JD Journal » energy practice

Jones Day Adds Two Partners in London Office

rebneely — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:24 +0000

The international law firm of Jones Day recently announced that Paul Exley and John Ahern have joined the London office as partners.

Exley joins the firm’s Energy Practice, and Ahern joins the Financial Institutions Litigation & Regulation Practice.

Prior to joining Jones Day, Exley practiced at Simmons and Simmons. A corporate lawyer concentrating on cross border mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector, he has significant experience in oil and gas deals; that experience includes advising on several international refinery transactions.

Exley was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Energy is a global business and I am very excited to join a Firm with a truly global energy practice. Jones Day has top quality transactional energy lawyers in the U.S., Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Russia, and Latin America, making it the ideal platform for me. I am very much looking forward to complementing the existing team and being integral to the continued growth and success of the energy practice.”

John Ahern joins the firm from Addleshaw Goodard. He possesses niche experience in the financial services industry in the U.K., the Middle East, and Asia. Prior to joining Jones Day, Ahern worked in-house at Merrill Lynch for eight years, as well, he practiced at Clifford Chance. A leader in financial services regulation in the U.K., Ahern provides counsel on a number of regulatory issues across the sector, focusing on securities sales and trading, clearing and settlement, global custody, and bank prudential regulation.

Ahern was quoted as saying: “I am excited to be joining Jones Day particularly during this period of growth in London. The practice is a real force with banking, regulatory, and litigation lawyers working together to service financial institutions.”

London Partner-in-Charge John Phillips was quoted as saying: “These are significant hires in important practices and are a continuation in our concerted growth strategy in London. There will be more to come as we build further on our resources in the London market.”

Phillips has significant mergers and acquisitions experience which includes public bids, private trade sales, and private equity investments, with a particular emphasis on cross-border transactions. In addition, he has advised on a number of initial public offerings, rights issues, placings, and other equity issues. As Partner-in-Charge of the London office, he the Firm’s U.K. M&A practice.

A global law firm, Jones Day is ranked among the world’s best and most integrated law firms, as well as being ranked consistnetly among the best in client service. The firm serves as principal outside counsel to, or provides significant legal representation for, over half of the Fortune Global 500 companies.

Founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1893, Jones Day is the eighth largest law firm in the world according to revenue, and employs over 2,500 attorneys, including more than 400 lawyers in Europe and 200 lawyers in Asia.

King & Spalding Set to Enter Singapore

joshua — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:03:56 +0000

King & Spalding this week said it has applied for government permission to open an office in Singapore that will serve as a regional hub for its energy and international arbitration practices.

The new office will be managed by Philip R. Weems, who will also continue to serve as head of King & Spalding’s global energy practice. Additionally, the firm has added partners John Savage, formerly the head of Shearman & Sterling’s Asia disputes practice; and Daniel R. Rogers, an international transactions lawyer with extensive experience on major projects in Asia.

Robert D. Hays Jr., King & Spalding’s chairman, explained the move into Singapore in a press release. “Singapore’s establishment as a key international arbitration center for commercial disputes in Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Australia, coupled with a steady increase in energy and infrastructure investment throughout the region, make it a compelling center for the continued expansion of our energy and arbitration practices,” Hays Jr. said.

Singapore will be the eighth office outside the United States opened by King & Spalding, which is consistently ranked among the top energy and arbitration practices in the world.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:25:46 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, July 28th. Here’s a look back at yesterday’s stories.

Steven Fagell, deputy chief of staff for Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer will leave to return to Covington & Burling LLP…

Stanford Dean Larry Kramer’s goal is to move past Yale and Harvard into the top spot on the U.S. News rankings…

Greenberg Traurig added an ex-health department official to its health and FDA business practice…

Sheppard Mullin added three partners to the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group…

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck hired three top Vegas commercial litigation attorneys from Jones Vargas…

Kaye Scholer added three partners from Dewey & LeBoeuf…

Cozen O’Connor announced it added a 15-lawyer team from Sher & Blackwell to its Washington D.C. office…

Steptoe & Johnson will put a significantly expanded energy practice into action…

Chambers USA recognized Cohen & Grigsby attorneys, and practice group…

Steptoe Expands Energy Practice Goes To Pennsylvania

eric — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:37:21 +0000

Beginning September 1, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC will put in to action a significantly expanded energy practice, says PR Web. The expansion results from the acquisition of western Pennsylvanian firm Culbertson, Weiss, Schetroma and Schug. That firm is headed by Russell Schetroma, whose practice focuses on oil and gas transactions, most notably within the Marcellus shale. The shale has gained a lot of attention in recent debates over energy dependence and cleaner fuels. It contains largely untapped natural gas reserves, and its proximity to the high-demand markets along the East Coast of the United States make it an attractive and potentially lucrative target for energy development.

