Sutherland Bolsters Energy and Commodities Practice with Addition of Admiralty and Maritime Counsel James Textor in New York

NEW YORK—Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP announced today that James M. Textor has joined the firm’s Energy, Environmental and Commodities Practice Group as counsel in the New York office. Prior to joining Sutherland, Mr. Textor was an attorney at Cichanowicz Callan Keane Vengrow & Textor, LLP. With nearly 35 years of experience—both in private practice and as corporate counsel for a leading oil trader—Mr. Textor is a nationally recognized admiralty and maritime litigator in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels.’

Clients will benefit from James’ extensive international admiralty and maritime experience, his grasp of industry best practices and his decades of trial experience,’ said Sutherland Managing Partner Mark D. Wasserman. ‘He is a terrific addition to our firm, and we are thrilled to have him on board.’

Mr. Textor represents clients in shipping and chartering disputes, breach of liquid commodity sales contracts and related commercial arbitrations. He also advises multinational energy companies, financing banks and trading institutions on complex coverage disputes arising from alleged damage to energy-related assets. His years as corporate counsel provide him with extensive experience in the petroleum and chemical industry, including hedging business risks through derivatives.’
 
James is a great addition to our expanding environmental litigation and maritime teams,’ said Sutherland’s Energy, Environmental and Commodities Practice Group Leader Herbert J. Short, Jr. ‘He adds to our international strength, and will be an advantage to our global clients.’

Mr. Textor is the author of six law review articles on petroleum trading contracts, maritime arbitration, and vessel and barge charter party disputes. He also holds an unlimited tonnage ocean license in the United States Coast Guard. Sutherland’s addition of Mr. Textor is the latest step in the firm’s expansion of its leading Energy, Environmental and Commodities Practice Group. In January, the group welcomed Counsel Daniel P. LeFort, resident in the firm’s Houston office, from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. In December, Partner Madeleine
M.L. Tan, resident in the firm’s New York office, joined from Kaye Scholer LLP. The team also recently elected David M. McCullough as a partner and Alexander S. Holtan, Benjamin Rajabi, Darryl F. Smith and Jeffrey B. Stuart as counsel in the group. Sutherland’s Energy, Environmental and Commodities Practice Group includes more than 70 lawyers who represent clients that are active in the crude oil, natural gas, LNG, electric power, electric cooperative, renewable and alternative energy, oil pipeline and nuclear energy industries. The practice expanded internationally in March 2014 by combining with Arbis LLP in London and Geneva.