Ohio-headquartered law firm Squire Patton Boggs is bolstering its energy and natural resources practice with the addition of Luke McCosker as foreign legal consultant.
McCosker, who was most recently in-house counsel for projects and procurement at BNP Paribas corporate and investment bank, will spend a short time in Squire Patton Boggs’ London office before moving his practice to Houston in February, the law firm said in a statement.
In addition to BNP Paribas, McCosker’s experience includes acting as lead in-house counsel for the Olympic Delivery Authority on core aspects of the £9 billion (€11.7 billion; $12.8 billion) programme for the construction of venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He also served as the principal in-house construction counsel for Phases 1 and 2 of the £8 billion Battersea Power Station redevelopment project.
“Luke’s arrival plays a vital role in the firm’s commitment to expanding our energy, public-private partnership (P3; PPP) and construction capabilities in Texas, the Southwest and across the global platform,” said Steven Harris, managing partner of the law firm’s Houston office.
As a foreign legal consultant, McCosker will be advising clients on international EPC and PPP projects with a focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Despite the fall in oil prices, Houston continues to be an attractive market with firms either establishing new offices or bolstering their existing presence.
Infrastructure Investor reported yesterday that San Francisco-based Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe will soon be opening an office in the country’s energy hub.
In addition to its obvious ties to the energy sector, Houston also attracts attention in outbound work for US clients and inbound work for international clients conducting business in Houston and the broader Southwest region.