Ferguson McNiel > Vinson & Elkins LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Work Department

Complex Commercial Litigation

Position

Partner

Career

An accomplished lawyer with over 30 years of experience, Ferguson has a broad-based litigation practice. He has extensive trial experience in commercial, construction, product liability, toxic tort, and energy cases. His clients include Fortune 150 corporations and other major companies in a variety of industries, such as consumer products, pharmaceuticals, chemical, oil, manufacturing, and professional services. In construction, he has represented a number of architects and engineers in construction-related claims.

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)

Vinson & Elkins LLP combines ‘high quality work with consistent availability‘, underpinned by ‘a pleasant demeanor‘. The team, which is praised by clients for its ‘commitment to success‘, is led by Ferguson McNiel and Kaam Sahely, both based in Houston. The team is experienced in complex infrastructure projects and is representing Texas Central Partners as project counsel in the multibillion-dollar development of a high-speed rail project between Dallas and Houston. Mark Brasher and Sahely led, supported by a team across the firm’s Dallas, New York and Houston offices, including ‘fantastic‘ associate Stephanie Coco, who is based in Houston and is ‘developing a great practice with respect to complex construction documentation‘. Brasher also acted as project counsel to LNG21, which is developing a $2.4bn LNG platform in the Gulf of Mexico; the team advised LNG21 on joint venture agreements and equity negotiations. Alongside the Washington DC-based John Decker, Brasher also advised New Fortress Energy on various LNG projects. Katy Gottsponer, who is based in Washington DC, and senior associate Luke Edney in Houston supported on this matter. Edney, alongside Brasher and Coco, supported Sahely on Gulf Coast Ammonia, a joint venture that is developing and financing a hydrogen-ammonia production facility in Texas. Also active on this matter was Houston-based senior associate Alan Alexander, who is praised by one client as ‘one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with‘ and offers ‘partner counsel for an associate rate‘. Houston-based James Loftis, who, alongside the London office, handled a series of arbitrations for the Panama Canal Authority relating to the ongoing expansion project, is also noted; McNeil supported on this matter.