Former Concho Exec Travis Counts Joins Bracewell Oil and Gas Practice

Bracewell LLP on Sept. 15 announced Travis Counts, who served as in-house counsel at two of the largest independent oil and gas companies in the U.S., joined the firm as a partner in its oil and gas practice.

“We’re excited to welcome Travis to the firm,” commented Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp in a release by the firm. “His in-house experience gives him a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing our clients in the energy, finance, infrastructure and real estate sectors.”

Counts most recently served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Concho Resources. He also held various in-house legal positions at Petrohawk Energy and Halcon Resources.

“Travis has led some of the most sophisticated and successful in-house legal teams in the energy industry for over a decade,” added G. Alan Rafte, chair of Bracewell’s business and regulatory section, in the release. “His deep knowledge and experience of the industry brings additional strength to our market-leading energy practice.”

Over the course of his career, Counts has negotiated and closed transactions exceeding $75 billion in aggregate value, including Concho’s $16 billion merger with ConocoPhillips, which closed in January 2021.

Prior to joining Petrohawk in 2010, Counts was an equity member at another law firm. 

“I’m excited to return to private practice by joining Bracewell’s dynamic and growing team,” Counts commented. “I’ve enjoyed working with the team as a client over the years and look forward to working with my new partners in serving the needs of our clients.”

Bracewell has one of the largest dedicated energy teams in the world. The firm is widely regarded as a “go-to” firm for transactional, regulatory and litigation matters across the energy spectrum, including in the oil and gas, conventional power and renewable energy sectors, and consistently earns top rankings in Chambers USA, Chambers Global and Legal 500 U.S., according to its release.

Counts is the 17th partner or senior principal to laterally join Bracewell since the start of 2021. Other recent hires include Patrick Bredehoft, Andrew C. Cookingham and Wilson G. Jones in Dallas; Ibrahim Siddiki in Dubai; Tom Jamieson, Ro Lazarovitch, Jo En Low and Gordon Stewart in London; Seth D. DuCharme, Theodore F. Duver, Martin Gusy, Frank Lee and Laura Martone in New York; and Rachael Novier Marsh, Yasmin Nelson and Anne M. Termine in Washington, DC.