As the result of the acquisition, Steptoe will add an office in Meadville, Pennsylvania, facilitating further service to the firm’s Appalachian clients. The addition of the Schetroma firm will boost the firm’s rapidly growing energy practice to over 190 attorneys and professionals.

Sonnenschein Adds Veteran Exxon Lawyer to Energy Practice

joshua — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:10:01 +0000

Long-time senior lawyer at Exxon Mobil Corp., Carter B. Simpson, has joined Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP as counsel.

Simpson most recently served the world’s largest publicly-traded international oil and gas company as its senior counsel for antitrust and trade regulation. He will reside in Sonnenschein’s Washington, D.C., office as part of its Energy, Antitrust and Competition, and Global Services practices.

The move comes prior to Sonnenschein’s pending merger with Denton Wilde, which is slated to go live Sept. 30.

“The breadth of our global energy practice, particularly in light of the pending combination to create SNR Denton, continues to demand the type of expertise Carter has mastered in years of service representing the world’s largest oil company,” said Clinton A. Vince, chair of Sonnenschein’s Global Energy practice. “The diversity of his practice across key emerging areas, including antitrust, FCPA, and export control and sanctions is a wonderful complement to our energy sector strength.”

At ExxonMobil, Simpson advised the company on U.S., EU and other international antitrust laws applicable to a variety of business settings. This included information exchanges, benchmarking, standard setting and industry trade matters.

“Sonnenschein’s energy capabilities are extremely impressive and I am very excited to be here in advance of the SNR Denton combination in the fall,” said Simpson. “Energy will be a core strength of the new firm.”

Allen & Overy Launch Australian Practice

sara — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:18:34 +0000

London based international law firm Allen & Overy announced that they will launch an Australian practice based in Sydney and Perth. 14 new appointed partners will work in the Sydney office and 3 new appointed partners will work in the Sydney office. The new practice will significantly bolster the firm’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The Australian practice will focus largely in energy, mining and natural resources, finances, infrastructure, investment funds, M&A, private equity, tax, telecoms, media and technology.

Founded in Allen & Overy has over 2,000 attorneys, including 450 partners. The firm has offices in 33 locations worldwide including New York, Paris, Beijing, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Moscow and Tokyo.

Cooley Godward Snags Renewable Energy Team from Alston & Bird

joshua — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:36:21 +0000

Thomas Amis, the chair of Alston & Bird’s renewable energy practice, and Nik Patel, an energy partner, have moved to Cooley Godward, and according to Amis another ten to twelve lawyers will be making the jump in the next two months.

Amis will become the new chair of Cooley’s clean energy and technology practice. Cooley Goodward already has a large practice dealing with energy technology that Amis sees as a vehicle for his team’s strong renewable energy practice.

Specializing in technology, Cooley represent venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in emerging fields. The firm is headquartered in northern California and has offices in technology hubs around the country.

Neil Upton Joins Green Traurig Maher LLP

sara — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:06:52 +0000

Neil Upton will join Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP as the head of its UK Energy Practice. Upton comes to Greenberg Traurig from DLA Piper, where he was partner and Global Head of the Energy group, a practice that he built from scratch. Upton specializes in the power sector, including generation projects (renewable, gas, coal, and nuclear), distribution, transmission and energy retailing. He is rated one of the Top Four Energy Lawyers in the UK and rated as a leading project finance specialist. Upton will join Greenberg Traurig’s Energy and Natural Resources Group.

Greenberg Traurig is an international law firm with 1775 attorneys in more than 30 ofices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Lawyers Come and Go at Morgan Lewis

Erik Even — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:35:21 +0000

This week Morgan Lewis lost energy partner Jim Glasgow to Pillsbury, but gained Baker Botts‘ global Oil & Gas Practice head David Asmus. Michael King joins Asmus as a partner in Morgan Lewis’ Business & Finance Practice in Houston.

