Thrive & Inspire: ‘Results for Clients’ in Oil and Gas Drives Michelman & Robinson’s Varnado
Mar. 6, 2023
WHAT WAS THE highlight of 2022 at your business? That’s easy, launching Michelman & Robinson in Houston was, for me, the absolute high point of 2022 — and that’s in a year that included so many highlights. Without question, being named the firm’s Houston Office Managing Partner is and was a professional milestone that I’m so very proud of. That I’ve already been able to expand the office to 10 of us (and growing) and significantly move the needle in terms of the firm’s reach within the energy space is icing on the cake.
What makes all this even better are the positive results my team and I were able to obtain on behalf of our clients in 2022. This includes a very favorable settlement we negotiated on behalf of EQT Corporation, the nation’s largest natural gas producer, in what turned out to be a very controversial trial in West Virginia in which EQT faced hundreds of millions of dollars in exposure. That case involved a judge who pulled out a handgun from beneath his robe and pointed it at me in his courtroom — an episode covered by People, Vanity Fair, The Daily Beast and CBS and NBC News and which led to his resignation from the bench. Like I said, It was a year full of highlights.
Successful people usually have many choices in what to do professionally? Why did you choose this? I’m a Houstonian through and through, so it’s no surprise that I’ve always been drawn to the oil and gas industry, which in many ways defines our great city. The people and issues that I have the privilege of working with — and on — in the energy space keep me on my toes, always engaged, and excited about each and every day.
We’re fans of the late educator Stephen Covey, who used to say that successful people “begin with the end in the mind.” At your business, what’s the end? What are you striving to accomplish? I want to be known as a preeminent first-chair trial attorney — a go-to lawyer handling the most consequential cases impacting the oil and gas business in Texas and beyond. Truth be told, not many women fit this bill. I’m proud to say that I do, and I’m so grateful to the clients that entrust me with their most important pieces of litigation.
What’s new for 2023 that you’re excited about? New colleagues as my office grows, new cases that I’m handling for amazing clients, and new challenges as I continue to spread my wings here in Houston — it’s all so exciting!
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EXPERIENTIAL, OR “VIBE,” dining has been trending for a few years now in Houston, from restaurateurs who assume that diners want more than just a meal. Well, they all just got some stiff competition with the opening of Toca Madera in the Pavilion at The Allen.
A product of international hospitality group Nobel 33, which has locations in Los Angeles, Scottsdale and Las Vegas, this is the group’s first Texas restaurant. The company plans to open Meduza Mediterrania in H-Town later this fall.
The sexy 14,000-square-foot import aims to transport guests to a Mexico City supper club with moody lighting, bold furnishings and art, plus a dramatic bird’s nest patio with hanging Spanish moss and a ceiling of wisteria vines. Get ready: its dining room, open kitchen, and bar area beat with an electric-like atmosphere, and the live entertainment — think hot fire dancers and cleavage-y energy galore — will keep you on your toes. (If this is your jam, consider a membership. Perks include members-only menu items, wine and access to a private speakeasy.)
Sink into a velvet banquette and let the drink and food ordering begin. You might just forget how loud the music is after a few sips of a specialty margarita (the Ghost Rider is presented with a little fire bling). Dip perfectly fried plantain chips into guacamole garnished with pomegranate seeds; the beautifully presented sashimi Mexico, atop cucumber and buttery avocado, is another cool choice. There’s also a designated taco menu.
Although night owls might come for cocktails and small shareable plates, there’s a full roster of entrees. Since it is a steakhouse, consider one of the many beef entrees ranging from petite-but-mighty filets to the massive 40-ounce tomahawk steak presented flaming on a hook. Take your pick from prime American-sourced wagyu and Black Angus or Japanese wagyu.
Fresh seafood is plentiful and just as impressive. Houston Executive Chef Christian Brennan oversees the kitchen, which leans on sustainably caught seafood and organic ingredients. Don’t miss the giant Mayan prawns served with cilantro lime rice and citrus cabbage or splurgy Mariscos tower stacked with spanking fresh king crab and lobster tail, jumbo prawns, and oysters on ice. Like the vibe, food is a show here — and it’s not just a pretty face.
A Fire Dancer
Crispy A5 Wagyu Tacos (photo by Alonso Parra)
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IS A HEALTHY, balanced real estate market finally here? Per HAR data, the answer is ... kind of? Inventory is at the highest level since 2011, prices are holding steady, and the city and metro area continue to grow in population. Having lost population after Harvey and Covid, the city welcomes significant yet sustainable growth — and a housing market that can handle it.
50%
The share of Ritz-Carlton Residences, The Woodlands under contract in its first week to market, according to Howard Hughes Holdings. It speaks to the trend of branded luxury condominiums; St. Regis also has a community in the works.
5
The number of months that it would take to sell all of the townhomes and condominiums currently on the market if things continued moving at the same pace, and no new listings were to hit. This June 2024 figure is the highest since September 2012, per HAR.
40
The percent of households in the Houston region that can afford a median-priced home with a 30-year, fixed-rate loan, per HAR. This figure was 42 percent in 2023.
23,800
The number of building permits for single-family homes issued in the Houston metro area so far in 2024, a 16 percent increase from one year ago, per the National Association of Home Builders. Texas leads the nation in number of permits issued.
80%
The percentage of multifamily units currently under construction that are located on the western side of the Houston metro area, per Yardi Matrix. The Cinco Ranch community has both the largest project — Resia Ten Oaks — and the biggest slice of the pie (11 percent).
Explore Houston's hottest neighborhoods here or the top real estate trends here.
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