Pillsbury Joins Texas Nuclear Alliance as a Founding Member to Spur Further Advances and Innovations in Nuclear Energy

“Pillsbury is a leading provider of legal services to the nuclear industry and with Texas leading the way in the advanced nuclear renaissance, TNA and the growing nuclear industry in Texas will benefit tremendously by having Pillsbury on board,” said TNA President Reed Clay.

Jeffrey Merrifield, former Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Pillsbury Nuclear team leader, stated: “We are excited to join the Texas Nuclear Alliance to further our deep and longstanding involvement with the construction and deployment of nuclear energy in Texas. It is clear that Texas will be a leading state for the deployment of the next generation of advanced nuclear energy and our team is ready to assist in this effort. As the oldest and largest nuclear team in the world, we have the people and capabilities needed to help achieve the success our clients desire.”

Pillsbury, which has longstanding, full-service offices in Austin and Houston and roots in the state going back more than 100 years, is deeply embedded in the global energy market and was the first major law firm to develop a nuclear energy practice in the U.S.

“With nuclear energy projects all over the world, our clients are especially excited about the prospects for expansion in Texas with its pro-growth, business-savvy climate and openness to all things energy,” said Elina Teplinsky, Pillsbury’s Global Energy Industry leader and a key member of the firm’s Nuclear team. “Texas is an enormous consumer of energy, whether for traditional uses or newer needs such as data centers, AI, the electrification of the Permian Basin and semiconductor manufacturing. We believe that nuclear will a major factor in fulfilling this dramatically increasing demand in the coming years.”

Ed Cavazos, managing partner of the firm’s Austin office, added: “Pillsbury is in a unique position as an energy firm and a technology firm—both things that we do at the highest-levels as a firm globally and in Texas. The combination of these core strengths is particularly beneficial in the nuclear space as we see new technologies developing rapidly for such things as small modular reactors, fusion and other first-of-a-kind innovations.”

“Pillsbury is also known for its prowess in permitting, licensing, construction and project finance,” said Amanda Halter, managing partner of the firm’s Houston office. “Our firm knows how to help our clients get things done and Texas is the place to do that. Just as Texas is the leader in oil and natural gas, solar and wind, we think the state will become the leader in the nuclear space with enthusiastic partners in government, academia, business, technology and effective advocacy organizations like the Texas Nuclear Alliance.”

Pillsbury is a leading law firm in nuclear energy, recognized as the Most Innovative Law Firm in North America in the Energy Transition by the Financial Times in 2023 and 2024 and ranked among the elite by Chambers USA and Chambers Global. With over 50 years of experience, the firm has worked on large-scale nuclear projects and financings in more than 30 countries across six continents. As one of the world’s most distinguished nuclear energy practices, Pillsbury provides expert counsel on policy, regulation, transactions, litigation, intellectual property and real estate. Representing nuclear power plant operators, investors, financial institutions, governments and reactor suppliers, Pillsbury has extensive experience in nuclear procurements, transboundary investments and international regulatory frameworks, making it a key player in the global nuclear energy sector. To learn more, visit www.pillsburylaw.com.