National Chambers and Partners USA

Climate Change (Band 3)

The Firm: Climate change work is a natural extension of this firm’s considerable expertise in air matters. The recent arrival of Jeff Holmstead, formerly of the EPA, has substantially boosted the team’s knowledge of the area and rapidly elevated the profile of the practice. The firm’s historical prowess in legislative and lobbying matters ensures that advising clients on emerging policy proposals comes easily to the team, and it is presently counseling numerous clients on the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts v EPA. Its long-standing presence in the energy sector in Texas sees it advise utilities, refiners and several oil companies on climate change litigation and corporate disclosure matters. Dynegy recently retained the group to respond to the New York Attorney General’s subpoena concerning public disclosure of climate change risk. Clients applaud its deep expertise in policy matters, describing it as “an efficient and well-connected team that thinks outside of the box on legislative issues.” Jeff Holmstead and Scott Segal are two of the main contacts for the department.

District of Columbia Chambers and Partners USA

Environment (Band 3)

The Firm: The team’s skills in enforcement defense, litigation and regulatory counseling dovetail perfectly with the firm’s expertise in lobbying and advocacy, and the group recently advised Dynegy on responding to the New York Attorney General’s subpoena regarding the public disclosure of climate change risks. Clients highlight the team’s ability to obtain “amazing results in permitting matters, and its proficiency in this area ensures it is regularly instructed by household names - including ConocoPhillips, Site Global Power and Mirant - on such matters. Market observers admire the team’s bench strength, noting: “The firm has loaded up with really clever agency people and folks that are recognized as leaders by trade groups.”

The Lawyers: Since the arrival of Jeff Holmstead [Band 3] from the EPA, Bracewell & Giuliani’s environmental practice has gone from strength to strength. His abundant expertise in air matters has got the team’s climate change practice off to a flying start, evidenced by its advice to Southern Company on the EPA’s regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. Clients agree Holmstead is invaluable in highly publicized cases, where he is “brilliant at dealing with press and demonstrators and maintaining a polished and even tone in the face of chaos.” One of the more recent additions to the team, Lisa Jaeger [Band 5] is able to utilize her experience as a former EPA general counsel to advise industrial clients on clean air, climate change and energy efficiency matters; she represents such clients in rulemaking challenges and before Congress. Scott Segal [Band 4] is highly respected for his representation of energy companies and his advocacy skills. He heads the firm’s federal government relations and advocacy practice, and assists clients wishing to participate in legislative and regulatory processes.

Texas Chambers and Partners USA

Environment (Band 2)

The Firm: This relatively small team in Texas works closely with the firm's Washington, DC office and focuses on major national matters in the energy and chemical industries. Several of the lawyers have previous agency experience and clients praise the team's results-oriented and creative approach; furthermore, they add that "the attorneys are cost-conscious and do not bill by the syllable." The group recently represented Air Liquide in a $3.5 billion merger of chemical companies, successfully arguing that transactional environmental due diligence findings at more than 100 facilities were eligible for disclosure and penalty relief pursuant to EPA's Audit Policy.

The Lawyers: Timothy Wilkins [Band 3] heads the firm's environmental and natural resources practice group, and is managing partner of the Austin office. His broad practice encompasses compliance, permitting and experience of all forms of enforcement actions, and he earns praise for his "great business acumen and amazing negotiation skills." Tracy Hester [Band 2] has a similarly broad practice. Head of the environmental practice at the firm's Houston office, he is lauded as "a bright, creative and solution-oriented attorney."

For more information about Chambers and Partners, visit their website at www.chambersandpartners.com.

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Bracewell's banking and finance, corporate/mergers & acquisitions, energy, environmental, restructuring and insolvency, intellectual property and tax practices were recognized for its excellence, 2006-2008.

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