Glasgow joins Pillsbury as a partner in the energy practice. He was an energy partner at Morgan Lewis for 14 years. Glasgow was formerly with the Atomic Energy Commission, the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Asmus will lead Morgan Lewis’ Energy Transactions Practice. He focuses his practice on oil and gas development projects and energy-based financing.

King represents oil and gas companies in upstream transactional matters, with a focus on acquisitions and divestitures of oil and gas properties and project development.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international law firm with offices located throughout the US and globally, including key financial centers New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is a law firm that was founded as Morgan & Lewis in Philadelphia in 1873. It has 1,400 lawyers in 22 offices worldwide.

Baker & McKenzie Hires Energy Team from Thompson & Knight

Erik Even — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:30:44 +0000

Chicago’s Baker & McKenzie has hired a seven-lawyer energy law group from the crosstown office of Thompson & Knight.

The team includes partners Michael Byrd, Louis Davis and Ben Welmaker; Glen White as of counsel; and associates David Wildes, Cody Carper and James Sonnier.

They will support Baker’s Houston-based Major Projects/Energy practice.

Byrd represents clients in all phases and sizes of acquisitions and divestitures of producing properties and oil and gas companies. He earned a JD with Honors from the University of Texas School of Law.

Davis handles transactional matters regarding oil and gas exploration and production. He was the Oil and Gas Practice Leader at Thompson & Knight. His JD is from the University of Houston.

Welmaker represents oil and gas companies in international and domestic transactions. He received his LL.B from The University of Texas School of Law.

Baker & McKenzie was founded in Chicago in 1949 by Russell Baker and John McKenzie. One of the first law firms to be truly global, it employs more than 3,900 lawyers in more than 70 offices in 38 different countries.

Wiley Rein Hires Two in DC

Erik Even — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:09:30 +0000

Wiley Rein has added Douglas Walgren and Nova Daly to its Washington, DC office.

Walgren, former Democratic US Representative from Pennsylvania, joins the firm as a consulting counsel. He served on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the House Science & Technology Committee. He will lobby on health care and energy.

Daly, a former deputy assistant Treasury secretary, joins Wiley Rein’s international trade practice as a public policy consultant. He will advise clients on issues related to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

Wiley Rein LLP is a Washington, DC law firm, founded in 1983 under the name Wiley, Johnson and Rein.

Foley & Lardner Hires 3 More Lawyers

Erik Even — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:15:33 +0000

Foley & Lardner, which announced three hires earlier this month, has brought on three more lawyers in New York.

Barry Mandel joins from Merrill Lynch as a partner in securities enforcement & litigation and white-collar defense. He was co-head of global litigation, employment, and regulatory affairs at the global financial services firm.

Howard Margulis and Ellen Wolchek, both from Troutman Sanders, join Foley’s finance practice and energy industry team. Margulis joins as partner, and Wolchek as senior counsel.

Foley & Lardner LLP is an international general practice law firm started in 1842 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It employs 1,000 attorneys, and is the 24th largest firm in the United States.

Quarles & Brady Launches Sustainability Practice

Erik Even — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:02:54 +0000

Quarles & Brady LLP is launching a new practice group specializing in clean energy, climate change and sustainability law.

Over 50 attorneys from the firm’s offices in Wisconsin, Arizona and Illinois will form the new practice.

Quarles & Brady LLP is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to the National Law Journal’s 2007 rankings, it is the 90th largest law firm in the United States, and the second-largest firm in the state of Wisconsin. The firm also ranked 137th in profit per attorney on the 2007 AmLaw 200 survey.

The firm was formed in 1974 by the merger of two older firms, Brady Tyrrell Cotter & Cutler and Quarles Herriott Clemons Teschner & Noelke.

Tip: Layoffs at Houston’s Bracewell & Guiliani

Erik Even — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:20:12 +0000

Bracewell & Guiliani’s headquarters in Houston is laying off a lot of people in corporate and energy, according to a JDJournal tip.

If you have any further information on these firings, please send us a confidential tip. JDJournal relies on your tips to get the latest breaking legal employment news to you ASAP.

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP is an international law firm based in Houston, Texas, founded in 1945. The firm has over 400 lawyers, with offices in New York, Washington, DC, Hartford, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Dubai, London, and Almaty, Kazakhstan. The firm’s areas of specialization include energy, banking & financial institutions, environmental strategies, white collar criminal defense, special investigations and private investment funds.

In 2005, former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani joined the firm as a named partner.