Legal 500 Once Again Ranks Porter Hedges Among the Leading Firms in the Country

Legal 500 has once again recognized Porter Hedges nationally as among the leading firms in its 2016 U.S. law firm rankings. The ranking recognized the firm’s energy transactions practice in oil and gas as well as conventional power, and the firm’s construction practice along with eight attorneys in those areas including:

Energy Transactions: Oil and Gas – Bob Thomas, Randy King, Ray Lees 
“Headed by Robert Thomas and Randy King, the team at Porter Hedges LLP handled several high-profile matters, including advising American Energy - Utica on its $407m sale of leasehold interests, wells and gathering assets to Gulfport Energy Corporation. Other clients include Enbridge Energy Partners and Noble Energy. Ray Lees, who advised on the American Energy - Utica transaction, is also recommended.”

Energy Transactions: Conventional Power – Bob Thomas, Randy King, Ray Lees
“Highlights for Porter Hedges LLP’s department, which is split between the firm’s Houston and Oklahoma offices, included acting for American Energy - Utica on its $407m sale of leasehold interests and gathering assets to Gulfport Energy Corporation. Oklahoma-based Ray Lees led on that deal and assisted American Energy Partners with its acquisition of Double Eagle Energy Holdings for $251m. Other clients include Chesapeake Energy Corporation and Noble Energy. Other key figures include practice heads Robert Thomas and Randy King, and McCaleb Marshall, who was promoted to partner in 2015.”

Real Estate and Construction: Construction – David Peden, Allison Snyder, John Hawkins, Nicholas Simms 
“The seven-partner practice at Porter Hedges LLP is led from Houston by David Peden. It specializes in dispute resolution, representing contractors, developers and owners on delay and defect claims arising from public infrastructure and energy projects. The group has been representing Allco Construction in a dispute over sovereign immunity and insurance coverage issues arising from the construction of a fish hatchery in Texas. Allison Snyder is serving as local counsel to Dresser-Rand in a $5m claim filed by a freight forwarding supplier; she has also been acting for Durotech in numerous disputes, including alleged defective design claims surrounding the construction of a mosque in Houston. Other highlights included defending Hellmuth Obata and Kassabaum against alleged defect claims in multi-party litigation related to the development of various university facilities. Nicholas Simms and John Hawkins are recommended.

The Legal 500 is a series of guides to elite law firms worldwide with only 305 law firms recommended. The Legal 500 series has been one of the largest legal referral guides for more than 20 years for commercial and private companies, corporate counsel, CEOs, and professional advisers. The publication interviews in-house counsel and lawyers globally to compile its annual guides.