Dino Barajas > Baker Botts L.L.P. > San Francisco, United States > Lawyer Profile

Baker Botts L.L.P. is a major player in energy projects, especially upstream and downstream oil, gas, LNG and renewables. It continues to advise a large number of US-based clients on their interests in the region, along with a growing number of Latin American corporates and Latin American subsidiaries of international businesses. The firm is also increasingly active in private equity investments into Latin American energy and infrastructure. Energy transition, including hydrogen and carbon capture, are also fortes for the firm. Carlos Solé is a true Latin American specialist, particularly in LNG, upstream and downstream oil and gas, and renewable energy. David Jetter provides further Latin America LNG experience and is also active in other energy infrastructure projects. San Francisco partner Dino Barajas, firm-wide head of project finance, is a leading name in renewable energy projects across Latin America, including Mexico, Central America and Brazil. Taylor López impresses at associate level. All named attorneys are based in Houston unless stated otherwise.

Baker Botts L.L.P.’s outstanding expertise is frequently employed in Latin America where it frequently advises US-based clients on their investments and interests in the region. Oil and gas, along with LNG, is core to the Houston office’s practice in Latin America, while renewables, including solar and wind, are growth areas for the team. The office is also well placed to target energy transition projects such as hydrogen and carbon capture. It is also becoming more active in private equity investments in Latin America. Carlos Solé has a long history in Latin America, particularly in LNG, upstream-and-downstream oil and gas, and renewable energy. David Jetter is another experienced figure in Latin America LNG and other energy infrastructure projects. Although not based in Houston, Dino Barajas, a San Francisco-based partner and firm-wide head of project finance, is helping the core Latin America team to develop its presence in renewable energy in key Latin American jurisdictions.

A firm that provides a ‘perfect understanding of client needs’ and a ‘deep knowledge of the business and market situations’, Baker Botts L.L.P. is dual-equipped to advise on a variety of debt and equity transactions as well as sophisticated tax equity financings. The group is witnessing an increased flow of both domestic and cross-border mandates across a number of different sectors such as oil and LNG, clean fuels, renewables and electric transmission, working with an esteemed roster of clients that includes multinational power producers and global asset managers. Dino Barajas spearheads the group from San Francisco who compliments his financing prowess with expert asset knowledge and an extensive cross-border practice that particularly focuses on Latin American projects. New York’s Ellen Friedman works with both developers and sponsors on renewable and energy transition ventures that includes, but is not limited to, solar, wind and battery storage projects as well as blue hydrogen and carbon capture and storage facilities. Houston-based Michael Bresson‘s federal income tax expertise ensures he is frequently sought out by a wealth of investors for their tax equity financing transactions, whereas New York’s John Papaspanos, while also possessing sharp tax acumen, has engaged with a breadth of M&A and debt financing structures over the past twelve months. Also based in New York, Frank Schoen is highlighted for his project finance, leveraged finance and acquisition finance work that spans both conventional and renewable energy sources. Vladimir Fet has advised on multiple high-value financings for various large sponsors and energy providers, operating out of San Francisco.

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.

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.