HOUSTON – Bracewell LLP has been named a finalist for two Financial Times (FT) Innovative Lawyers Awards North America 2025 – both in the Innovative Lawyers in Infrastructure category – highlighting the firm’s leadership in affordable housing and energy transition. Winners will be announced on December 8 at an awards ceremony in New York.
Bracewell represented Tallgrass Energy in the nation’s first conversion of a natural gas pipeline to transport CO₂ for sequestration. The 400-mile Trailblazer Pipeline advances large-scale carbon capture by repurposing existing infrastructure. Innovative steps included creating the first pollution liability insurance policy for carbon sequestration to meet rigorous state permitting requirements, securing FERC approval for the abandonment of the pipeline used for natural gas service to create a “pipe-within-a-pipe” structure to continue providing certificated natural gas service to Trailblazer gas pipeline customers, as well as guiding tax and offtake strategies to enable project viability.
In a separate initiative, Bracewell’s public finance and tax lawyers helped the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation reshape its approach to affordable housing. Working with county leaders, the team designed a new legal framework that turned federal relief funds into lasting community investment, enabling the agency to acquire land, partner with developers and secure long-term affordability for thousands of residents across the region.
This recognition for creativity and market leadership builds on Bracewell’s growing list of honors for excellence in global energy and infrastructure. Earlier this month, the firm was named the Most Innovative Law Firm in Europe for Infrastructure at the FT’s Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe 2025.
Now in its 20th year, the FT Innovative Lawyers North America Awards celebrates the best in innovation from law firms and in-house legal teams in North America, recognizing leadership in digital innovation, strategic advice, talent management and driving positive change in the profession.
