Andrews Kurth Partner Timothy J. Unger Receives Ernest E. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award

Unger recognized for his Oil, Gas and Energy Contributions by Texas Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law

HOUSTON, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On January 21, 2010, the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law presented the 2010 Ernest E. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award to Andrews Kurth Partner Timothy Unger, a 1974 graduate of The University of Texas School of Law. This prestigious award is given to recognize an attorney who has made a major contribution to the energy industry.

With 36 years of legal experience, Unger represents a variety of corporate and institutional clients. In recent years, his practice has focused primarily on project development and financing, including project finance and structured finance as well as mergers and acquisitions primarily in the energy (both upstream, midstream and downstream) and chemical business both domestic and international. His projects include development and financing of power generating facilities, development and financing of petrochemical facilities, acquisition, and the development and financing of renewable energy projects including wind, solar and geothermal projects.

"All of us at Andrews Kurth salute Tim for this well-deserved honor," said Bob Jewell, Managing Partner. "I just hope this doesn't mean that he's finished practicing. His experience and continuing leadership are major contributors to our firm's success."

The Ernest E. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award honors practitioners who have participated in the advancement of natural resources law, policy, or scholarship. The award is named after Professor Ernest E. Smith, the Rex G. Baker Centennial Chair in Natural Resources Law at the University of Texas School of Law. Considered the preeminent specialist in oil, gas, and energy law, Smith co-authored the leading casebook on oil and gas law. He also created the first wind power law class to be taught at an American law school.

The fifth recipient of this prestigious award, Unger joins founding partner Robert C. Bledsoe of Cotton Bledsoe Tighe & Dawson, PC, former Devon Energy General Counsel Duke Ligon, Exxon General Counsel C. Kenneth Roberts, and the late Frank Douglass, founding partner of Scott, Douglass and McConnico, in receiving this honor at the Journal's annual banquet.

About Texas Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law

The Texas Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law is the only entirely student-run energy publication in the country, as well as one of the largest student academic publications at the University of Texas School of Law. In addition to publishing articles on oil, gas and energy topics bi-annually, the Journal hosts a two-day Continuing Legal Education symposium in conjunction with its banquet. This year's symposium took place on January 21–22, 2010, and featured talks on current issues in the energy industry ranging from the Texas electric market, MLP issues, and urban and horizontal drilling to the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline and the Legal and Regulatory foundation for Carbon Capture Success.

About Andrews Kurth LLP

For more than a century, Andrews Kurth has built its practice on the belief that "straight talk is good business." Real answers, clear vision and mutual respect define the firm's relationships with clients, colleagues, communities and employees. With 400 lawyers and offices in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Houston, London, New York, The Woodlands and Washington, DC, Andrews Kurth represents a wide array of clients in multiple industries. For more information about Andrews Kurth, please visit andrewskurth.com.

SOURCE Andrews Kurth LLP