Pillsbury Expands Energy Litigation Capabilities in Houston

Pillsbury announced this week that it has picked up Houston energy litigation partners Anthony Guerino and Elizabeth Klingensmith from Womble Bond Dickinson. 

Deborah Baum, leader of Pillsbury’s global litigation practice, said in a statement that the duo reinforces one of the firm’s “sweet spots” – the intersection of energy, construction, infrastructure and international disputes. 

Guerino and Klingensmith, both graduates of the University of Houston Law Center, each joined Womble in 2019. Prior to that, Guerino practiced at Greenberg Traurig and Gardere, while Klingensmith gained experience at Blank Rome and Haynes and Boone. 

“We were impressed by Pillsbury’s long-standing and well-deserved reputation in the energy industry and in litigation generally,” Guerino said in a statement. “This is exactly the platform we need to expand our energy, oil and gas practices.” 

Before pursuing a career in the law, Guerino was a petroleum engineer for Marathon Oil for nearly a decade. He focuses his practice on oil exploration and production disputes and has represented major E&P companies, oilfield services companies, drilling contractors, independent operators, working interest owners and pipeline transportation companies. 

Klingensmith is the immediate past chair of the Houston Bar Association’s Oil, Gas and Mineral Section and serves on the executive committee for the Institute for Energy Law. She represents oil and gas companies with assets and operations in Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota.