Damian Watkin and John Gilbert Join Bracewell in London to Establish Energy Disputes Practice

LONDON – Bracewell LLP is pleased to announce that Damian Watkin and John Gilbert have joined Bracewell’s London office to launch an international disputes practice focused on the energy industry. Watkin comes to the firm from McDermott Will & Emery, and Gilbert was previously at K&L Gates LLP.

Bracewell is the only law firm in London dedicated exclusively to serving client needs in the energy industry. This unique focus has earned international recognition within the legal and business community. Most recently, Legal 500 UK honored Bracewell’s London team as the “Projects, Energy and Natural Resources Specialism Firm of the Year in Oil & Gas” for 2017.

“Damian and John are both highly regarded disputes lawyers with extensive international experience in the energy sector. They complement our successful transactional practice in London and broaden our capabilities to serve our energy clients worldwide,” said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. “We’re pleased to welcome them to the firm.”

Watkin is a dispute resolution barrister who has extensive experience representing clients in high-stakes arbitration and litigation. His practice focuses largely on disputes in the oil and gas, infrastructure, construction, utilities, power, natural resources, maritime and transportation sectors. Prior to joining Bracewell, Watkin led the disputes practice in McDermott’s London office and has worked in Asia, Australasia and the Middle East.

Gilbert also has extensive experience representing clients in arbitration, expert determination and litigation arising from disputes related to oil and gas exploration and production, the construction and operation of pipelines and the downstream sector. He has particular experience advising on disputes under gas sales agreements, including price reviews and on the operation of take-or-pay provisions. He has also advised on power generation and transmission, including from renewable sources.

“Damian and John have great resumes, significant experience and practices that will synergize with Bracewell’s strong transactional practice in London. With the quality of the team we have assembled and our ‘energy only’ sector focus, Bracewell has very quickly established itself as one of the leading firms in London for transactional energy work. We are excited to add high-quality energy disputes capabilities to Bracewell’s offering in London,” said London Managing Partner Jason Fox.

“I’m delighted to join a firm with a clear strategy for growing its international disputes practice by building on Bracewell’s pre-eminence in the energy sector,” said Watkin. “I’m really looking forward to working with an exceptional bench of energy specialists in London and across the firm.”

“I am pleased to be part of an office focused solely on energy and excited to take advantage of the opportunities this creates,” adds Gilbert. “Bracewell’s extensive international coverage, including in key emerging economies, offers a unique platform to serve the needs of clients in the energy industry.”