and state regulations, litigation and the global energy transition. · Oil And Gas

Bucky Brannen

Bucky Brannen advises clients on ways to reduce state and local taxes (SALT) in every phase of business. He helps negotiate pre-investment economic incentives, structure operations to minimize tax, manage audits and dispute assessments and property tax valuations, and facilitate growth through tax-efficient restructurings, acquisitions and dispositions. Regarding economic development tax incentives, Bucky has advised on many of the largest tax incentives packages in Texas history — frequently developing novel solutions to optimize economic benefits while ensuring a positive, long-term partnership with the local community. · State and Local Tax

Carlton D. Wilde III

Carlton Wilde is a trial lawyer with jury experience. He brings a quick wit and an ability to dive into the details of a case while advising clients on strategy implications in an easy-to-follow manner. As a member of Bracewell’s insurance recovery group, Carlton represents corporate policy holders in complex insurance coverage matters related to all types of policies, including reps and warranties, business interruption, commercial property, cyber, and professional and fiduciary liabilities. He also has first and second chair experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a diverse range of complex business litigation and arbitration matters in the energy, construction, consumer products, real estate and healthcare industries. Carlton handles all aspects of trial and litigation strategy from pre-suit investigation and discovery through trial and post-trial motions. His approach to each client is to clearly communicate complex legal issues, connect legal advice to the client’s business needs, and remain calm throughout stressful litigation battles. · Insurance Recovery

Carrie Douglas

Carrie Douglas is a passionate advocate who works tirelessly to achieve maximum reimbursements from commercial payors and third-party administrators for hospital systems, ambulatory surgery centers and large physician practices. She represents clients in a variety of reimbursement related legal disputes, involving managed care contracts and other payor-provider disputes wherein she uses her efforts to resolve matters at the pre-litigation stage. Carrie has extensive experience on matters pertaining to unilateral payor policies involving COVID-19 reimbursement, reference-based pricing, out-of-network plans and E/M downcoding. She has also established successful strategies related to disputes involving experimental/investigational designations, medical necessity, diagnosis-related groups (DRG) downgrades and refunds, offsets and other adjustments, which have allowed for pre-litigation resolutions. In addition, she advises hospitals and health systems on compliance with the Hospital Price Transparency Rule. · Healthcare Law

Catherine Little

For more than 30 years, Catherine Little has counseled oil and gas pipeline, terminal and LNG clients across the United States on energy, transportation and safety-related legal matters at the federal, state and local levels. In particular, Catherine regularly advises on a full range of regulatory compliance and enforcement defense matters, including construction and siting, operations, maintenance, inspection, incident response and security issues. Catherine counsels clients with respect to litigation strategy and frequently manages large-scale confidential investigations and compliance audits to assist companies in identifying legal risks and preparing defenses. Catherine and her team have favorably resolved criminal investigation matters led by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the US Department of Justice, and successfully sought federal appellate review for precedential pipeline enforcement matters. · Energy Regulatory

Catherine McCarthy

Catherine McCarthy has represented asset owners and others on energy regulation and policy matters for more than two decades. She chairs Bracewell's Energy Regulatory Department and is the current Chair Elect of the American Bar Association's Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section. Her experience includes obtaining Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state authorizations for major projects and transactions; FERC compliance and enforcement matters; FERC transmission and centralized markets issues; and rate, tariff and refund matters. She also represents energy clients before the Department of Energy, the Federal Communications Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. · Energy

Charles R. Mills

Charles (Charley) Mills focuses his practice in the areas of derivatives, commodities, crypto and securities trading law. Exchanges, market intermediaries, advisors, traders, end users and product developers turn to Charley for his deep knowledge of the regulatory agencies, the law, trading and the markets. He represents these clients in law enforcement investigations and actions, internal investigations, federal court litigation and regulatory compliance counseling involving the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice, the regulated futures exchanges, the National Futures Association and FINRA. He has tried over 60 court cases, administrative proceedings and arbitrations to successful outcomes and prevailed for clients in many appeals. · Derivatives

Charles Still, Jr.

