Danielle M. Varnell > Bracewell LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Bracewell LLP continues to work on both traditional power and large scale renewable projects, with an increased flow of battery storage and carbon capture instructions coming through the firm’s diverse pipeline of mandates. The group has seen an increased engagement with private equity funds, working with the likes of Arroyo Energy Investment Partners and Rockland Capital on natural gas and oil-fired power facilities. Debt and equity capital markets are another key feature of the firm’s practice, demonstrating a wide breadth of capabilities by advising on the underwriters, issuer, and investor side of multi-million and multi-billion dollar transactions. Team lead Ryan Holcomb operates out of Houston and is predominantly focused on traditional power projects, competently overseeing the transactional, regulatory and commercial aspects of complex, high-value deals. The New York-based trio of practice co-heads Catherine Hood, Todd Eckland and J. Anthony Terrell are integral figures to the firm’s capital markets offering, assisting energy and utility players across the full array of securities offerings. Energy M&A specialist Danielle Varnell is well-versed in both greenfield and brownfield developments and has had a concentrated focus on renewables and energy transition assets over the past twelve months, and is often supported by Laura Sheldon, with the duo advising from the firm’s Washington DC office. Associate Shannon Baldwin acts out of Houston and is noted for her engagement with an impressive breadth of practice matters, whereas associate Stephen McNamara is primarily concerned with capital markets work and sits in New York.

Perceived as ‘substantive experts’ in the energy sector, Bracewell LLP‘s sizeable energy group acts in the full range of deals in the renewables space, as well as supporting clients through the development of solar, wind, and power storage projects, among others. Clients include a variety of energy companies but the team also acts on the lender side of deals for banks and financial institutions. Alan Rafte and Ryan Holcomb at the Houston office oversee the department with Washington DC-based Danielle Varnell, who has particular experience in onshore and offshore wind, and solar and battery storage projects. Nicolai Sarad in New York counts MUFG as a client in renewables matters, while in Houston Fernando Rodriguez Marin is noted for cross-border matters involving Latin American jurisdictions. Natural resources lawyer Kevin Ewing is another contact to note in Houston, and younger partners Laura Sheldon and Steven Lorch, in Washington DC and New York respectively, are further key names.