Increased Lawyer Hires Propelled by Biden’s Infrastructure Legislation

By Better Today Last updated Sep 19, 2023

TL/DR –

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has hired John Eliason, formerly co-leader of Greenberg Traurig’s energy project finance practice, as a partner in its energy and infrastructure team. Eliason praised Orrick’s commitment to energy transition and ability to meet demand for legal work created by the Biden administration’s $430 billion US Inflation Reduction Act. The legal industry has seen a wave of dealmakers in energy and infrastructure switching firms in response to the Biden administration’s energy investment and infrastructure legislation.

Orrick law firm gains new partner amidst legal demand surge due to Biden’s energy policy

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a U.S. law firm, saw a co-leader of Greenberg Traurig’s energy project finance practice join their ranks. This move epitomizes the legal industry’s aim to capitalize on increased activity driven by the Biden administration’s energy investment and infrastructure legislation.

John Eliason has been welcomed into Orrick’s energy and infrastructure team as a partner. Based in the Washington, D.C. office, Eliason noted Orrick’s “long-term, deep commitment to energy transition” and its ability to meet the heightened demand for legal work generated by the Biden administration’s $430 billion U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.

The Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits and other initiatives to encourage cleaner domestic energy production and manufacturing. The impact of the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden in 2021, was also recognized by Eliason.

A wave of energy and infrastructure-focused dealmakers have recently switched law firms. Among these, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett last week recruited a Sidley Austin partner for its energy and infrastructure practice in Houston, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison gained a leading Latham & Watkins energy and infrastructure partner earlier this month.

The Inflation Reduction Act provides global electric vehicle (EV) battery makers and automakers with incentives to establish manufacturing plants in North America. Earlier this month, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that China’s Gotion High-tech Co Ltd will set up a $2 billion EV lithium battery manufacturing plant in Manteno, Illinois.