Sutherland's Houston Office Continues Growth With Promotion of Four Attorneys

HOUSTON, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its growth in the Houston market, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP announces the election of two new partners and two new counsel in the Houston office Litigation Practice Group that provides the Gulf Coast energy industry and others with business-oriented trial lawyers.

David A. Baay and Daniel Johnson were elected to partnership as of January 1, 2012, and Jack Massey and Carter L. Williams were promoted to counsel. These promotions follow the addition of two lateral associates and the promotion of 10 staff attorneys and senior staff attorneys in 2011.

The Houston office is nationally-recognized in energy litigation and crisis management, energy trading and derivative contracts, and offshore marine litigation.

"The promotion of these four excellent attorneys continues our trend of steady growth in Texas and our philosophy of promoting from within and hiring the best lateral associates in the market," says Rachel Giesber Clingman, co-partner-in-charge of Sutherland's Houston office. "We will continue our strong client focus and nimble, innovative approaches to litigation to bring success to our clients."

The following attorneys have been elected:

Partners

David A. Baay focuses his practice on commercial litigation representing energy, transportation and healthcare companies. He has extensive trial and arbitration experience representing a broad range of clients in state and federal court in cases involving offshore physical losses, millions of dollars in claimed damages, and shareholder and commercial disputes. Mr. Baay has recently defended complex trade secret misappropriation cases related to emerging oil & gas technologies including LNG vessel innovation.

Daniel Johnson focuses on marine, offshore and energy-related litigation.  He has extensive experience litigating and advising clients on complex insurance and indemnity issues arising from oilfield services and energy sector contracts.  Mr. Johnson's practice is national in scope and has involved litigation in a variety of state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. 

Counsel

Jack Massey focuses his practice on complex litigation and investigations. Mr. Massey represents energy, chemical, banking, and brokerage clients in state and federal court. In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Massey has extensive experience advising clients conducting internal investigations into Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, frauds, and industrial disasters.

Carter L. Williams focuses on complex commercial litigation involving international integrated energy majors and oilfield services companies. He has represented energy producers, traders, drillers, and insurers in litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country. Mr. Williams also has extensive experience with e-discovery and data retention and is a member of the firm's E-Discovery and Information Management Practice Group.

Sutherland opened its Houston office with a single attorney in 2002 and since has grown to include more than 35 full-time attorneys and a substantial long-term contract attorney team. In Houston, Sutherland primarily serves the energy industry in litigation, transactional, regulatory, and environmental matters.

ABOUT SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP.

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is a law firm with global reach known for solving challenging business problems and resolving sophisticated legal issues for many of the world's largest companies. Founded in 1924, the firm handles matters throughout the United States and worldwide. Seven major practice areas—corporate, energy and environmental, financial services, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, and tax—provide the framework for an extensive range of focus areas, allowing Sutherland attorneys to serve a diverse client base that ranges from small and medium-sized start-up businesses to a significant number of Fortune 100 companies.

SOURCE Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP