Profile
Nikki Wise focuses her practice on a wide variety of transactional matters including energy finance, strategic alliances, joint ventures and the leasing, acquisition and divestiture of assets. Her energy experience includes work related to upstream, midstream and downstream natural gas and gas liquids. Nikki’s practice also encompasses projects in the carbon sequestration, hydrogen, green ammonia, renewable natural gas, hydro generation and wind energy sectors. She has worked on legal issues in connection with facilities that gather, process and transmit products in multiple states across the United States. Her work includes complex international energy matters in countries such as Poland, Canada, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Nikki also handles general corporate and finance transactions and works on litigation related cases. Her real estate experience includes representing clients in the development, financing, construction, leasing and sale of residential and commercial developments.
Concentrations
- Energy and natural resources
- Global energy and infrastructure
- Gas utilities and pipelines
- Energy and gas storage
- Carbon capture and sequestration
- Biofuels – Hydrogen
- Energy and environmental policy
- Corporate and mergers and acquisitions
- Energy project development
- Corporate and securities
- Real estate
Capabilities
Experience
- Counsel for an agricultural private equity fund in the development of an ethanol carbon dioxide gathering, transmission and permanent carbon sequestration project in the Midwest United States. This is the world’s largest project of its type.
- Counsel for the developer of the first carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery and permanent sequestration project in California.
- Counsel for the lenders in a helium Volumetric Production Payment structure in Kansas.
- Counsel for a major gas company’s defense in the preparation of expert testimony from 14 expert witness teams related to a storage field leak in California, the alleged largest release of methane in U.S. history.
- Counsel to a large Eastern Europe refiner with Polish shale development services contracts and a $15 billion crude oil purchase contract.
- Counsel for a major Western gas utility in the acquisition of renewable natural gas across the United States.
- Texas Real Estate Sales Agent
- Sim Lake, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Texas
Recognition & Leadership
Professional Involvement
- Member, Houston Bar Association
- Professionalism Committee, 2021-Present
- Campaign to End Homelessness & Hunger Committee, 2019-2020
- Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section, 2011-Present
- Corporate Counsel Section, 2011-Present
- Member, Women’s Energy Network, 2019-Present
- Member, Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment, 2021-Present
- Member, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, 2014-Present
- Member, Greater Houston Partnership, 2020-Present
- Women’s Business Alliance
- Business Beyond Borders
- Member, Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 2021-Present
- Member, The Women Leaders Association Houston Chapter, 2020-Present
- Steering Committee, University of Houston Law Center’s Women of the Law Alumnae, 2021-Present
- Member, Houstonian Club, 2012-Present
- Member, University of Houston Law Center's A. A. White Society, 1995
- Team Member, Corporate Board Member magazine and FTI Consulting Inc., one of "America’s Best Corporate Law Firms," 13th Annual Legal Industry Study, 2013
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, State Bar of Texas
Community Involvement
- Volunteer, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, 1998-Present
- International Committee, 2003-Present
- Judging Contest Committee, Captain, 2001-2003
- Livestock Committee, 1998-2000
- Member, Victory, American Cancer Society, 1998-Present
- Cattle Baron’s Ball Committee Leader, 2004-2008
- Member, Junior League of Houston, Inc., 1996-Present
- Strategic Planning Admissions Committee, 2021-Present
- Sustainer, 2010-Present
- Tea Room Model, 2006-2010
- Charity Ball Invitations/Reservations Chairman, 1999-2000
- Charity Ball Underwriting Committee, 1998-2000
- Member, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority Board, 2021-Present
- Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Association, Alternate Delegate, 2021-Present
- Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Association, Research and Education Committee, 2021-Present
- Member, Texas A&M University, Liberal Arts Development Council, 1994-1998
- Member, Daughters of the American Revolution, Lady Washington Chapter, 2006-Present
- Member, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, San Jacinto Chapter, 2006-Present
- Member, San Jacinto Descendants, 2006-Present
- Volunteer, Greenberg Traurig, United Way Campaign Fundraising Leader, 2011
- Volunteer, Walk For the Woods Project, 2017-2019
- Supporter, Girls Inc. of Houston, 2020-Present
- Supporter, World Vision, 2018-Present
Credentials
- J.D., University of Houston Law Center
- B.S., Psychology, cum laude, Texas A&M University
- Texas