Morgan Lewis Strengthens Energy and Infrastructure Transactions and EPC Capabilities with Jude Leblanc in Houston

HOUSTON, August 3, 2026: Morgan Lewis is pleased to announce the addition of partner Jude Leblanc, further strengthening the firm's global energy and infrastructure practice and EPC capabilities. Joining from McGuireWoods, Jude brings more than 25 years of experience advising clients on complex commercial transactions across the energy and infrastructure sectors, with a particular focus on engineering, procurement, and construction contracts, project development, and large-scale infrastructure projects, including nuclear generation facilities (both large-scale and small modular reactor technologies). Jude’s extensive experience in Latin America bolsters Morgan Lewis’s significant Houston-based corporate, private equity, finance, and trade practices in those regions.

"Global demand for new energy generation, transmission, data center infrastructure, and industrial development continues to accelerate, driving the need for sophisticated counsel on increasingly complex projects," said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. "Jude's arrival enhances our capabilities at a time when clients are making significant investments across conventional (including nuclear) and renewable energy as well as data center and other infrastructure projects and seeking advisors who can help bring those projects from concept to completion."

Jude represents developers, utilities, engineering and construction companies, investors, and other project participants in the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of complex commercial agreements. Beyond his extensive EPC work, he also advises on equipment supply agreements, project and corporate finance transactions, M&A, and joint venture arrangements across nuclear power, renewable energy, gas-fired power, data centers, mining, oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, carbon capture, and telecommunications. Before returning to private practice, Jude spent more than a decade in senior legal leadership roles at Fluor Corporation, a global engineering and construction company, including serving as vice president, law.

"Clients developing major energy and infrastructure projects require counsel who understand not only the legal issues, but also the commercial realities of delivering complex projects," said Elizabeth Hanigan, leader of Morgan Lewis's energy and infrastructure practice. "Jude's unique combination of private practice and in-house EPC experience, together with his work advising on power generation, nuclear development, data center, and other complex energy projects, will be an immediate asset to clients undertaking some of the market's most significant infrastructure investments."

Morgan Lewis's energy and infrastructure practice advises clients across the full life cycle of projects, from development and financing through construction, operation, and strategic transactions. Recognized by Chambers and The Legal 500 for its market-leading capabilities, the team counsels utilities, developers, investors, lenders, engineering and construction companies, and other industry participants across conventional and renewable power, nuclear energy, oil and gas, LNG, hydrogen, carbon capture, data centers, and other critical infrastructure sectors.