Baker Botts LLP
An international law firm with a famously strong energy practice, Baker Botts LLP performs impressively in this year's edition, excelling in areas such as capital markets, M&A and oil and gas, with almost all lawyers listed displaying substantial expertise in the energy sector.
This broad expertise in energy matters supports a client roster that includes Marathon Oil and Edge Petroleum, which retained the firm this year for its acquisition by Chaparral Energy. The firm's practice extends beyond energy matters, its lawyers feature 55 times in 17 practice areas, including commercial litigation, employee benefits, environment law and real estate.
Baker Botts' rich supply of versatile corporate lawyers is evident in the number of lawyers that appear in more than one chapter. The firm's robustness is most evident in the capital markets chapter, where seven lawyers make the cut. Praised for its "rounded expertise and deep bench strength", the group is renowned for its "well-coordinated, responsive approach." Ted Paris is the leader of the corporate group at the Houston office, and has a substantial securities practice. M&A is also one of the firm's fortes, with a strong focus on energy and technologies; six partners feature here. Baker Botts represented Transocean in its $9 billion acquisition of R&B Falcon Corporation. Andrew Baker, features in the capital markets and M&A chapters, as do David Kirkland, Stephen Massad and Szalkowski, who are also listed for corporate governance. Head of finance Rick Goyne also features twice, praised for his capital markets and banking expertise, where the firm "has a great presence in the state".
Oil and gas expertise is one of the firm's hallmarks. It has been advising clients in this field since the beginning of the 20th century, especially on upstream projects. Lawyers from the firm have chaired or co-chaired committees drafting the Model Form International Unitisation Agreement and the Model Form Farmout Agreement, a position of influence noted among oil and gas community. Who's Who Legal's oil and gas lawyer of the year for 2008, David Asmus, leads the team, the "exalted king" of Texas energy law, according to sources. George Goolsby, who practises in both Texas and Moscow, also elicited an enthusiastic reception. As befits one of the largest departments in the US, Baker Botts is also well represented in the environment chapter. Much of the department's work relates to project development for industrial, infrastructure and energy projects, such as power, refinery and LNG projects. Chair of the firm's environmental department, Pamela Giblin, is considered "tremendous", and especially praised for her work in the air quality area. Another important part of the firm's global projects arm is its real estate practice. Baker Botts' "formidable real estate department" has attracted clients such as Hines as well as office tenant clients such as KPMG Peat Marwick and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Robert Wright received the most votes and is "a star" in the legal community.
Employee benefits law is another trump card in the firm's hand, with a client list that includes American Airlines, Exxon Mobil and Chevron/Texaco. The firm, boosted by the lateral hire of Felicia Finston from Vinson & Elkins LLP in early 2008, has more lawyers in this chapter than any other: four. The "hugely accomplished" Bruce Pingree leads the voting for the firm. Baker Botts also leads in the corporate tax research with another four-person contingent. These practitioners have expertise in the tax aspects of matters such as M&A, restructurings, offerings and financings. Sources highlighted the group's ability to deal with complex issues such as capturing the value of prior tax losses, and its flair for issues related to financial instruments, the energy industry and the oil and gas sector is complimented. Clients include Liberty Media, Hydril and Marathon Oil. Chair of the tax department, Benjamin Wells leads the nominations, and drew praise for his work on cross-border tax issues.
Baker Botts' IP department, chaired by Bart Showalter, increases its representation in this year's edition. The firm's expertise in the high technology area and in the rapidly expanding biotechnology field is widely respected. A trio of partners, led by Showalter, appear in the patents chapter. The group's clients include Alcatel, Toshiba, Cadbury Schweppes and MasterCard International. Paul Morico features in the trademarks chapter.
The firm's litigation department "packs a punch", and its 2008 victory for Cablevision was particularly noteworthy. The "excellent" Irvin Terrell leads the voting at the firm. Also highly rated is its product liability practice, which boasts Merck, AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly among its clients. Steve Scheve is the firm's most highly nominated lawyer in this area.