Michael Malfettone, a partner Locke Lord in Austin, and Danielle Varnell, a partner at Bracewell in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photos

Texas firms Bracewell and Locke Lord both added a partner in the renewable energy area on Monday, as the firms foresee growing demand in that segment of the energy practice.

Wind and solar transactions and projects partner Danielle Varnell joined Bracewell in Washington, D.C., coming from Jones Day. In Austin, Michael Malfettone moved to Locke Lord from Husch Blackwell, where he had been an associate.

Energy practice leaders at both Texas firms said they see much opportunity in the renewables area, leading to their strategic moves even as the legal industry deals with the economic downturn stemming from the coronavirus crisis.

"When you look at the private equity funds … their renewable portfolios are the best parts of their portfolios in this downturn. They held up well, so our teams are still very busy," said G. Alan Rafte, chairman of Bracewell's business and regulatory practice.

With that going on, Rafte said the firm is focused on building a larger power team, because it expects renewables to take a larger share of the market over time. Since the beginning of the year, Rafte said, the firm has already hired two renewables partners in New York—Danielle Garbien from Sidley Austin and Martha Kammoun from Starwood Energy Group.

Rafte said Varnell's practice is a perfect fit for the firm. She advises U.S. and international clients on M&A, joint ventures, strategic alliances and project development.

Varnell said she jumped on the Bracewell opportunity because of the strength of its energy practice and what the firm can provide her clients. She said her clients include Invenergy and DTE Energy.

"It was an easy sell," Varnell said.

Malfettone joined Locke Lord for reasons similar to Varnell's. He said Locke Lord has had an active renewables practice for 15 or 20 years, and that will allow him to leverage his practice. He declined to identify clients, but said they include project developers, independent power producers, utilities, corporations and investors and financing parties.

Malfettone is working for Locke Lord in Austin, but he expects to move to the firm's New York office later this year, because of the mix of energy and private equity clients there.

"COVID-19 has had a little bit of an impact and we will probably wait for a little more clarity about traveling up to New York, but at the same time … it's a good idea to establish myself here as well," Malfettone said.

Ben Cowan, chairman of Locke Lord's renewable energy section, said in a press release that Malfettone brings valuable experience in project finance and M&A involving wind, solar and storage projects.

"He will be a key contributor to this rapidly growing segment," Cowan wrote.

Husch Blackwell declined to comment on Malfettone's departure. A spokesman for Jones Day did not respond to a request for a comment on Varnell's departure.