Baker McKenzie has added a high-profile team of energy litigators from Eversheds Sutherland to its Houston office.
David Baay, Jack Massey, Kelsey Machado, Ian Shelton and Matthew Rawlinson were announced as the newest members of the firm Wednesday. The chair of Baker McKenzie’s North America litigation and government enforcement practice group, Widge Devaney, praised the “outstanding” additions in a statement.
“Energy companies and other multinationals are facing more litigation risk and exposure than ever before, in addition to increased regulatory scrutiny,” he said. “David, Jack, Kelsey, Ian and Matt are seasoned litigators and trusted advisors who are well known in the industry and bring the nuanced perspective that only comes with decades of experience in high-stakes disputes.”
Baay comes to Baker McKenzie after 15 years at Eversheds Sutherland (Sutherland Asbill & Brennan prior to the 2016 merger).
He has significant experience representing energy companies, pipeline companies, oilfield service companies and utilities on both sides of disputes, and has also taken on the role of advising clients on pre-suit investigations and litigation exposure. He is considered an expert on litigation exposure stemming from “greenwashing claims,” PFAS litigation and fraudulent carbon tax credit transactions.
Baay received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1996 and graduated from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2000.
Massey was with Eversheds and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan before that for 14 years and nine months.
His practice is focused on the energy and infrastructure industries and his client list is varied, having represented international energy companies, renewable developers, commodities trading firms, chemical and plastics companies, utilities and banks. He also has experience handling white collar and investigative matters, representing clients in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, fraud and whistleblower actions.
Massey received a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Georgetown University in 1999 and is a 2004 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.
Machado, who focuses her practice on energy, construction, consumer protection and commercial litigation, spent about five-and-a-half years at Eversheds before moving to Baker McKenzie.
She has represented multinational energy companies, drilling contractors, midstream pipeline operators, software companies and energy efficiency companies in trial and at arbitration. She has also defended class action lawsuits.
Machado graduated from Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2008 and is a 2011 graduate of the South Texas College of Law Houston.
Shelton honed his trial and appellate practice for five years at Eversheds Sutherland, where he focused on complex commercial disputes and litigation strategy.
He has represented corporations and individuals in many practice areas, including energy and renewables, construction, technology, toxic torts, cryptocurrency litigation, and has defended class action lawsuits.
Shelton earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002 and graduated from law school there in 2006. He also served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez and Fifth Court of Appeals Judge Harold R. DeMoss Jr.
Rawlinson joined Baker McKenzie after about six-and-a-half years with Eversheds, where he handled complex commercial disputes in the construction and energy industries. He’s represented upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas clients in cases dealing with insurance indemnity, breach of contract and business torts.
Rawlinson received a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and rhetoric from Vanderbilt University in 1993 and graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 1999.
Colin Murray, the firm’s North America CEO, said in a statement that the additions were part of strategic growth plans based on the potential of the Houston market.
“We continue to see enormous opportunity in Houston and are focused on continued growth in the market,” he said. “This standout team brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record and impeccable credentials, which will further elevate our offerings for clients in the Houston area and beyond.”