Bracewell

Bracewell LLP is a global firm, with approximately 350 lawyers covering a range of practices across the firm’s 10 offices. The firm’s roots in the Lone Star state are still strong as is demonstrated by its four Texas locations and impact on the energy sector.

Hailing from Houston

Bracewell started as a glimmer in the eyes of four Houston attorneys (three of whom bore the surname Bracewell) in 1945. J.S. Bracewell, his sons Searcy and Fentress, and Bert H. Tunks established a practice that was quickly associated with Texas movers and shakers. Searcy Bracewell was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1947 and Senate in 1949. Harry Patterson joined in 1951 and ascended to name partner in 1966. Originally a litigation shop, the firm established a corporate practice in 1971 to serve the many commercial clients drawn to the state’s booming economy.

Branching Out

Over time, the firm continued to add niche practices in response to Houston’s growth as a regional business hub. Commensurately, Houston’s sprawling growth benefited Bracewell, mostly by driving the creation of its preeminent Energy practice. Bracewell represents companies such as Kinder Morgan, Inc.; Apache Corporation; Phillips 66; and Cheniere.

Moreover, Bracewell grew strategically since the mid-1970s by opening offices in Washington, DC, and Austin to advise clients on state and federal regulatory matters. The firm’s London office provides a vital platform from which attorneys serve energy clients in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The Dubai office is a base for U.S. and foreign clients involved in public-private partnerships; infrastructure; engineering, procurement, and construction; and power and renewables deals, as well as general corporate matters. Further expansion efforts remained both close to home—with the opening of offices in Dallas and San Antonio—and in farther U.S. locales, namely, New York and Seattle.

• Bracewell serves as chief outside counsel to Equinor regarding its offshore wind business in the US, including its flagship Empire Wind and Beacon Wind projects. Bracewell advises Equinor on permitting, environmental impact analysis, energy regulatory, IP, real estate, tax and strategic communications matters.
• For several years, Bracewell has represented sex trafficking victims against major technology companies in lawsuits alleging that the companies knowingly benefited from online sex trafficking. Bracewell recently won an important appellate victory for plaintiffs against Salesforce. The ruling was one of the most significant decisions interpreting the federal statute that prevents companies from knowingly benefiting from sex trafficking.
• Bracewell represented Crédit Agricole on the successful refinancing of approximately $2.6 billion of letter of credit and term loan facilities in favor of McDermott International. The refinancing was implemented through a cross-border restructuring process, pursuant to a transaction support agreement to amend and extend the credit facilities under procedures in the Netherlands and a restructuring plan in the UK.
• Bracewell’s presence in major litigation in Houston and Texas is reflected in its leadership role in the consolidated, multidistrict litigation arising from Winter Storm Uri. The Uri MDL consolidates hundreds of cases relating to injuries, deaths and property damage.

• Tipping the Scale Award, 2020, 2022-2023 — Diversity & Flexibility Alliance
• Energy Legal Services Provider of the Year, 2023 — Gulf Energy Information Excellence Awards
• Top Three Summer Associate Program, 2024 — Vault’s Summer Associate Guide
• Best Firm in the US South, 2023 — Delinian Women in Business Law Awards Americas
• 112 Practice and Individual Rankings, 2023 — Chambers USA