Clients praise Charles H. Still for his excellent judgment, responsiveness, creativity and understanding of their businesses. He combines these qualities with technical skills, gained over more than two decades of practice, to provide practical advice and solutions to help clients achieve their business objectives. In addition to maintaining an active capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and securities compliance practice, with a particular focus on the energy industry, Charles serves as co-chair of the firm's corporate and securities department. · Capital Markets

Christie Latimer Westmoreland

Christie Latimer focuses on real estate matters, representing developers, borrowers, owners and lenders in the acquisition, development, financing and divestiture of large commercial and industrial projects. She has experience in office, retail and mixed-use projects. Additionally, Christie works on sophisticated financial transactions, where she focuses on loans, structured financing and financial assets and related regulatory matters. · Real Estate

Conor Civins

Conor Civins represents companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies in patent, trade secret and trademark litigation, as well as disputes involving breach of contract, fraud and unfair competition. Over the past several years, he has litigated cases in the Western, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as in various districts in California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, New York and Oregon. Conor has also argued before the Federal Circuit and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. · Patent Litigation

Constance Rhebergen

Constance Rhebergen, a member of the firm's management committee, serves as chair of the firm’s technology section. She is known for quickly determining what clients need, and more importantly, what it takes to achieve these goals. Her multi-national clients benefit from her experience as an engineering consultant. In addition to her responsibilities, she has served as a member of the firm’s management committee. As a registered patent attorney, Ms. Rhebergen is extremely well placed to counsel and represent business clients in the identification, protection, licensing and transfer of intellectual property assets and in providing patent infringement and validity opinions. She brings to bear a comprehensive range of skills to advise businesses and government agencies in the United States, Latin America, Europe, MENA region and beyond with a proficiency on all matters concerning intellectual property, portfolio management and international intellectual property law disputes. · Intellectual Property

Cristy Edwards

Cristy Edwards practices in the area of public finance and tax-exempt finance, with a primary focus on transactions involving hospitals and other healthcare facilities, colleges and universities, private schools, nonprofit organizations, industrial development, waste disposal facilities, airports and state agencies. She serves as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel, disclosure counsel, trustee’s counsel and underwriters counsel in such financings. Cristy also represents electric cooperatives in finance transactions. Cristy is experienced as trustee’s counsel in default and workout situations. · Public Finance

Daniel Connolly

Daniel Connolly's practice focuses on representing clients in such diverse industries as banking, construction and pharmaceuticals in a wide spectrum of white collar defense and regulatory compliance investigations, as well as bankruptcy, class action and complex commercial litigation cases. In addition to representing clients in federal and New York State trial and appellate courts, Dan regularly appears before numerous federal departments and agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General, as well as various state investigatory and enforcement agencies. He has represented major corporations and senior executives in an array of criminal or regulatory matters and has served as compliance and ethics advisor to companies and boards of directors. · White Collar Defense

Daniel Hemli

Daniel Hemli regularly advises clients on complex antitrust issues relating to mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures and advocates before federal, state and foreign antitrust authorities. He has experience representing both buyers and sellers in connection with investigations of numerous national and multinational acquisitions and joint venture transactions across a broad range of industries, including oil and gas, electric power, chemicals, commercial and industrial equipment, waste services, construction materials, consumer goods, healthcare, technology and financial services. He has advised on transactions in a variety of contexts, including negotiated deals, hostile takeovers and distressed situations. Dan also counsels clients on a broad range of antitrust matters arising out of their day-to-day operations and assists clients in designing and implementing antitrust compliance programs. He prides himself on having a thorough understanding of his clients' business operations and objectives and providing very practical and business-focused advice. · Antitrust

Daniel Witschey

During his more than 40 year career at Bracewell, Dan Witschey has focused on providing thoughtful, practical advice to companies, their boards of directors and committees. Equally adept in the mergers and acquisitions and securities arenas, Dan also regularly counsels on corporate governance matters and fiduciary duties. He frequently represents special committees of master limited partnerships in conflict situations ranging from dropdown transactions to equity restructurings and sales of the company. · Mergers and Acquisitions

