Texas Regulatory Expert Joins V&E

© 2015 The Texas Lawbook.By Mark Curriden (March 31) – Barry Smitherman has been an investment banker who specializes in the capital markets. He prosecuted domestic violence cases as a lawyer in the Harris County District Attorney’s office. He chaired the Texas Public Utility Commission and the state’s Railroad Commission. Now, he has a new title: partner at Vinson & Elkins. In an era when law firms focus its lateral hiring to fill needs in narrow, specific specialty practices, V&E’s decision to bring Smitherman into its stable of 700 lawyers hearkens back to an age in which partners touted expertise across multiple legal disciplines. “He’s so great because he can advise clients involved in litigation, regulatory and transactional matters,” V&E Chairman Mark Kelly said. “From his days in investment banking, Barry has a tremendous amount of contacts at private equity shops and CEOs at so many companies. “As the chairman of the PUC and the Railroad Commission, he is one of the leading experts on energy regulatory matters and has been at the forefront on fracking-related science and developments,” Kelly said. Smitherman, who will office in Austin, said he chose V&E because of its favorable reputation in the oil and…