Baker Botts

Baker Botts both increased and improved its rankings in The Legal 500 UK 2027.

Twenty lawyers received individual recognition, including six new entries, and the firm earned rankings in ten leading practice areas. New highlights include a Firm to Watch designation for Debt Capital Markets and an improved ranking in Infrastructure Project Finance.

The recognition highlights the depth of the firm's London team across complex transactions, disputes and major projects. Congratulations to our recognized lawyers and practices for this honor!

Read the full list here: https://bit.ly/4AIe5Yw

Demand for counsel at the intersection of energy, power and technology helped drive a fivefold increase in Baker Botts’ data center-related revenue from 2024 to 2025.

In a new interview with The Lawyer, Managing Partner Danny David discussed how Baker Botts is building on its longstanding energy and power capabilities by prioritizing top talent and multidisciplinary experience to meet rising demand. Over the past year, the firm has added 53 partners globally and doubled its London headcount, making London one of Baker Botts’ fastest-growing offices.

Danny also noted that the firm pairs its focus on energy and technology with collaboration across offices and practices, reflecting the firm’s emphasis on both the work it does and how its lawyers work together.

“Our lawyers are mission-driven, committed to help solving the most intractable problems in energy, technology, life sciences, and elsewhere, on a level that creates true impact,” he said.

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4y7iDpD

We’re excited to welcome Mark Schlackman to Baker Botts as an energy and infrastructure partner in Houston.

Mark strengthens the firm’s global capabilities in energy and infrastructure transactions, bringing corporate and finance experience together with a deep understanding of how energy projects are developed, constructed, operated and maintained. His experience spans conventional and renewable power, as well as midstream and downstream oil and gas assets.

“Mark brings together energy projects and corporate transactions in a way few lawyers can. He adds an important connection between those practices and gives clients one adviser who can help them pursue an investment from several angles,” said Managing Partner Danny David.

Read more on Mark's background here: https://bit.ly/4xITGzD

Access to legal services remains limited in many rural communities, where residents may have few nearby lawyers to help address critical needs.

A recent Law360 Pulse feature on legal deserts highlighted Baker Botts’ annual driver’s license restoration clinic in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Launched in 2024 with the Koch Pro Bono Initiative and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, the clinic helps residents address barriers to mobility, employment, health care and other basic needs.

Co-led by lawyers Teresa Jones and Louie Layrisson, the clinic drew about 300 attendees in its first year, and roughly 150 people either had their licenses reinstated on-site or received step-by-step reinstatement plans.

Baker Botts is committed to pro bono service and collaboration with community partners to expand access to justice where legal resources are scarce.

Read more about the clinic here: https://bit.ly/4iGyRkG

Baker Botts has named Katharine Burke as Intellectual Property Chair in the firm’s Washington office.

Katharine is a nationally recognized intellectual property litigator and serves as co-chair of the firm's IP Litigation Practice. She represents clients in complex patent, trade secret and licensing disputes in federal district courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Drawing on her electrical engineering background and extensive courtroom experience, Katharine will lead a Washington team that advises clients on patent litigation, prosecution, licensing, appeals and proceedings before the ITC and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3TCePh1

Baker Botts is advising the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) on its proposed $1.65 billion strategic investment in Comstock Resources’ Haynesville shale assets and related midstream infrastructure.

The proposed investment would mark SOCAR’s first major oil and gas investment in the United States and establish its participation across Comstock’s upstream and midstream operations in the Haynesville region.

The transaction includes interests in Comstock’s Legacy Haynesville and Western Haynesville assets and Pinnacle Gas Services LLC.

Partners Nabil Khodadad, Cody Carper and Alia Heintz led the cross-border deal team.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4h5QAAE

Baker Botts Partners Dino Barajas, Carlos Solé and Jennifer Haworth McCandless have been recognized by Latinvex in its Latin America’s Top 100 Lawyers 2026 list.

Recognizing just 100 lawyers from international firms active in Latin America, the annual ranking honors attorneys with regional experience and a significant impact on the Latin American legal market.

The firm's Latin America practice advises multinational corporations establishing operations in the region as well as Latin American investors expanding into the United States, providing comprehensive legal counsel on cross-border transactions and business matters.

Congratulations, Dino, Carlos and Jennifer!

Baker Botts has been named a finalist in the Energy, Projects or Infrastructure Team of the Year category of the 2026 Chambers UK Solicitor Awards.

The recognition highlights the continued growth and momentum of Baker Botts' Energy and Global Projects practice and the team's work advising clients on significant, complex matters across the global energy sector.

The Chambers UK Guide is widely recognized as one of the legal industry's most trusted resources, providing independent, rigorous research to identify exceptional expertise.

Congratulations to all for this honor!