Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has announced the hiring of James English, a former senior international negotiator from Anadarko Petroleum Corp., to join the firm’s energy transition team. English is set to join BCLP’s Denver office, bringing extensive experience in both traditional and renewable energy sectors. Prior to his new role, English spent a decade with Anadarko, now known as Occidental Petroleum Corp., after Occidental outbid Chevron Corp. in a high-profile acquisition in 2019 with financial support from Warren Buffett. This acquisition, which you can read more about here, was one of the most significant in the oil industry in recent years.
Peter Hansen, global co-leader of BCLP’s energy transition sector, expressed enthusiasm for the new addition, noting that English’s expertise would further bolster the firm’s capabilities and position within the energy sector. This recruitment is part of a broader strategy following a decrease in headcount after BCLP’s formation in 2018 through a merger between Bryan Cave and Berwin Leighton Paisner. For context, further mergers and expansions have been part of BCLP’s growth strategy, such as their recent combination with a Seattle law firm detailed here.
English’s transition to BCLP comes amid a steady performance year for the firm, with 2023 revenue and profits per partner stable at $840 million and $950,000 respectively, according to a report from The American Lawyer. More details on BCLP’s financial performance can be found here.
For the full announcement, you can visit the Bloomberg Law report here.