Bracewell Ranks Among Most Innovative Law Firms for Legal Expertise in 2018 FT Innovative Lawyers North America Report

NEW YORK – Bracewell LLP had a strong showing in the Financial Times’ 2018 FT Innovative Lawyers North America report, earning several category recognitions and placing #7 for Most Innovative Law Firms for Legal Expertise.  

The Financial Times and its research partner RSG Consulting annually ranks legal service providers and in-house teams on innovation. For the first time this year, the report split the overall rankings table into two categories: Legal Expertise, which recognizes outstanding client work; and Business of Law, which recognizes innovations in the way law firms and in-houses teams run their organizations.

In the area of Legal Expertise, Bracewell achieved three category rankings.

Bracewell was deemed a Standout for Creating a New Legal Standard for the firm’s representation of Ergon Peru in the financing of three concession-type “investment agreements” for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels in certain off-grid locations. With the lenders, the team negotiated a creative self-certification structure to fund the installation of solar panels and storage facilities that are bringing electricity to rural communities that are not connected to the electric grid in Peru.

In the same category, Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group was Commended for its partnership with the National Brain Tumor Society in securing the passage of the STAR Act, which expanded federal funding and research into childhood cancer. The PRG team provided government relations assistance, mobilized advocates and assisted with communications strategies.

Bracewell’s financial restructuring and environmental teams were Highly Commended for their role advising Venoco in its restructuring. The firm executed a favorable strategy to abandon certain assets and avoid costly decommissioning costs. This ran in parallel with an orderly process to transfer Venoco’s offshore platforms to the California State Lands Commission and legacy operators.

The Financial Times received over 500 submissions from 94 law firms and legal service providers and 105 in-house teams. A total of 73 law firms and 40 companies were included in this year’s report.