WITH OIL AND GAS (O&G) companies realizing record profits in 2022, the outlook for the sector in 2023—unlike the broader economy—continues to be cautiously optimistic. For professionals like me, an attorney specializing in the O&G space, this is welcome news.
In good times and bad, energy companies rely on sound legal counsel for representation in courtrooms and boardrooms nationwide. Michelman & Robinson, LLP, tasked me with launching an office in Houston for this very reason.
Starting Off With a Bang (Pun Intended)
In January 2022, I joined M&R and opened the doors to its second office in Texas. M&R is a nationally recognized law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, with additional locations in San Francisco, Irvine, Dallas, Chicago, New York City and now, Houston, the branch I continue to build as Office Managing Partner.
Thus far, the reach of M&R Houston has been phenomenal. My office houses the firm’s specialty practice group focused on the O&G and renewables industries, and my mandate has been to move the needle within the energy sector and serve an ever-growing client base in that space. Toward that end, my team and I have been running on all cylinders, handling a wide array of litigation and transactional work, not only in Texas, but throughout the nation’s O&G-producing hubs.
One of those cases was a royalty-related lawsuit filed in New Martinsville, West Virginia against my client, the nation’s largest natural gas producer. Last summer, that courtroom battle made headlines from coast to coast when the openly hostile presiding judge pulled a Colt .45 pistol that was holstered under his robe and aimed it at me during a hearing in the midst of trial.
This was undoubtedly the most jarring and outrageous episode of my career, but undeterred, I was able to resolve the case, in which the plaintiffs sought hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Shortly after the judge’s threatening display, I extracted critical admissions from the plaintiffs’ witnesses during cross-examination, leading to a confidential settlement highly favorable for my client.
A Two-Pronged Crusade
Since the showdown in West Virginia, I have been on a mission running parallel tracks. First, given the incident in New Martinsville, I am doing all I can to root out corruption within the legal bar and the judiciary, while advocating that all litigants must be given equal access to justice in West Virginia and beyond. At the same time, I am championing growth at M&R Houston, striving to further penetrate the O&G markets in Texas and elsewhere. These efforts are proving to be quite fruitful.
My office has more than doubled in size since its inception, and we have only just begun. My ever-expanding team and I are handling high-stakes, “bet the company” lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide—cases involving environmental contamination, royalties (as mentioned), disputes between producers, and energy and commodity markets. Outside the courtroom, we provide ongoing advice and counsel on the acquisition and divestiture of O&G properties and midstream assets, O&G production and business operations, O&G leases, accounting obligations to interest owners, and royalty payment practices.
A Nod to Female Representation
What I am particularly proud of are my efforts to build a team comprised of men and women alike. Truth be told, representation among female lawyers in the energy sector is a mixed bag. On the plus side, women are fairly well represented in in-house legal departments industry-wide. This is an inspiration to me and the other women I work closely with, and, in my view, the lady lawyers working in-house are hitting it out of the park. Unfortunately, law firms are not keeping pace, and there is still much to be done to get more women associates and partners acting on behalf of O&G clients.
Given the want of female energy attorneys in law firms, it is quite a statement that M&R named me as its Houston Office Managing Partner. I am happy to report that I am building upon that momentum by adding remarkable female talent to our ranks.
Looking Forward
I am energized about what is in store for us at M&R going forward. If my journey thus far is any indication, things are certainly looking up—just as they are for the broader O&G space.
Of course, I am mindful of the downturn being experienced across other industries and that not all energy companies are flourishing. I also understand that when the economy is in turmoil, lawyers and law firms can be a godsend. As such, I hope to be of help to clients no matter their financial circumstances.
All that being said, my message is simply this: the M&R flag has been planted in Houston, and we are here to serve.
Lauren Varnado manages the Houston office of Michelman & Robinson, LLP, a national law firm based in Los Angeles that represents clients in a host of areas, such as complex and class action litigation and employment, corporate & securities, regulatory, white-collar defense & investigations, cybersecurity, privacy, real estate, and bankruptcy matters. The firm does so for individuals and entities across industries, including the advertising & digital media, banking & financial services, cannabis, hospitality, insurance, music & entertainment, retail & apparel and technology spaces. A sought-after, award-winning litigator and head of the firm’s energy practice, Lauren can be contacted at lvardado@mrllp.com or (713) 422-2121.
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Never-Before-Seen ‘Star Wars’ Memorabilia Delights Sci-Fi Fans at Valobra Master Jewelers
May. 2, 2023
IT MAY BE hard for fans of The Mandalorian, a sci-fi western that just wrapped up its third season on Disney+, to imagine how thrilling it was to see the original, comparatively low-budget Star Wars on the big screen, in a movie theater, way back in 1977.
This was a film wide-eyed news anchors described as “cowboys in outer space,” with a story arc that mirrored the myth of the hero’s journey and characters who were as archetypal as they were just fun to watch and quote. (“May the force be with you.”) Beginning May 10, Valobra Master Jewelers brings some of that original light and magic back with an exhibit of original props, costumes, and artifacts used in the original 1977-1983 Star Wars Trilogy.
The never-before-seen, museum-quality collection is a treat for both fans of little Grogu as well as those of us old enough to remember queuing up for these films which, much like the Valobra Jewelry Atelier, have only grown in renown over the years.
The exhibit is drawn from a private, single-person collection, owned by a good friend of fourth-generation master jeweler Franco Valobra, who is a major fan of the Star Wars films. “I have great passion and admiration for movies showcasing great art and brilliance,” says Valobra. “Jewelry is a wearable masterpiece, as Star Wars is a viewable masterpiece.”
The props and costumes on display include the oldest, original surviving Darth Vader costume, the metal bikini worn by Princess Leia (played by the late great Carrie Fisher) while a prisoner of Jabba the Hut, and the original X-Wing starfighter helmet of Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hammill).
There is also a selection of masks worn by the menagerie of aliens seen in the famous Mos Eisley cantina scene, alongside rare, original Storm Trooper costume armor and weapons. Valobra will also show the original Panavision PSR 35 mm camera Star Wars writer and director George Lucas used to film the trilogy. (The camera was also used to film parts of Victor Fleming’s groundbreaking, cinematic masterpiece Gone With The Wind.) Only 29 were manufactured, and it is the second most expensive piece of auctioned Star Wars memorabilia.
Some special events timed with the exhibition include a visit from a few young MD Anderson patients and their families (who are staying at Ronald McDonald House) and a field trip to Valobra for middle school students and teachers with LEAD (Letting Everyone Achieve Dreams), a non-profit dedicated to providing young people with new educational experiences involving science, technology, and space exploration.
The Star Wars Trilogy Museum Exhibition will be on view to the public from May 10-13 from 11am to 5pm, with an invitation-only, VIP cocktail celebration on May 11 from 6-8 pm. Lucky partygoers will be greeted by actors in full Star Wars regalia and get a first look at Franco Valobra’s new Skywalker Diamond, an exceptionally rare and flawless diamond, and the equally special Darth Vader Black Diamond.
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