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.
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Iconic Grocer Rings in 30th Anniversary, Renews Its 'Wows' to Customers with Delicious Ways to Celebrate
Sep. 9, 2024
FAVE FOODIE DESTINATION Central Market is renewing its commitment to customers Sept. 11-24, promising a journey of taste and discovery in honor of its milestone 30th anniversary. Join Houston’s one and only location for the delicious series Let’s Renew Our Wows featuring in-store events, foodie strolls, cooking classes and more.
Festivities kick off this Wednesday, Sept. 11 starting at 6:30 pm with the Central Market 30th Anniversary: A Taste of Houston. At the sip and stroll, guests will sample creations from beloved local chefs including Victoria Elizondo of Cochinita & Co., Erik Cruz with Artisans, Chase Reid from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Masaru Fukuda of Pasha Nikkei, David Cordua with The Lynbar, Jason Kohler of Central Market, and more.
Stroll around the upstairs mezzanine and cooking school complemented by music and chef tables or enjoy the outdoor patio, also with music. Included are samples of wine, Saint Arnold’s beers and an array of desserts. For more details and to RSVP, click here.
30th Anniversary Foodie Stroll
Central Market locations will host a Foodie Stroll for guests on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 2-5pm. This immersive culinary experience will celebrate three decades of memories with food displays, interactive events and general sampling for all to enjoy! Elevate your foodie experience for $10 and receive exclusive swag that includes an anniversary wine glass and a $10 coupon. Don’t forget to stop by the Customer Interactive Wall and enter your dream dinner party drawing for a chance to win a $50 Central Market gift card.
Future Foodie Stroll (for Kids!)
Kids are invited to take a bite of the excitement at the Future Foodie Stroll on Sept. 21 from 10am-1pm. This free event is designed just for young foodies, offering a variety of engaging activities. Each child will receive a free chef hat and a passport to be stamped at each station along the stroll.
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In Colorful New Book, a Houston Illustrator Invites Young Readers to Visit the ‘Night Market’
Sep. 9, 2024
“IN A LOT of Nigerian cultures, there is this idea that nighttime is the time when spirits come out and are alive,” says first-generation Nigerian-American illustrator Briana Mukodiri Uchendu. “The nighttime is when crazy things happen.”
The nighttime is the setting for The Night Market, a new picture book for readers ages 4-8, written by Seina Wedlick and beautifully illustrated by Uchendu. The book follows the adventures of a young girl as she discovers the sights, smells, and sounds of a traditional, pre-colonial Nigerian night market “full of wares and treasures, old things and new things, marvelous objects and strange relics.”
Uchendu, 25, was born and raised in Houston and is the daughter of a Nigerian father and a white mother. Each summer, Uchendu’s family traveled to Nigeria and stayed with her father’s sisters and “aunties,” who would help look after the children. One summer evening, an auntie took Uchendu to a night market for the first time to get her hair braided and some clothes fitted for an upcoming wedding.
“I remember sitting there for hours getting my hair done and food flying all over the place,” says Uchendu who, like the little girl in The Night Market, was around eight years old at the time. “That’s the first time I had abacha, and I was thinking, this is really good!” (Abacha is a salad recipe that originated with the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria.)
At one point, the young girl in The Night Market encounters a joyful, communal celebration, depicted across four full pages of artwork inspired by the drumming and dancing that distinguish traditional Igbo weddings (Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa are the three major tribes in Nigeria). “At weddings, they’re constantly playing live music,” says Uchendu, who was also inspired by the modern sounds of Nigerian musical icon Fela Kuti while illustrating this scene. “I’m just imagining non-stop drumming and horns coming in and out.”
Throughout The Night Market, Uchendu’s illustrations are informed by her childhood memories of Nigeria and a wide range of West African cultural influences, including Yoruba textiles and architecture. The nighttime skies at the beginning and conclusion of the book are filled with constellations in the shape of spirals, fish, and birds. “I wanted to place this story in a time and place where there is magic,” says Uchendu.“The symbols in the sky are there to express the consciousness of the people in that time.”
Uchendu’s previous projects include her picture book debut The Talk, by Newbery Honor-winner Alicia D. Williams, a powerful age-appropriate book about a young boy’s growing awareness of race relations and police brutality; and We Could Fly, a dream-like celebration of African folklore and resilience inspired by the song, “We Could Fly” by Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell. The Night Market goes on sale Sept. 10, and will be available locally at Brazos Bookstore and Kindred Stories.
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