Lauren Varnado

The best piece of advice offered by a mentor to Lauren Varnado has been, “Be brave—fight like hell when you are right but have the humility to admit when you are wrong.” 

Since launching her legal career at the start of the shale boom, Varnado has represented energy clients, including Shell, EOG Resources, Energy Transfer, EQT Corp., among others, in disputes that raise novel legal questions related to the development, production and transportation of hydrocarbons.

Her practice has covered a wide range of disputes, including lawsuits alleging breach of joint operating agreements, oil and gas leases, joint development agreements, energy marketing agreements, gas sale and purchase agreements, theft of trade secrets, class action royalty cases, and climate and winter storm litigation. 

“My early influences were the partners I worked for at my first firm (Fulbright & Jaworski),” she said. “They were trailblazers in energy litigation—they successfully defended oil and gas companies in hostile venues and taught me to think innovatively in trying cases and advising clients with complex legal issues.”

Successfully defending oil and gas companies in hostile venues has come to define Varnado’s career. Representing energy producers in cases where her physical safety, and that of her team and clients was threatened has only made her more determined to vigorously advocate for her clients.

“The extent of misunderstanding by the public (and jurors) about the energy industry has been a surprise to me,” she said. “This can and does create hostility towards energy companies, which is obviously a challenge in litigation representing those companies. Education is the key to changing attitudes and beliefs. At trial, I view it as part of my job to educate the jury about the energy industry more broadly and correct misinformation that may influence them.” 

But the biggest challenges in her career have involved issues beyond disputes over mineral rights and royalty obligations, risk mitigation in operations, and even highly-scrutinized climate disclosures. Efforts to confront injustice, bias, and harassment—as both a woman and as a lawyer who has been vocal about corruption and unethical conduct within the legal profession—have presented the most significant challenges for Varnado over her career. 

“I wouldn’t say that I have overcome these challenges, but they require tenacity and a thick skin,” Varnado said. “Not everyone will like you, much less support you. Having a deep conviction to do the right thing for clients and sense of duty to protect the integrity of our legal system pushes me to rise to the challenge. You cannot listen to anyone who does not wholeheartedly root for you to win and celebrate your successes.”

Varnado’s leadership approach is focused on empowerment and accountability. She said she tries to lead by example—hard work, transparency, networking and building relationships, and continued education about the energy industry. 

“I encourage my team to think creatively and strategically to achieve the client’s business objectives and to always put the client’s needs above their own,” she said. 

Varnado rewards team members who excel with a turn in the limelight.

“An example from a recent arbitration: An associate on our team did fantastic work preparing for the final hearing, i.e., trial,” she said. “She earned and was rewarded with the opportunity to question several witnesses at the hearing, including an expert witness.”

Above all, Varnado’s mission is to serve energy clients and support U.S. energy production.

“American natural gas can drive global decarbonization,” she said. “Innovations in energy technology will help the world find true sustainability. Now, more than ever, it is critical to defend the rights and protect the technology of U.S. energy producers. And I am proud to have the privilege of getting to do that.”

Check out the rest of Hart Energy's 2025 Women in Energy here.