Shortly after announcing that it has opened an office in Dallas with a group of 16 lawyers, including eight partners, Reed Smith today announced that it has added its ninth partner to this burgeoning office. Jorge Gutierrez has joined the firm as a partner in its Energy & Natural Resources practice, bringing to the Reed Smith an esteemed practice in exploration and production (E&P), midstream, and energy finance. Gutierrez was previously a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright.
Gutierrez’s practice focuses on representing private and public E&P and midstream companies operating throughout the United States on matters concerning the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas properties and midstream assets, general business operations, as well as representing banks that make secured, reserved-based loans to E&P companies. His experience includes negotiating purchase and sale agreements, farmout agreements, drilling joint venture agreements, gas gathering and processing agreements, transportation agreements, project development agreements, joint operating agreements and other industry contracts. Before becoming a lawyer, he had an 11-year career in corporate and investment banking. This combination of legal and business experience allows Jorge to counsel clients on a broader set of issues affecting shareholder value.
“When we announced our entrance into Dallas earlier this month, we said that we were committed to bringing aboard the best transactional and litigation talent in the market, people whose legal acumen complements that of our growing team, and whose personality fits the culture of the firm. In Jorge, we have a partner who meets those criteria and then some,” said I. Bobby Majumder, Reed Smith’s Dallas co-office managing partner. “Jorge is a top-flight lawyer who has built a stellar reputation locally and throughout Texas for guiding clients through complex energy transactional matters. We look forward to introducing him to Reed Smith clients across our global network, who we are certain will benefit from his presence here.”
This year, Reed Smith’s Energy and Natural Resources practice has focused on adding experienced lawyers who fill specific needs in areas of high demand among firm clients. Since January, the firm has added partner Kirsten Polyansky, former co-chair of the global commodities team at Haynes and Boone, Jessica Cortez, former managing counsel to one of the world’s leading global natural resources companies, and Mariano Ornelas López, the former Legal Director of CENAGAS (Centro Nacional de Control del Gas Natural) – the Mexican government entity that manages the country’s natural gas transportation and storage network.
“Jorge’s arrival demonstrates the importance and value we’ve placed on building a team that understands the energy sector in Dallas and throughout Texas and the key players therein,” said Prajakt Samant, global chair of Reed Smith’s Energy and Natural Resources practice. “Jorge’s representation of both energy companies and lenders fits seamlessly with our practice capabilities globally. We are thrilled to welcome him to the firm.”
“I am excited to join Reed Smith. The firm’s lawyers and leadership possess an entrepreneurial spirit that is strikingly similar to that found in the oil and gas industry,” Gutierrez stated. “This approach to business is unique among law firms, especially one with Reed Smith’s global reach and deep bench of expertise across all facets of the energy industry’s business and regulatory environment.”
Gutierrez holds a J.D. from the Baylor University School of Law and a BBA in finance and accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. He is certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Source: www.reedsmith.com
