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North America - United States • Energy

Baker Botts L.L.P.

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Praised for its ‘unique’ longstanding presence in the market, Baker Botts L.L.P. fields a team of specialists able to cover the waterfront of energy transactions, both domestically and abroad. The firm combines capital markets expertise with top-end M&A and acquisition financing work, instructed by major utility players, multinational asset managers, and energy developers and producers. Particular mandates of note include the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project, the Texas Temple I and Temple II projects, and the Twin Oaks coal-fired power plant, whilst continued work in the energy transition space has seen an influx of battery storage, wind and solar transactions. Elaine Walsh and Michael Didriksen lead the team from Washington DC and New York respectively, with the former lauded by clients for her extensive understanding of the regulatory landscape – a competency honed from previous in-house industry experience – and the latter for his M&A and development capabilities that spans both conventional and renewable energy assets. Practice group chair of project finance and San Franciscan-based Dino Barajas has been the leading figure on gas-fired and solar energy mandates, operating in both North and Central America, while Houston’s Tim Taylor has been a crucial advisor to clients on their capital markets transactions. San Francisco-based senior counsel Vladimir Fet and Washington DC senior associate Carlos Marquez bring further project financing and debt financing between them, as well as possessing strong M&A capabilities. Eli Hinckley in Washington DC is focused on tax equity financing work. Jonathan Bobinger departed the practice in June 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The firm's long tenure in the US energy industry is unique.'
  • 'Elaine Walsh has a long tenure in the industry, having started her career in-house at an independent power producer. She has worked on the gamut of issues facing the industry over the last several decades. Her broad knowledge of the industry combined with her experience in transactional and regulatory issues makes her not only a trusted legal advisor, but a trusted resource on broader business issues.'
  • 'This team has very good breadth across the electric power space. Particularly, they are strong in retail power and other customer facing businesses. The regs and law around these customer businesses are tough and Elain Walsh and her team are excellent in this regard. Very efficient and commercial.'

Key clients

  • AES Corporation
  • Avenue Capital
  • BKV Corporation
  • CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
  • Cleco Power LLC
  • GSF Americas Inc. / Gore Street Energy Storage Fund
  • Panamint Capital LLC
  • Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company, Inc.
  • Sunnova Energy Corporation
  • Transmission Developers, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Representing Transmission Developers, a portfolio company of Blackstone, the largest alternative investment firm in the world. Transmission Developers is developing a US$5 billion-plus, cross-border, 1,250MW underground/underwater high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line from the US-Canada border into New York City, named the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project.
  • Represented GSF Americas Inc. on its acquisition of a 75 MW / 150 MWh energy storage project located in Pecos County, Texas from a subsidiary of Momentum Energy Storage Partners.
  • Represented CenterPoint Energy, Inc. in the successful completion of the previously announced $2.15 billion sale of its natural gas distribution utilities in Arkansas and Oklahoma to Summit Utilities, Inc.

Lawyers

Hall of fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Leading associates

Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Elaine Walsh, Michael Didriksen

Other key lawyers

Dino Barajas, Tim Taylor, Vladimir Fet, Carols Marquez, Eli Hinkley