Mr Michael Didriksen > Baker Botts L.L.P. > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Praised for its ‘unique’ longstanding presence in the market, Baker Botts L.L.P. fields a team of specialists able to cover the waterfront of energy transactions, both domestically and abroad. The firm combines capital markets expertise with top-end M&A and acquisition financing work, instructed by major utility players, multinational asset managers, and energy developers and producers. Particular mandates of note include the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project, the Texas Temple I and Temple II projects, and the Twin Oaks coal-fired power plant, whilst continued work in the energy transition space has seen an influx of battery storage, wind and solar transactions. Elaine Walsh and Michael Didriksen lead the team from Washington DC and New York respectively, with the former lauded by clients for her extensive understanding of the regulatory landscape – a competency honed from previous in-house industry experience – and the latter for his M&A and development capabilities that spans both conventional and renewable energy assets. Practice group chair of project finance and San Franciscan-based Dino Barajas has been the leading figure on gas-fired and solar energy mandates, operating in both North and Central America, while Houston’s Tim Taylor has been a crucial advisor to clients on their capital markets transactions. San Francisco-based senior counsel Vladimir Fet and Washington DC senior associate Carlos Marquez bring further project financing and debt financing between them, as well as possessing strong M&A capabilities. Eli Hinckley in Washington DC is focused on tax equity financing work. Jonathan Bobinger departed the practice in June 2023.

Capable of assisting with the full range of matters over the life cycle of energy projects, the team at Baker Botts L.L.P. acts for a range of developers and investors on projects in the US and abroad. Elaine Walsh in Washington DC is accomplished in energy company mergers, asset acquisitions, divestitures and investments, and renewable energy project development. She co-leads the department with New York-based Michael Didriksen, who is experienced in major transactions in the field. Project financing expert Dino Barajas is a key figure at the San Francisco office, while Michael Bresson in Houston is the name to note for federal income tax matters in renewable energy transactions. Project finance lawyer Ellen Friedman (New York) is another senior figure to note, and February 2023 partner appointment John Papaspanos is an example of the strength in depth across levels of seniority.