HOUSTON – Bracewell LLP was honored as the Most Innovative Law Firm in North America for Infrastructure at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards North America 2025 for its creativity and market leadership on two groundbreaking energy transition and affordable housing deals. The honor comes on the heels of the firm winning the same award at the FT Innovative Lawyer Awards Europe 2025.
Bracewell was the standout winner for infrastructure at the North America Awards for its role advising Tallgrass Energy on the conversion of its 400-mile Trailblazer natural gas pipeline to a CO2 transportation pipeline. The project strategically reuses existing infrastructure to reduce environmental impact and avoid new construction. Bracewell’s cross-practice approach included developing the first pollution liability insurance policy for carbon sequestration, navigating complex tax and CO2 offtake structures and obtaining FERC approval through a unique “pipe within a pipe” design that maintains natural gas delivery while enabling CO2 transport. The Trailblazer project represents a major step forward in commercial-scale carbon sequestration and establishes a precedent for sustainable carbon management infrastructure.
In addition, Bracewell was highly commended for its work with the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation (HCHFC) in transforming its approach to affordable housing. Bracewell’s public finance, real estate and tax teams worked with HCHFC, county officials and developers to design a groundbreaking and replicable legal structure that allows the agency to invest federal relief funds into projects that generate thousands of housing units for the region and ensure long-term affordability.
The FT Innovative Lawyer Awards celebrate law firms that have advanced innovation, digital strategy, talent initiatives and positive change across the profession. Bracewell overall ranked 22nd in this year’s North America Index.
