Bracewell & Giuliani
Encyclopedia
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP is an international
law firm
based in Houston, Texas
, that began in 1945. The firm has over 470 lawyers, and has United States
offices in New York
, Washington, D.C.
, Hartford, San Antonio, Seattle, Dallas, and Austin
, and overseas offices in Dubai
, and London
. The firm's areas of specialization include energy
, banking and financial institutions, environmental
strategies, white collar
criminal defense and special investigations, and private investment funds. Also unique to the firm is the strategic communications team who has more than two decades of experience in government relations, media relations and policy-making.
in 1946, representing Harris County
, and ultimately becoming the Majority Leader of the Senate. Fentress Bracewell led the development of the firm. Harry W. Patterson joined the firm in 1951, and was made name partner in 1966 as Bracewell & Patterson prospered from the commercial growth of Houston. National expansion began during the 1970s, followed by international expansion later.
On March 31, 2005, former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani joined the firm as a named partner. Upon this he helped them establish a New York office. Subsequently, Bracewell recruited Mark E. Palmer (formerly with the London
firm Linklaters
), top restructuring lawyer Evan Flaschen, former federal prosecutor Marc L. Mukasey (son of Judge, U.S. Attorney General, and Giuliani friend Michael Mukasey), and former Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
for Air and Radiation Jeffrey Holmstead. The firm would have some overlap in clients with the Giuliani Partners
consulting operation, but otherwise be independent. For 2006, Giuliani received a $1 million base salary and a 7½ percent share of the profits realized by the New York office, which share amounted to $200,000. During Giuliani's presidential campaign for 2008
, he remained a participating partner but did not do direct client or operational work. Giuliani subsequently returned to work for the firm, splitting time between it and his consulting company Giuliani Partners
and focusing on overseas efforts.
Many other noteworthy political figures have worked at the firm, including former U.S. Congressmen Jim Chapman
, Edwin Bethune, and Henson Moore
, as well as former Governor of Montana and Republican National Committee
chair Marc Racicot
, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
Tony Garza
, and Texas
Attorney General
Greg Abbott
.
, and in Austin, Texas
. The firm's clients have included major energy and natural resource concerns, from conventional energy sources to renewable energy such as solar power
and wind power
. In 2009, Bracewell's energy practice ranked as the largest in the U.S., according to Law360 , with 117 dedicated energy attorneys. The firm has acted as counsel in high profile energy transactions including Apache Corp.'s 2010 acquisition of BP assets in Texas, New Mexico, Canada and Egypt , and Kinder Morgan
's 2011 IPO, the largest IPO in the energy industry in over a decade .
The firm worked on behalf of geothermal interests (particularly geothermal heating
technology) in the most recent federal energy legislation. According to one source, because of its broad-based energy experience, "Bracewell has earned a reputation as one of the most powerful law firms in the energy sector." Bracewell lobbying tactics have variously been noted for bipartisanship and stressing substantive expertise over mere access.
By the late 1990s Bracewell & Patterson was known as the largest recipient of oil-industry lobbying contracts. In March 2007 it was revealed that a lawyer at Bracewell & Giuliani was acting as a lobbyist on behalf of the Houston-based, Venezuela
n state-owned petroleum company Citgo
before the Texas legislature, with the firm receiving $100,000 to $200,000 in billings after having registered to lobby for Citgo on April 26, 2005, less than a month after Giuliani joined the firm. Citgo had been the focus of boycott efforts due to the Socialist policies of President Hugo Chavez
and allegations by the U.S. government that Venezuela had "not cooperated" in the War on Terror
. Giuliani's presidential campaign said he did no lobbying for Citgo. As of May 2007, the firm no longer lobbied on behalf of Citgo.
In 2007, the firm represented a Spanish
firm, Cintra Concesiones de Infrastructures de Transporte, S.A.
, a subsidiary of the Grupo Ferrovial, in its negotiations to operate a toll road as part of the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor
. The Bracewell & Giuliani website states, "The award to Cintra, approved by the Texas Transportation Commission, is the first privatization of a Texas toll road."
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
based in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, that began in 1945. The firm has over 470 lawyers, and has United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
offices in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Hartford, San Antonio, Seattle, Dallas, and Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, and overseas offices in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The firm's areas of specialization include energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
, banking and financial institutions, environmental
Environmental policy
Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
strategies, white collar
White-collar crime
Within the field of criminology, white-collar crime has been defined by Edwin Sutherland as "a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation" . Sutherland was a proponent of Symbolic Interactionism, and believed that criminal behavior was...
criminal defense and special investigations, and private investment funds. Also unique to the firm is the strategic communications team who has more than two decades of experience in government relations, media relations and policy-making.
History
The firm was founded on November 1, 1945, when J. S. Bracewell and his two sons, Searcy and Fentress, joined with Judge Bert H. Tunks to practice together in Houston under the name of Bracewell & Tunks. Searcy Bracewell was then elected to the Texas SenateTexas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
in 1946, representing Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
, and ultimately becoming the Majority Leader of the Senate. Fentress Bracewell led the development of the firm. Harry W. Patterson joined the firm in 1951, and was made name partner in 1966 as Bracewell & Patterson prospered from the commercial growth of Houston. National expansion began during the 1970s, followed by international expansion later.
On March 31, 2005, former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani joined the firm as a named partner. Upon this he helped them establish a New York office. Subsequently, Bracewell recruited Mark E. Palmer (formerly with the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
firm Linklaters
Linklaters
Linklaters LLP is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the 'Magic Circle' of leading UK law firms. Linklaters is the world's fourth largest global law firm by revenue. In 2009/10 it received total revenues of £1.18 billion and profits per equity partner of £1.2...
