Energy and Infrastructure Lawyer Joins Houston Firm's NYC Office

Bracewell LLP in Houston has announced that Martha Kammoun has joined the firm's New York office as a partner in the power practice, adding depth to the firm's energy and infrastructure platforms. Kammoun comes to Bracewell from Starwood Energy Group, a private equity investment firm that specializes in energy infrastructure investments, where she was co-general counsel. Kammoun advises domestic and international private equity funds, sponsors and financial institutions on acquisitions and finance transactions, with a particular focus on energy and infrastructure investments. Her background includes more than four years in-house and 13 years in private practice at O'Melveny & Myers and Dewey & LeBoeuf in New York, and Abousleiman & Partners Law Offices in Beirut, Lebanon. She joined Starwood Energy Group in 2015 as deputy general counsel and was promoted to co-general counsel in 2018. At Starwood, she advised on all legal aspects of the fund's business, including acquisitions, financing, development and asset management, and fund structuring and governance. Kammoun earned her LL.M. from Harvard Law School and her LL.B. from Saint-Joseph University. "Bracewell's deep relationships in the energy and infrastructure sectors make it an ideal place to return to private practice. I look forward to working with my new colleagues in helping our clients meet their legal and business needs," said Kammoun, in a statement by the firm.

Two Trial Lawyers Launch New Dallas-Based Trial Firm

Veteran Dallas trial lawyers Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons have formed Lyons & Simmons, a trial firm focused on handling personal injury and wrongful death matters as well as complex business disputes in Texas and throughout the United States. Both Lyons and Simmons have a proven record of obtaining outstanding results for their clients in high-stakes, high-exposure cases across the country. They have tried complex cases before judges, juries and arbitrators involving life-altering personal injuries, wrongful death and "bet-the-company" business disputes. Lyons and Simmons were previously partners in the Dallas-based trial firm Deans & Lyons. Also joining Lyons & Simmons are attorneys Chris Carr and Stephen Higdon.

"We have been involved in some of the most consequential and technically challenging cases in Texas and around the country, and I know we have made a difference for our clients," said Lyons, in a statement by the firm. "That record of success will continue with Lyons & Simmons going forward."

"Mike and I share a common viewpoint that it's our job to level the playing field for every client," said Simmons, in a statement. "Unfortunately, our clients are often facing the most challenging situation they will ever encounter when we are brought in. What comes with that is a tremendous responsibility to do everything we can to get the best possible outcome."

Debt Finance Partner Joins Firm's Houston Office

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld announced that Chad Nichols has joined the firm as a partner in its corporate practice in Houston. He is a debt finance and special situations lawyer with a particular focus on energy transactions. He comes to the firm from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was a partner. Nichols has experience in cutting-edge, bespoke financing transactions. This includes significant experience in private equity financings (including portfolio company financings), as well as special situations, distressed and restructuring financings. Nichols has represented some of the country's leading private equity, hedge and direct lending funds, including playing a leading role in some of the most significant energy financings in recent years. "Akin Gump is a fantastic platform for my practice. The firm is known for its focus on representing private and public companies in the energy sector, private equity and distressed/hedge funds and private credit funds," said Nichols, in a statement issued by the firm. "With its strengths in debt finance, restructuring and special situations work, coupled with its position in the energy space, Akin Gump is the ideal home for me."

Firm Partner Appointed to Institute for Energy Law Exec Committee

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings announced that James A. Collura, a partner in the firm's Houston office, has been appointed to the executive committee of the Institute for Energy Law of the Center for American and International Law. He will serve a one-year term as chair of the Oilfield Services Committee. The Institute for Energy Law is one of the world's oldest continuing legal education providers and an international organization with membership that includes leading energy companies and attorneys. It presents several educational conferences and seminars each year, publishes papers and periodicals, and provides an important forum where contemporary issues affecting the energy industries can be discussed. A member of Bradley Arant's construction and energy practice groups, Collura has a nationwide energy and construction complex litigation practice. He also currently serves as the Houston representative on Bradley's managing board.

Dallas Office Gets New Managing Partner

Fox Rothschild announced that Christopher I. Clark has assumed the role of managing partner in the firm's Dallas office. Clark represents real estate owners, tenants and developers in connection with: development, acquisition, leasing and sale of raw land, retail shopping centers, office buildings, multifamily apartments, medical office buildings, senior living and memory care facilities and other real property; reciprocal and easement agreements; and entity formation and partnership matters. Prior to joining Fox Rothschild, Clark served as the head of the commercial real estate transactions practice at David & Goodman. He earned his J.D. (1996) from SMU Dedman School of Law, and his B.A. (1993) from Franklin & Marshall College. He is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Asian-American Bar Association.

Firm Promotes Four Texas Lawyers to Partner

Hunton Andrews Kurth began its new fiscal year with the promotion of the following four lawyers to partner in Texas. The firm recognized these individuals for their accomplishments and outstanding client service.

Emily E. Cabrera (tax and ERISA, The Woodlands) focuses her practice on executive compensation and employee benefit arrangements (including their related tax, accounting, securities and corporate governance aspects). Cabrera earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her law degree from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law.

Ashley D. Drummond (capital finance and real estate, Dallas) focuses on commercial real estate transactions nationwide, including acquisitions, dispositions and financings (multifamily, office, retail, industrial and golf course properties), real estate aspects of mergers and acquisitions, construction projects and leasing (both landlord and tenant), for a broad spectrum of clients in the real estate industry. She received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and her law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

M. Kaylan Dunn (litigation, Houston) practices commercial litigation with an emphasis on oil and gas, banking, real estate disputes and fiduciary litigation with an emphasis on trust and estate disputes. She earned her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University and her law degree from South Texas College of Law.

Joseph Rovira (capital finance and real estate, Houston) represents secured lenders, debtors, hedge funds, private equity funds, unsecured creditors and various official and ad hoc committees in both out-of-court financial restructurings as well as Chapter 7, 11 and 15 bankruptcy proceedings. Rovira earned his undergraduate degree from Trinity University and his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.