Reed Smith LLP issued the following announcement on Feb. 25.
Reed Smith announced that two of its leading energy transactions partners, Gary C. Johnson in Houston and Edward G. Rogan in San Francisco, have relocated to the firm’s office in Austin.
“We are thrilled that two very active and experienced domestic and cross-border transactional lawyers in energy and natural resources are joining us as we move into our third year in the Texas capitol,” said Jeff Layne, Managing Partner of Reed Smith’s Austin office. “Gary and Ed continue a pattern of growth in Austin that connects the region’s growing economy to our core strengths in energy, technology, life sciences and health care.”
Both Johnson and Rogan work on major energy and infrastructure deals that span the globe and the energy spectrum. Johnson brings more than four decades of experience as a leading lawyer in the oil and gas industry, serving as primary counsel for transactions from the well head to the burner tip. He has previously served as in-house counsel for three energy companies before moving to private practice. Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Johnson has advised on billions of dollars in energy transactions throughout the United States, Latin America, China, Europe, and Canada.
Likewise, Rogan has handled billions of dollars in energy power and global infrastructure projects in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Over the past three decades, Rogan has cultivated a particular focus in clean and renewable energy, working on the development, construction, acquisition and disposition of wind, solar, geothermal and biomass facilities, and serving as lead outside counsel to the world’s leading manufacturer, seller, installer and servicer of wind turbines.
Johnson will split his time between Houston and Austin. “I look forward to moving to the Austin office, which will allow me to both work with my clients in Houston and help support our growing Texas-based offering,” Johnson said. “It’s an exciting time in Texas at Reed Smith with three offices in expansion mode, and I am excited to be able to work more closely with our new colleagues in Austin and Dallas.”
“The expansion of renewable and clean energy sources, as well as the transmission and storage infrastructure to support them, is a booming area of business and practice right now,” Rogan said. “Texas is one of the fastest growing states in terms of renewable energy project development, and Austin’s central location is the perfect base for serving clients wherever there is work to be done.”
Prajakt Samant, chair of Reed Smith’s global Energy & Natural Resources Group, said: “Ed and Gary’s move will further our long-range strategic goals in Texas, strengthen our relationships among team members, and create new opportunities across our global platform. Both hold a deep understanding of the industry and help our clients achieve business goals while taking care of their legal concerns.”
A native son of Fort Worth, Johnson graduated from Austin College before earning his law degree at the University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of the Texas Law Review and, many years ago, was elected to the Dean’s Roundtable. Throughout his career, Johnson has devoted himself to creating significant opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. He and his family have endowed both alma maters with scholarships for first-generation students, and he serves as pro bono legal counsel on several cases for undocumented immigrant children.
Originally a native of New York, Rogan graduated from the State University of New York at Albany, magna cum laude, before moving to California to study law. Rogan achieved his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1992.
Reed Smith’s Houston office continues to expand, recently welcoming partner Nicolas Borda, who was previously based in Mexico City. Reed Smith opened its Dallas office, its third in Texas, in May 2019, and now the firm has more than 125 lawyers based in the state.