Bracewell LLP’s litigation team is best known for its commercially grounded advocacy, with specific strength in energy and infrastructure disputes, bet-the-company contract and tort matters, multidistrict and class actions, and appellate advocacy. The group is led in Houston by Stephen Crain, whose practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, energy-related disputes, and large-scale multidistrict proceedings. He is joined by Bradley Benoit, also based in Houston, who is recognized for guiding clients through high-exposure, bet-the-company disputes. In New York, office managing partner Daniel Connolly advises on bankruptcy litigation, white-collar defense, and regulatory compliance investigations, while ‘first-class litigator’ Rachel Goldman is instrumental in breach of contract and fraud claims, construction disputes, and False Claims Act matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The individuals with whom I dealt provided an excellent service, working thoughtfully to stay within the client's budget, only performing work that has been pre-agreed and is actually needed.’
‘Rachel Goldman is a first-class litigator. Rachel constructs highly persuasive and impactful pleadings. She remains calm and considered throughout a case, while being forceful when needed.'
Key clients
- Apache Corporation
- Arroyo Investors (Goldfinch Energy Holdings LLC)
- Aspire Logistics, LLC and Rural Route 3 Holdings, LP
- Bloomberg, L.P.
- Bunker One (USA) Inc.
- Chevron USA, Inc., Apache Corporation, Unocal Corporation, PetroChina International Inc., Tenaska Gas Storage, LLC, Tenaska Marketing Ventures, Tenaska Capital Management LLC and Tenaska, Inc.
- Drew McManigle, Chapter 11 Trustee of Escambia Operating Company, LLC and Escambia Asset Company, LLC
- KBR
- MRS Holdings Limited
- NASC LLC and Albion Soccer
- Pilot Water Solutions Permian LLC and Pilot Water Solutions LLC
- Salka, LLC
- Tenaska Marketing Ventures and Chevron USA, Inc.
- Tenaska, Inc., Rockland Capital, and Amadeus Wind, LLC
- United States District Court, North District of California
- Waste Connections, Inc.
Work highlights
Advises Apache Corporation in high-stakes royalty, contract, environmental and carbon trespass litigation across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, achieving key dismissals, appellate wins and class action leadership in landmark oil and gas disputes.
Represented Salka in three New York actions involving ownership and development rights for two major Northern California renewable projects totaling nearly 600 MW. The team also secured a preliminary injunction granting Salka substantial relief, leading to favorable resolutions across all actions.
Advises Tenaska and Chevron in a high-profile Oklahoma Attorney General action alleging antitrust and consumer-protection violations tied to natural gas pricing during Winter Storm Uri. The Oklahoma Attorney General seeks over $1 bn in damages, and the firm has moved to dismiss the claims.
Practice head
Stephen Crain
Other key lawyers
Bradley Benoit; Rachel Goldman; Daniel Connolly; David Shargel; Stephen Benesh; Jonathon Hance