Sidley Austin has beefed up its renewable energy and infrastructure practice, hiring longtime Bracewell partners Jessica Adkins in Houston and Ron Erlichman in New York.

Adkins had been chair of the power projects practice at Bracewell, while Erlichman was a co-chair of the firm's project finance practice. Both joined Sidley as partners on Monday.

Cliff Vrielink, global leader of Sidley's energy and infrastructure practice, said Adkins and Erlichman are "sterling legal talent" who will integrate well with the firm's power and renewable team.

"It's exciting to further invest in those capabilities. We already have a really great client roster in that space," Vrielink said.

Erlichman said he and Adkins, who were at Bracewell for 21 and 18 years respectively, are happy to be a part of the Sidley team, where they see opportunity to grow their renewable energy practice.

"Renewables is not a fad but a trend," he said.

Adkins, who was not immediately available for comment on her lateral move, represents energy industry entities in developing, financing and investing in energy projects. She does project finance and M&A work.

Erlichman works on developing and financing energy and infrastructure projects, and also handles some non-energy infrastructure work related to hospitality, transportation and sports and entertainment venues. He also advises on tax equity investment matters for renewable energy projects. He declined to identify his clients.

When asked to comment on the departures, Bracewell said in a statement: "We thank Ron and Jessica for their contributions to the firm and wish them well."

Ryan Holcomb, a partner in Houston, is the new chair of Bracewell's power practice, and Houston partner Tom Tomlinson continues to chair the project finance, according to a spokesman for the firm.

In March, Sidley hired partners Tara Higgins of New York and Noreen Phelan of Washington, D.C., also in its renewable energy practice. They came from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where Higgins formerly co-lead the global power practice.

The renewable energy bar in Texas has seen a few other moves in recent weeks.

In August, Norton Rose Fulbright hired renewable energy partner Becky Diffen and senior counsel Sam Porter in Austin. Both came from McGuireWoods, where Diffen had been chair of the firm's renewable energy practice. And in July, George Humphrey, who does petrochemical and renewable energy project finance work, moved to Thompson & Knight as a partner in Houston, coming from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

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