The international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added prominent energy attorney William S. Garner, Jr. as a shareholder in the firm’s Houston office. Garner will head the firm’s Renewable Energy Practice. Prior to joining the firm, Garner practiced at Dewey & LeBoeuf in Houston.

Garner’s hire, along with the recent additions of energy shareholders elsewhere in the firm, reflects Greenberg Traurig’s continuing strategic expansion of its energy practice. The others include: Nicolas Borda, based in the firm’s Mexico City office and current chair of the energy committee of the Mexican Bar Association; John P. McMullan, based in the Houston and previously senior vice president and general counsel of a renewable energy company; and Michelle De Blasi, who is chair of the Energy & Infrastructure Practice in the Phoenix office and chair of the Arizona Technology Council’s Arizona Energy Consortium.

“We are committed to the expansion of practices that will most impact the key industries important to our clients for decades to come. This is one such practice,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Greenberg Traurig’s Chief Executive Officer. “And we are proud to be able to attract top-tier attorneys in this field who are drawn to Greenberg Traurig’s collaborative, efficient and strong platform and our commitment to excellence.”

“Bill’s extensive experience in renewable energy and the natural gas midstream sector will broaden the scope of Greenberg Traurig’s already well-positioned energy practice. His substantial in-house experience will bring a valuable business perspective for our energy clients across the globe,” said Douglas C. Atnipp, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Global Energy & Infrastructure Practice and Co-Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Houston office.

”I am pleased to join Greenberg Traurig. The firm’s highly respected energy practice, plus its global platform and deep bench in Texas, are a perfect fit for my diverse energy clientele,” said Garner.

Garner focuses his practice on domestic and international hydrocarbon and inert gas transactions and renewable energy. He has extensive experience working on worldwide national gas projects, including unconventional gas, and has worked on projects in the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Poland, Kazakhstan, U.A.E., Algeria and Mexico. He also counsels major energy companies on domestic and international upstream and midstream transactions.

Garner was formerly recognized by his peers as one of the leading general counsels in the American natural gas industry. He is a frequent public speaker on North American energy and environmental policy. He holds a J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law and a B.A. from University of Arkansas.

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