Danielle M. Varnell

Danielle Varnell has extensive experience in energy M&A including with respect to both development stage and operating projects, portfolio acquisitions and divestures, and complex multi-party joint ventures. In addition to her experience with fossil generation assets and onshore wind and solar assets, Danielle has significant experience in carbon capture and sequestration, battery storage and offshore wind. Danielle also has extensive experience on all aspect of energy and infrastructure project development, including the negotiation and drafting of build transfer agreements, EPC contracts, operation and maintenance agreements, construction management agreements, asset management agreements, shared facilities agreements, build out agreements and equipment procurement and supply agreements (including gas and wind turbines, modules and transformers), as well as numerous other project development agreements. · Energy Transactions

David Ball

David Ball splits his practice primarily between bankruptcy/restructuring and intellectual property. He has experience representing both debtors and creditors in complex bankruptcy proceedings, with an emphasis on handling contested matters, and representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent and trademark infringement matters. David’s understanding of complex products, varied industries, and financial analysis lends itself to both practice areas. He is routinely called upon to quickly understand different industries and the economics of clients’ businesses to work with financial advisors and expert witnesses. David has experience in Chapter 11, Chapter 15 and Chapter 9 bankruptcy matters, and has litigated numerous Chapter 11 matters – most recently Alta Mesa, MDC Texas Energy, ENXP, Optim Energy and Ahern Rentals – before the bankruptcy courts and federal appeals courts. · Bankruptcy and Restructuring

David Perlman

David Perlman represents and counsels clients in regulatory and compliance matters concerning the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and state public utility commissions, energy-related transactions and financings, and in the establishment of compliance programs and training. His clients include utilities, commodities merchants, oil and gas pipeline companies, electric generators, energy marketers, industrial customers, generators, lenders and financial institutions and oil and gas producers. · Energy Regulatory

David Shargel

Dave Shargel is a business litigator with extensive experience representing clients in complex commercial disputes and arbitrations. Dave has built his practice representing clients in a wide range of business sectors and circumstances. His experience includes litigating contract disputes, shareholder disputes, business valuation, insurance coverage and fraud. He also handles real estate, construction and employment disputes as well as matters involving constitutional law such as under the Commerce and Due Process clauses. Additionally, as co-head of the firm’s ePractice Department, Dave assists firm attorneys with eDiscovery best practices and guidance, as well as case-specific discovery strategy and management. Dave is also a member of the firm’s COVID-19 Crisis and Recovery Task Force, advising clients on various issues related to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, including matters related to the government’s stimulus loan programs. · Business Litigation

David Super

David Super offers first-chair trial experience to clients across multiple industries. He handles complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts throughout the country. David’s experience includes litigation involving regulatory and environmental challenges to major infrastructure projects, and environmental claims under the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response (RCRA), Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund. Beyond his experience in environmental litigation, David has taken a lead role in a diverse set of complex commercial disputes, including defense of class actions, allegations of fraud and other business torts, breach of contract, partnership disputes, actions before federal agencies, energy issues and constitutional takings. · Complex Commercial Litigation

Deanna King

Deanna King, co-chair of the firm's energy litigation practice group, represents domestic and foreign energy-industry clients in a broad range of matters related to market access, competition, market behavior and market design, enforcement and compliance, and restructuring and cross-border issues related to participation in United States energy markets. She counsels energy sector clients on regulatory and compliance matters and represents them in enforcement, administrative and litigation proceedings, with a particular focus on organized and bilateral energy markets in the west, contract negotiation and dispute resolution, and compliance with market rules. · Energy Litigation

Dee Martin

Dee Martin is co-chair of the firm's Policy Resolution Group, the government relations and strategic communications section of Bracewell. Dee represents clients before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies, developing and implementing policy and media strategies that achieve her client’s goals. Dee has 20 years of experience providing strategic advice to corporations, non-profit organizations and trade associations. Her work covers a broad range of issues, including energy and the environment (oil & gas; power; renewables); national security (federal law enforcement); women’s rights (economic and violence issues); and financial services (credit rating agencies; consumer protection). Dee has successfully led clients through legislative, appropriations and oversight campaigns. In addition to her policy work, Dee represents clients involved in agency inquiries and Congressional investigations, including hearings and testimony. · Government Relations

Derek Speck

Derek Speck’s practice focuses on matters related to corporate and securities, energy and oil and gas. He counsels clients in corporate formation, mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, securities offerings, corporate restructurings and private equity transactions. Derek also has experience in the upstream and midstream sectors. · Corporate