), top restructuring lawyer Evan Flaschen, former federal prosecutor Marc L. Mukasey (son of Judge, U.S. Attorney General, and Giuliani friend Michael Mukasey), and former Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
for Air and Radiation Jeffrey Holmstead. The firm would have some overlap in clients with the Giuliani Partners
Giuliani Partners
Giuliani Partners LLC is a management consulting and security consulting business founded by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in January 2002.-Structure:...
consulting operation, but otherwise be independent. For 2006, Giuliani received a $1 million base salary and a 7½ percent share of the profits realized by the New York office, which share amounted to $200,000. During Giuliani's presidential campaign for 2008
Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign, 2008
Rudy Giuliani’s 2008 presidential campaign began following the formation of the Draft Giuliani movement in October 2005. The next year, Giuliani opened an exploratory committee and formally announced in February 2007 that he was actively seeking the presidential nomination of the Republican...
, he remained a participating partner but did not do direct client or operational work. Giuliani subsequently returned to work for the firm, splitting time between it and his consulting company Giuliani Partners
Giuliani Partners
Giuliani Partners LLC is a management consulting and security consulting business founded by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in January 2002.-Structure:...
and focusing on overseas efforts.
Many other noteworthy political figures have worked at the firm, including former U.S. Congressmen Jim Chapman
Jim Chapman
James Louis "Jim" Chapman is an American business and political leader. From 1985 to 1997, he served as Democratic Congressman representing the Texas's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives...
, Edwin Bethune, and Henson Moore
Henson Moore
William Henson Moore III , is a retired attorney and businessman who is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, having represented the Baton Rouge-based Sixth Congressional District, from 1975-1987. He is only the second Republican to have represented Louisiana in the House since...
, as well as former Governor of Montana and Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
chair Marc Racicot
Marc Racicot
Marc F. Racicot is a U.S. politician and lobbyist and member of the Republican Party. He was the governor of Montana from 1993 until 2001. After leaving office, Racicot worked as a lobbyist for the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani. His notable clients included Enron, Burlington Northern Santa Fe,...
, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Tony Garza
Tony Garza
Antonio Oscar "Tony" Garza, Jr. , an American lawyer and former county judge in Texas, was the United States Ambassador to Mexico from 2002 to 2009.-Early life and education:...
, and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott is the Texas Attorney General, and is the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve in that role. Abbott was sworn in on December 2, 2002, following John Cornyn's election to the U.S. Senate...
.
Client base
Bracewell & Giuliani has for decades represented clients on government relations matters in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. The firm's clients have included major energy and natural resource concerns, from conventional energy sources to renewable energy such as solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
and wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
. In 2009, Bracewell's energy practice ranked as the largest in the U.S., according to Law360 , with 117 dedicated energy attorneys. The firm has acted as counsel in high profile energy transactions including Apache Corp.'s 2010 acquisition of BP assets in Texas, New Mexico, Canada and Egypt , and Kinder Morgan
Kinder Morgan
Kinder Morgan, Inc. is an American energy company. It is also, through a subsidiary, the general partner of and owner of many of the interests in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, a publicly traded pipeline and terminal limited partnership....
's 2011 IPO, the largest IPO in the energy industry in over a decade .
The firm worked on behalf of geothermal interests (particularly geothermal heating
Geothermal heating
Geothermal heating is the direct use of geothermal energy for heating applications. Humans have taken advantage of geothermal heat this way since the Paleolithic era. Approximately seventy countries made direct use of a total of 270 PJ of geothermal heating in 2004...
technology) in the most recent federal energy legislation. According to one source, because of its broad-based energy experience, "Bracewell has earned a reputation as one of the most powerful law firms in the energy sector." Bracewell lobbying tactics have variously been noted for bipartisanship and stressing substantive expertise over mere access.
By the late 1990s Bracewell & Patterson was known as the largest recipient of oil-industry lobbying contracts. In March 2007 it was revealed that a lawyer at Bracewell & Giuliani was acting as a lobbyist on behalf of the Houston-based, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n state-owned petroleum company Citgo
Citgo
CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de...
before the Texas legislature, with the firm receiving $100,000 to $200,000 in billings after having registered to lobby for Citgo on April 26, 2005, less than a month after Giuliani joined the firm. Citgo had been the focus of boycott efforts due to the Socialist policies of President Hugo Chavez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
and allegations by the U.S. government that Venezuela had "not cooperated" in the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. Giuliani's presidential campaign said he did no lobbying for Citgo. As of May 2007, the firm no longer lobbied on behalf of Citgo.
In 2007, the firm represented a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
firm, Cintra Concesiones de Infrastructures de Transporte, S.A.
Cintra
Cintra, S.A. is one of the largest private developers of transport infrastructure in the world. Its assets are fundamentally toll roads and car parks, in which it has a total investment of €16billion...
, a subsidiary of the Grupo Ferrovial, in its negotiations to operate a toll road as part of the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor
Trans-Texas Corridor
The Trans-Texas Corridor was a transportation network that was discontinued in the planning and early construction stages in the U.S. State of Texas. The network, as originally envisioned, would have been composed of a network of supercorridors up to wide to carry parallel links of tollways,...
. The Bracewell & Giuliani website states, "The award to Cintra, approved by the Texas Transportation Commission, is the first privatization of a Texas toll road."