Baker Botts

Baker Botts Partner John Taladay will chair the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section’s Global Seminar Series in Tokyo, gathering senior enforcers and leading practitioners to discuss developments shaping competition law across the region. As competition policy across Asia-Pacific continues to evolve amid shifting trade dynamics and changing market priorities, the seminar will explore emerging trends and their implications for businesses and enforcement authorities. Topics will include Japan’s Smartphone Act, industrial policy and green guidelines, cartel enforcement trends, and insights from industry officials. Learn more and register via the link in the comments.

FERC’s proposed LNG blanket authorization program could shorten the approval path for certain plant modifications and expansions. In a recent client update, Baker Botts lawyers Emil Barth, Michael Yuffee, Cassandra Mastrostefano and Mary Franco examine the proposed three-tier framework, which would allow qualifying LNG activities to proceed automatically or with 60-day or 90-day prior notice. The authors explain eligibility requirements, environmental and safety conditions, notice and reporting obligations, and the process for protesting a prior notice request. Read the full client update at the link in the comments.

Baker Botts has received the 2026 Legal Marketing Association Your Honor Award for Marketing & Technology Campaign for its initiative, “Setting the Legal Blueprint for CRM: Baker Botts’ Innovative DealCloud Transformation.” The recognition reflects the firm’s multiyear investment in modernizing how Baker Botts gathers, connects and applies client intelligence. It also celebrates the vision and collaboration of colleagues across marketing, business development, technology and operations who brought this transformation to life. Congratulations to the team!

Baker Botts is sponsoring the Minerals & NonOp Assembly in Houston, bringing together more than 400 senior executives and investors to discuss sector insights and strategies. Oil and Gas Co-Chair Cody Carper will moderate the “NonOp Leasehold, A&D and Co-Bids” panel, featuring Travis Pace of Fortuna Operating, Keith Lilie of Brigham Exploration, Vignesh Proddaturi, P.E. of Garnet Energy Capital and Thomas Galloway of Riverbend Energy Group. Learn more/register at the link in the comments.

Our newest associate class has officially begun the next chapter of their careers at Baker Botts. The group came together in Washington, D.C., for firmwide orientation, where they connected with colleagues, built relationships across offices and prepared for the transition into practice. The welcome continued in their local offices with activities ranging from LEGO builds and fragrance crafting to a swearing-in ceremony in Judge Rutherford’s chambers. Each gathering offered another opportunity for our new associates to get to know the colleagues and communities that will support them throughout their careers. Baker Botts is excited to welcome this talented class and is grateful to everyone across the firm who made their first weeks memorable!

Southeast Asia’s digital growth increasingly depends on access to secure, reliable energy. In a recent interview with Asian Legal Business, Baker Botts Singapore Partner-in-Charge Richard Guit discussed the region’s “grid paradox”. South East Asian countries are competing for energy-hungry data centres, whilst solving for sovereign energy security. This creates shifting dynamics for much-publicized cross-border power infrastructure, as data centre development booms. Richard explains why stronger agreements between governments to protect investment will be critical to supporting the large-scale cross-border power grids needed to meet energy security (and potentially) rising data centre demand. Read the article at the link in the comments.

Baker Botts represented LGI Homes, Inc. and its subsidiaries in connection with a $1.166 billion revolving credit facility, which also provides for a $175 million incremental facility. The financing supports LGI Homes’ operations across 21 states, where the company designs, builds and sells new homes. The Baker Botts team included Clinton Culpepper, Tim Taylor, Lakshmi Ramanathan, Adrienne Murr and Jalee Blackwell. Read more at the link in the comments.

Baker Botts has earned its strongest Chambers UK results to date, with seven practice rankings and 14 individual lawyer rankings in the 2027 guide. The firm advanced to Band 1 for Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas and secured a new ranking in Projects: Mainly International. Individual lawyer rankings increased by more than 55% year over year, including Band 1 rankings for Mark Castillo-Bernaus and Nabil Khodadad in Projects: Mainly International and Alejandro Escobar in International Arbitration: Arbitrators. These results reflect the strength and continued growth of our London capabilities across complex energy transactions, project development, international arbitration and financing. Read the full announcement at the link in the comments.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Baker Botts was honored to host acclaimed Houston chef and restaurateur Hugo Ortega at our Houston office! Chef Hugo is an executive chef and co-owner of five Houston restaurants. His passion for sharing Mexico’s traditional cuisine and culture earned him Best Chef: Southwest at the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards. Chef Hugo Ortega joined his daughter, Sophia Ortega, and Hispanic/Latinx Affinity Group Co-Chair Richard Ramirez for a fireside chat exploring perseverance, leadership, culture and legacy. Chef Hugo reflected on the experiences that shaped his remarkable personal and professional journey and shared how he is passing the values and traditions behind his success down through his daughter. A special thank you to Chef Hugo and everyone who attended this phenomenal event!

Baker Botts is marking 25 years in Saudi Arabia with the opening of its expanded Riyadh office in Laysen Valley. Since establishing its presence in the Kingdom in 2001, the firm has built on the longstanding relationships of former U.S. Secretary of State and Baker Botts Senior Partner James A. Baker, III, who helped lay the foundations for the firm’s work in the region. That commitment continues today with the opening of the new Riyadh office, which he described as carrying forward “that belief and the vision we had from the beginning that is grounded in partnership, opportunity, and confidence in the future.” Today, our growing Riyadh team reflects that enduring commitment as we continue to invest in our capabilities and strengthen our support for clients across the Kingdom’s evolving economy. “Saudi Arabia is one of the most dynamic markets in the world, and the scale of opportunity here is extraordinary," said Managing Partner Danny David. "We are proud of what we have built, and we are investing with confidence in what comes next." Joza Al Rasheed, Partner in Charge of the Riyadh office, added, “We are incredibly proud to open our new Riyadh office, marking our next chapter which began in 2001, with the establishment of our first Middle East office in Riyadh." Read the full announcement at the link in the comments.