Solar-and-wind Solar energy panel photovoltaic cells and wind turbine farm. Credit: Blue Planet Studio/Shutterstock.com

Baker Botts and Locke Lord, firms founded in energy-centric Texas, are expanding their energy teams in New York with Big Law lateral hires, as firms continue to build teams of lawyers working in the energy transition sector.

Baker Botts hired Ellen Friedman, who was co-head of the energy and infrastructure projects team at Nixon Peabody, as a global projects partner in New York. And Dorsey & Whitney partner Jeffrey Escobar joined Locke Lord as a partner in the real estate and finance practice group and renewable energy section.

Both Friedman and Escobar started at their new firms on Monday.

Friedman does project finance for both traditional energy and renewable energy projects, which include carbon capture, renewable fuels, and clean hydrogen. She declined to identify clients.

She said Dino Barajas, Baker Botts' San Francisco-based firmwide project finance practice group chair, is a friend and reached out to her about joining the firm's team.