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Robert R. and Melissa B. Rabalais Energy Law Endowment

Robert Rabalais and his wife, Melissa, have established an endowed fund to support students interested in energy law. As a graduate of the LSU Law Center, Robert is keenly aware of the financial burdens placed on today’s law students. The Rabalais’ goal is to support students who may one day practice in a legal field related to the energy sector. Robert has built his highly successful legal career around complex finance in the energy sector.

Robert received his J.D. from the LSU Law Center in 1989. Several years ago, he was approached by a highly regarded international law firm and asked to establish a firm in the Houston area. Robert became the managing partner in the Houston office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where he is a member of the firm’s Banking and Credit Practice and Energy and Infrastructure Practice. His work focuses on a range of lending and capital markets transactions in the oil and gas exploration and production sectors, as well as in the midstream and related service sectors. In his work, Robert represents corporate borrowers and issuers, commercial banks and mezzanine lenders, institutional investors and insurance companies. He practiced law at Vinson and Elkins LLP for over 20 years before joining Simpson Thacher.

Robert, has been identified as “one of the country’s top energy financing lawyers” by Law360 and named 2012 Houston Lawyer of the Year for Banking and Finance Law by Best Lawyers.  He has negotiated multi-billion and multi-million dollar transactions for Wells Fargo; JPMorgan Securities LLC; Plains Exploration & Production; and Vantage Energy, among other clients.

While in law school, Robert was a member of the Louisiana Law Review and graduated with honors as a member of The Order of the Coif.

Robert serves on the LSU Law Center Alumni Board of Trustees and is a member of the Energy Law Center Advisory Council. He has been an annual donor to the Law Center since 2005.

He and Melissa reside in Houston with their two children, where they are active in the community and in their church.

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