The international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPannounced today that Jude Kearney has joined the firm in its Washington, D.C. office as a shareholder in the Global Energy & Infrastructure and Corporate & Securities practices. He will head the firm’s Africa Practice.
Kearney focuses his practice on corporate transactions, with an emphasis on international project finance. He handles various matters involving energy development, mergers and acquisitions and corporate law, with specific experience in international markets, including Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Kearney works with major U.S. and foreign clients in the areas of energy, telecommunications, infrastructure projects and financial services, providing counsel on the structure and terms of his clients’ commercial relationships as they relate to project developments in foreign markets.
Prior to joining the firm, Kearney was chair of the International Business Practice Group at Patton Boggs, LLP, where he worked with global emerging markets. Kearney previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services Industries and Finance at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he participated in various trade and bilateral negotiations including in regards to GATT, NAFTA, and market access negotiations with Japan and China.
“The global energy and infrastructure industries are increasingly important to our clients. With an unmatched US platform and strong bandwidth in Latin America, Europe and Asia, it was also time to provide our clients with knowledge and experience in Africa, the newest frontier,” saidRichard A. Rosenbaum, Greenberg Traurig’s Chief Executive Officer. “With collaboration across the platform, Jude’s breadth of experience will provide our clients with the services essential to their evolving needs.”
Kearney’s knowledge of the African market is owed in part to his having lived on the continent twice in his career, in Nigeria and in South Africa. In Africa, Kearney has served as lead legal advisor for independent electricity development and financing, the development of gas storage facilities and gas pipelines, writing commercial oil and gas legislation, financing the build out of telecommunications companies, and the funding of transportation infrastructure.
“Jude’s knowledge of emerging markets in African and Asian regions paired with his government service will bring a unique blend of experience to Greenberg Traurig,” said Patricia Menéndez-Cambó, chair of the firm’s Global Practice Group and co-chair of its Global Energy & Infrastructure Practice.
“The move to Greenberg Traurig is exciting because the firm’s platform, culture and experience are all in line with my vision and commitment to my clients on a global scale,” Kearney said. “I welcome the opportunity to utilize my experience and resources to lead the firm’s Africa practice and look forward to collaborating with teams across a wide range of practices.”
Kearny earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School and an A.B., with honors, from Harvard University. A native of Arkansas, he was co-chairman of the Black American Law Students Association at Stanford University Law School and a Michael C. Rockefeller Traveling Fellowship recipient from Harvard University. He also formerly lectured in the Economics Department at the University of Lagos in Nigeria.
Also joining the firm in the Global Energy & Infrastructure Practice at Greenberg Traurig is Ashley Brown. Formerly at Dewey & LeBoeuf, he joins as an of counsel in the Boston office. Brown serves as Executive Director of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the leading “think tank” on electricity markets and regulation. Prior to that, Brown served 10 years as Commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Kearney and Brown are the latest additions to the firm’s Global Energy & Infrastructure Practice. The group, co-chaired by Menéndez-Cambó, Douglas C. Atnipp and Kenneth M. Minesinger has seen enormous growth of its geographic scope and experience over the past six to 12 months.
Some other recent additions include:
- Michelle De Blasi, Phoenix: Chair of the Phoenix Energy & Infrastructure Group and member of the firm’s Environmental Group.
- William Garner, Houston: Leads the firm’s Renewable Energy Practice.
- John P. McMullan, Houston: Previously Senior Vice President and General Counsel at a green gas and environmental commodity company.
- Nicolas Borda, Mexico City: Chair of the Energy Committee of the Mexican Bar Association.
- Robert S. Thompson III, Denver: Appointed (by the Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar) to the Indian Oil Valuation Negotiated Rulemaking Committee representing the interests of the Western Energy.
The firm’s international energy and infrastructure experience and market penetration were further significantly enhanced by the recent addition of an office in Warsaw, Poland. The 50-plus lawyer team which joined from Dewey & LeBoeuf in May 2012 provides legal services in a number of areas key to important industries in Eastern Europe and beyond, including energy and infrastructure. The addition of the Warsaw office represents a significant and strategic increase in Greenberg Traurig’s international presence in these key areas, which already features an experienced energy and infrastructure team in its London office.