Derek Young

Derek Young advises clients on state and local tax (SALT) implications of changes in business activities and corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, sales and restructurings. He advises companies on major state and local taxes such as sales and use, gross receipts, income, franchise, withholding, unemployment, property and excise taxes. In addition, Derek represents clients in all phases of SALT and unclaimed property controversies, including alternative dispute resolution and negotiating with administrative agencies to amicably resolve disputes before litigation and without publicity. He has represented clients in SALT controversies covering income, franchise, telecommunications, property, gross receipts, unemployment, and sales and use taxes. · State and Local Tax

Dewey Gonsoulin

For more than 28 years, Dewey Gonsoulin has effectively and efficiently represented clients in all types of financing transactions. He devotes a significant portion of his practice to energy financing, and is a frequent speaker and writer on topics related to upstream oil and gas reserve based financings. He represents commercial lenders, mezzanine lenders, corporate borrowers and other financial institutions in all types of financing transactions. Dewey focuses primarily on credit facilities in the upstream energy sector, including traditional borrowing base credit facilities provided by senior bank lenders to independent producers as well as more complex mezzanine and development financing transactions. In addition to working on upstream financings, Dewey also has extensive experience in oilfield service and midstream pipeline financings. In periods of economic downturn, Dewey works alongside the firm’s restructuring practice, serving as lead transaction counsel on numerous workouts and restructurings involving energy companies. In addition to his client responsibilities, Dewey serves as chair of the firm’s finance department, and has previously served as a member of the firm’s management and finance committees. · Finance

Douglas Stewart

Doug Stewart's experience spans a wide range of technologies, including computer hardware and software, consumer electronics, image processing and LED technology, data transmission and encryption, telematics, mechanical devices, and chemical and pharmaceutical compounds, among others. A registered patent attorney, Doug's practice encompasses all aspects of intellectual property and technology litigation and counseling, including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and domain names. He litigates patent and other intellectual property disputes in courts throughout the United States, including key patent jurisdictions such as the Western and Eastern Districts of Texas, the District of Delaware, and the Northern and Central Districts of California, with a particular emphasis on assisting international technology companies with U.S. patent issues. Doug also represents companies in Section 337 actions before the International Trade Commission, appeals to the Federal Circuit, and contested administrative proceedings before the PTAB and the TTAB. In addition, Doug represents and advises clients in connection with non-litigated IP issues, including licensing and IP strategy; patent portfolio and prosecution management; technology agreements; patent royalty audits; and related diligence issues. · Intellectual Property

Drew Taggart

Drew is a commercial litigator with jury trial, international arbitration, and first-chair bench trial experience. His energy and strategic thinking have been the key to quick and efficient resolution of many disputes. Drew has had the lead role in state and federal court hearings, mediations, trials, and depositions to resolve complex oil and gas, intellectual property, construction, environmental, and securities litigation. His clients range from multi-national corporations, to mid-sized companies, to small, startup businesses and individuals. And in addition to his dispute resolution practice, Drew routinely advises universities, private schools, healthcare institutions, and non-profits regarding internal governance, tax compliance, and fiduciary duty matters. · Commercial Litigation

Dylan W. Benac

Dylan Benac focuses his practice on financial lending, hedging and banking transactions. He advises lenders and borrowers in a variety of traditional and creative secured and unsecured credit transactions, including reserve-based loans, acquisition financings, revolvers, term loans and bankruptcy exit facilities. He also has experience in secured and unsecured hedging transactions, commodity transactions and hedge divestitures. Before joining Bracewell, Dylan was an associate with a large international law firm and served as a judicial intern to Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd of the Texas Supreme Court · Financial Lending

Edmund Robb

Edmund Robb focuses his practice on commercial disputes arising out of the energy industry. He has experience prosecuting and defending complex commercial litigation, oil and gas disputes, energy agreements, environmental and regulatory matters and securities claims. Edmund works closely with in-house teams to manage and prepare cases at all stages, from initial investigation to final judgment. He has represented clients in state court, federal courts and in arbitration, and has conducted numerous internal investigations on behalf of corporations, boards and board committees. Edmund also has experience handling probate, product liability and construction cases. · Commercial Litigation