Allison K. Perry has joined Bracewell’s tax department as a partner in the Houston office, the firm announced in a news release. This move marks a return to Bracewell for Perry after serving at Shell in-house as the energy giant’s U.S. lead employment tax counsel.
“I am thrilled to welcome Allison back to Bracewell,” said Bracewell managing partner Gregory M. Bopp in the release. “Allison is a highly respected executive compensation and employee benefits lawyer with deep energy industry experience and longstanding relationships across the firm and our clients. Her return strengthens our ability to support clients on complex employment-related tax issues arising from corporate transactions and ongoing operations.”
Perry launched her career as a lawyer at Bracewell in 2003 as an associate. She was named senior counsel in 2014 and left to join Shell in October 2018.
“Allison brings a rare combination of sophisticated in-house experience and deep knowledge of employment tax and benefits matters,” said Elizabeth L. McGinley, chair of Bracewell’s tax department and chair of the firm’s energy transition practice. “She understands both the technical tax considerations and the commercial realities clients face. Her familiarity with the Bracewell culture, the team and our clients makes her an immediate asset to the department and the firm.”
When asked why she returned to the first firm where she worked, Perry stressed that the firm’s reputation factored high in her decision. “Bracewell’s reputation in energy tax strategy and employee benefits and executive compensation matters made it a perfect fit for my practice,” Perry told The Texas Lawbook. “I also truly enjoyed my time previously at Bracewell. It was like a homecoming of sorts. The opportunity to lead the ERISA practice while returning to a place where I was familiar with its culture, people and clients made the timing right for me to make the move.”
Perry added that the opportunity to solve complex problems for a variety of clients makes her day. “What I enjoy most is helping clients to untangle something complex,” she told The Lawbook. “When I can take something that felt burdensome or uncertain for them and make it manageable, that’s incredibly rewarding. So, if I had to define my “best day,” it’s any day where a client hangs up the phone or leaves a meeting feeling less stressed and better equipped to do their job. Contributing to that is what makes the work meaningful to me.”
Bracewell had 187 Texas lawyers last year, according to the Lawbook 50, who produced $211 million in revenue in 2025.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Perry counsels clients on matters involving employee benefits, executive compensation and employment tax. She is experienced in drafting employee benefit plans and regularly advises on issues related to employee plans, including advice regarding compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Perry also has transactional experience advising on employee compensation matters and executive compensation agreements in connection with acquisitions, dispositions and restructuring transactions, according to the release.
EDUCATION
University of Texas (JD, 2003)
University of Texas (BA, 1999)