The Legal 500

Baker Botts L.L.P. is an international law firm with over 725 lawyers and a network of 13 offices around the globe. Based on its experience and knowledge of its clients’ industries, Baker Botts is recognized as a leading firm in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Throughout its 170-year history, the firm has provided creative and effective legal solutions for clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit www.bakerbotts.com.

The firm

Baker Botts is recognized for its energy, intellectual property, corporate, litigation, tax and environmental practices. Founded in Houston, Baker Botts advises clients in over 100 countries around the world. The firm is renowned for its ethical standards, legal abilities, industry expertise, client service and dedication to the communities in which its people work.

Types of work undertaken

Baker Botts counsels the world’s leading companies in every area of the law, including international and domestic corporate and financial matters, corporate governance, international arbitration, technology, intellectual property, business litigation, appellate matters, white-collar criminal defense, government contracts, federal and state legislative matters, energy and oil and gas matters, real estate, administrative and regulatory matters involving energy, environmental and international trade.

Austin: The office opened in the late 1970s and now has approximately 60 lawyers serving the legal needs of both Austin-based businesses and Fortune 500 companies with their corporate, environmental, intellectual property and litigation needs. Originally established to address client needs during the Texas legislative session, the office has evolved to serve clients nationally and internationally.

Dallas: The office opened in 1985 and has grown to more than 160 lawyers. The office provides a full range of legal service to public entities, Fortune 500 companies, and many other clients with interests throughout the world.

Houston: The firm’s main office has been an integral part of Houston’s business community since 1840. From its earliest days, the firm participated in the evolution of the oil and gas industry and has represented nearly every major domestic oil company in the US, as well as numerous international oil companies. Today, with approximately 230 lawyers, the office encompasses a dynamic group of lawyers who continue to handle landmark cases and deals for clients in a multitude of industries.

New York: The office opened in 1992 to help better serve clients with interests in the financial services, technology, media, and energy industries. With approximately 70 lawyers, this office provides clients with superior legal services in the areas of corporate law, intellectual property law, business and securities litigation, global projects, and tax law.

Washington, DC: This office opened in 1973. From the beginning, the office has held a global presence in the energy industry. With approximately 100 lawyers, the office offers a full range of corporate, energy, environmental, intellectual property, litigation, and regulatory compliance services for domestic as well as international clients.

Palo Alto: The firm’s newest office in Palo Alto, California, has provided greater support for clients on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. The office handles complex patent litigation in the California federal courts and intellectual property matters nationwide.

International work

United Arab Emirates: In 2009, the firm expanded its presence in the region by opening an office in Abu Dhabi to complement its existing offices in Dubai and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Baker Botts’ Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices provide service to clients in a number of sectors in the energy industry, including oil and gas exploration and development, oil field services, electric power, LNG, petrochemicals, pipelines, and gas-to-liquids. The firm’s energy-related project development and finance work is enhanced by their experience with the complex issues faced in financing these projects under local law, which is largely founded on the Shari’a or Islamic law. In addition to work across the broad spectrum of the energy sector, the Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices serve clients with their corporate, banking, finance, capital markets, telecommunications, government contracts and dispute resolution matters.

Saudi Arabia: The firm’s Riyadh office operates in association with the law office of Mohanned bin Saud Al-Rasheed. It is acknowledged as one of the leading practices in the region and advises clients in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East on a broad range of commercial, banking, project finance, telecoms, oil and gas matters, as well as litigation and arbitration.

Europe: The London office plays a pivotal role in the firm’s international activity, serving clients in the UK, continental Europe and beyond. It handles market-leading energy, finance, corporate/M&A, TMT, chemicals and dispute resolution matters and has both UK and US law capabilities.

Russia: The Moscow office, with its dynamic and versatile team of business lawyers, has played a vital role in providing clients in Russia and the CIS with strong domestic and seamless international service. The office advises on energy, mining, corporate/M&A, environmental, intellectual property, dispute resolution, real estate, finance and investment funds.

Asia: Baker Botts has represented many of the world’s leading energy companies on major projects in Asia for more than three decades. Lawyers in the firm’s Hong Kong and Beijing offices guide clients through Asia’s rapid economic development and increased demand for energy, resources and finance. In addition, the offices’ capabilities have grown to include intellectual property and dispute resolution experience.

Managing Partner: Walter J Smith

Other Offices:
Abu Dhabi
Beijing
Dubai
Hong Kong
London
Moscow
Riyadh

Number of Partners: 268
Number of Other Fee-earners: 429
Total Fee-earning Staff: 697