© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.
By Brooks Igo
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook
(May 16) – Reed Smith announced yesterday that it added depth to its energy and natural resources practice in Houston with the addition of Gary C. Johnson.
Johnson, who was previously the corporate practice group leader at Houston-based Burleson LLP, said the firm reached out to him after he worked on an oil and gas transaction with some Reed Smith attorneys.
“They had an opportunity to grade my papers,” he said. “They presented me with an opportunity to move to national and international platforms, as opposed to the regional platform I was at.”
With the addition of Johnson, Reed Smith has grown its Houston office to nearly 40 lawyers since opening in February 2013.
“We have gotten off to a tremendous start,” David Thompson, Reed Smith’s Houston Integration Partner, said in a statement. “Since we opened in Houston, our lawyers have done work for 180 different firm clients, including many of the world’s leading energy, financial services and life sciences companies.”
Johnson brings corporate in-house experience with him as well. He served as senior vice president and general counsel of Citation Oil & Gas Corp. in Houston for 13 years and has also been general counsel and associate general counsel with two energy exploration and production companies.
The University of Texas School of Law graduate says his whole approach to working as outside counsel has been shaped by his experience as a general counsel.
“You develop a better understanding of how practicing law involves moving the ball forward for the client and not just doing a deal in a vacuum,” said Johnson, who has represented companies such as EnerVest Ltd., Carrizo Oil & Gas, Escalera Resources Co. and Tradition Resources LLC. “You become sensitive to the risk level that a particular company may expect in their transaction by being on the other side and making risk assessments.”
The shale plays continue to be a key component of what Johnson says is going on with the exploration and production of natural resources. He says there is a new cooperation between parties in oil and gas transactions.
“Companies are not just partnering to develop capital, but to learn the technology and take it home with them,” he said.
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