Lawyers Can Be Cool — Especially Lauren Varnado and Energy Experts at Michelman & Robinson!
May. 31, 2023
Lauren Varnado
Law firms aren’t typically associated with cool, but then again, Michelman & Robinson, LLP is no ordinary law firm. Fact is, M&R is different, special and, yes, cool. Especially the lawyers in its Houston office, which is the hub of the firm’s robust energy practice.
It’s a Gas
Lauren Varnado is M&R’s Houston Office Managing Partner. Having graced the pages of Vanity Fair, Vogue and People, Lauren sets the tone in Houston, not just for the firm’s vibe, but for its efforts in the oil and gas space.
Unlike the work of most other players in the legal marketplace, M&R’s efforts—and that of Lauren and her Houston-based team—are informed by a nuanced understanding of the energy sector. This insight not only allows Lauren and the firm to effectively address clients’ immediate legal concerns, but also enables them to identify broader business issues that can positively impact the bottom lines of the companies they represent.
What’s cool is that they do so as part of a new generation of lawyers—a fearless group that’s disrupting a typically buttoned-up, male-dominated profession and turning the practice of law on its head by leaning into relatability, accessibility and, above all else, humanity—this on top of the fact that M&R Houston knows oil and gas better than just about anyone else.
Differentiators
Some of the adjectives that best describe Lauren and her crew in Houston are modern, candid, practical, influential and whip-smart. Together, they deliver premier client service that truly sets them apart. What else distinguishes M&R Houston from other firms (including those similar in size and reach) are the long-standing relationships it has with clients—relationships founded upon absolute trust and an expectation of excellence that informs the way they operate in courtrooms, at closing tables and beyond.
From Soup to Nuts
Energy isn’t the only industry that M&R attorneys are immersed in. They’re sought after by those in the advertising & digital media, banking & financial services, hospitality, insurance, music & entertainment, retail & apparel and technology spaces, too. M&R offers these clients a full suite of services, including top-tier work in commercial, class action, and cross-border litigation, as well as bankruptcy & restructuring, corporate & securities, cybersecurity & privacy, employment, insurance, intellectual property, real estate and regulatory law. Without fail, they do so in a collaborative way, keeping clients involved throughout every case and transaction, which eliminates surprises and ensures that expectations are met, if not exceeded, time and again.
As Cool as Can Be
M&R’s seven offices (Los Angeles, Irvine, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, New York and, of course, Houston) have been built upon a foundation of exceptional people—women and men of differing backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and orientations all working toward a common goal: client success. The firm’s focus on diversity and inclusion (it’s been named a “Top 100 Firms for Minority Attorneys”), along with its industry expertise and culture that emphasizes professional development and fun, make M&R a law firm that's the arbiter of cool.
Lauren Varnado manages the Houston office of Michelman & Robinson, LLP. A sought-after, award-winning litigator and head of the firm’s energy practice, Lauren can be contacted at lvardado@mrllp.com or (713) 422-2121.
Keep Reading
Show less
Fall Philanthropy Report: Spindletop Community Impact Partners Engages and Supports At-Risk Youth
Oct. 8, 2024
The 50th Annual Spindletop Holiday Ball, Seas and Greetings, will be held on Thursday, December 12. Tables and sponsorship opportunities are available now.
What is your mission? Spindletop Community Impact Partners, Inc. enhances the lives of at-risk youth through funding and volunteering from the energy industry, while promoting fellowship and networking among its participants.
What are you most proud of? Spindletop is proud to support 35 non-profit organizations in Houston, all aligned with our four pillars: Educate, Empower, Protect, and Nurture. Together, we work to create brighter, healthier, and more fulfilling futures for Houston’s at-risk children.
At the heart of our success are more than 60 corporate sponsors and supporters from the energy industry, who provide both financial support and volunteer time. Since 2018, the Spindletop Army has grown to more than 500 dedicated volunteers, ensuring impactful projects for Houston’s youth are executed with great care, enthusiasm and precision.
How have you impacted the community? At Spindletop, we strive to make a lasting impact on the greater Houston community by connecting at-risk youth with programs that educate, empower, protect, and nurture them throughout their lives.
Our four giving pillars guide this mission:
1. Educate: Bolstering foundational educational resources to ensure success at all levels of schooling.
2. Empower: Fostering confidence and life skills that support social and emotional development.
3. Protect: Advocating for children’s safety and overall well-being in the community.
4. Nurture: Providing support for healthcare and wellness to individuals facing illness or special needs.
Spindletop provides critical funding to worthy causes that span across these pillars, including Bo’s Place, BridgeYear, Camp For All, Kids’ Meals, Texas Center for the Missing and more. For the full list, please visit our website: https://bit.ly/SCIPWWD24
Tell us about your big event. The Spindletop Holiday Ball is the premier holiday event in the energy industry, capturing the merriment of the holiday season all the while raising more than $1 million annually to support Houston’s at-risk children.
This year, we will celebrate the 50th Annual Spindletop Holiday Ball, Seas and Greetings, on Thursday, December 12. Guests will enjoy a fun-filled evening under the sea as we honor industry leaders and their contributions to the community as a whole. Highlights of the evening include a dance performance by Ensemble Theatre, a Holiday Toy Drive with toys collected by our holiday “elves” from Girls Inc. of Greater Houston and a beautiful poinsettia tree cultivated by citizens of The Brookwood Community - all Spindletop non-profit partners. The evening is capped off with dancing to the musical stylings of Password.
If you or your corporation are interested in supporting this year’s Spindletop Holiday Ball, please contact Spindletop Executive Director Lia Vallone at info@spindletophouston.org.
From Your Site Articles
Keep Reading
Show less
Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims
Oct. 8, 2024
What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.
Why did you launch the organization? The CAC is the only child advocacy center in Harris County and one of the largest nationwide. Sadly, before the implementation of advocacy centers, there was not a streamlined process for children. Victims of sexual abuse were often interviewed multiple times by various law enforcement, medical professionals, and mental health clinicians. Here at The CAC, we know that having to recount abuse several times can be retraumatizing, and we sought to find a solution to make a trauma-informed process.
The goal of The CAC is to provide all the services, partners, and resources families need in one place. We collaborate with hundreds of professionals from 60 Partner Agencies (e.g., law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals, nonprofits, and governmental investigative entities) to coordinate investigations, provide services, and protect children. Our hope is that our process will give children the tools necessary to empower them on their healing journey.
How have you impacted the community? Our work is guided by the belief that all children in our community deserve to grow up safe, happy, and healthy. We work to empower children’s healing journeys, restore hope in families, and provide support to avoid long-term trauma. The CAC exists to help our community become a better, safer place for each child of Harris County.
Tell us about your big event. We will host our annual Spirit of Spring Gala to celebrate The Children’s Assessment Center Foundation’s 30th anniversary. We are thrilled to invite community members who have helped us make a lasting impact on child sexual abuse survivors, their families, and our community. We look forward to commemorating the 30th year on April 11, 2025, at The Houstonian Hotel.
How can I help? As adults, it is our responsibility to keep children safe. Your generosity can help empower families on their healing journey and protect vulnerable children. Please consider how you can be part of the solution to end child sexual abuse. Go to our website, cachouston.org, to learn how to donate, volunteer, and protect children in our community.
We exist to protect children, heal families, and prevent child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking in our community.
Keep Reading
Show less