Join the KBH Energy Center for a special NAPE week kick-off lunch hosted in collaboration with Bracewell. We’ll feature an engaging panel conversation on emerging trends at the intersection of energy and technology – including the electrification of the oil field and the growing power demands driven by data centers and AI.

Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm CT

Speakers:

Opening Remarks:

GREG BOPP, Managing Partner, Bracewell

Greg Bopp is firm-wide managing partner of Bracewell. Previously, he co-chaired the firm’s business and regulatory section and served multiple terms on its management committee. A leading corporate lawyer, Greg has extensive experience in M&A and capital markets, with a focus on major energy transactions over the past two decades. He was named Dealmaker of the Year by The American Lawyer for representing Kinder Morgan in its $76 billion acquisition of affiliated entities. Chambers USA calls him a “brilliant strategist,” while The Legal 500 ranks him among the biggest names in energy M&A. Greg serves on advisory and executive boards at Rice University, The University of Texas at Austin, and the Greater Houston Partnership, and has held leadership roles with Goodwill Industries of Houston and the Alley Theatre.

Panel

JARED BERG (MODERATOR), PartnerBracewell

Jared Berg advises companies and investors on complex transactions across the energy sector, representing public and private companies, private equity sponsors, and portfolio companies in M&A, joint ventures, and equity investments. He brings a practical, business-focused approach to deal structuring and project development. His practice spans oil and gas, RNG, renewables, carbon capture, and emerging low-carbon solutions, including innovative power generation and distributed energy projects supporting data centers and other power-intensive operations. He also advises manufacturing, real estate, chemical businesses, and startups, including pro bono work. Outside of work, he is an avid skier, frustrated golfer, casual hunter, and private pilot.

JASON ALTOBELLI, Director, Energy and Infrastructure PartnershipsGoogle Cloud

Jason Altobelli is Director of Energy and Infrastructure Partnerships at Google Cloud, based in Houston. He works with leading utilities, energy producers, and infrastructure developers to power AI at scale—using AI to transform energy. Jason leads strategic partnerships across power, oil & gas, nuclear, and advanced energy, helping customers deploy cloud, AI, HPC, and data platforms to accelerate infrastructure delivery, improve safety and reliability, and enable decarbonization. He brings 15+ years across cloud, automation, and enterprise software, with prior leadership roles at Resolve Systems, Appian, Verizon Terremark, and RightScale.

MATTHEW MELTON, Managing Director, EnCap Flatrock

Matthew Melton is a Managing Director at EnCap Flatrock Midstream, where he oversees finance, administrative, and accounting functions for EFM’s funds and portfolio companies. He joined EFM in 2017 after serving as an investment banking associate in Citigroup’s Global Energy Group in Houston, focusing on M&A and capital raises. Previously, he was a senior analyst in Goldman Sachs’ Asset Management Group, supporting the MLP Energy Infrastructure Fund. Mr. Melton holds a B.S. from the University of Texas and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He serves on the boards of several EFM portfolio companies, including Aspen, Cardinal IV, Edgewater, and Moda Midstream II.

MICHAEL MITCHELL, Director, Corporate Development, Diamondback Energy

Michael Mitchell is Director of Corporate Development at Diamondback Energy in Dallas, where he focuses on strategic growth initiatives, including M&A, capital allocation, and investment evaluation. Prior to Diamondback, he spent over a decade at Energy Spectrum Capital as Managing Director, leading energy-focused investments and portfolio management. Earlier in his career, Michael worked in investment banking at RBC Capital Markets and at Amegy Bank. He holds a BBA in Finance, cum laude, from Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School.

ISAAC RAMERIZ, Director of Digital Infrastructure & SustainabilityLandBridge

Isaac Ramirez, Director of Digital Infrastructure & Sustainability at LandBridge, has nearly 20 years in permitting strategy and project development for large-scale infrastructure across the US and Latin America. He has held roles at Microsoft, TransCanada, and Boardwalk Pipelines, advancing projects from feasibility to operation, including renewables, power, datacenters, and natural resource projects. A UC Berkeley graduate, he bridges technology, infrastructure, and project delivery in high-growth sectors.

Closing Remarks

JACK BALAGIA, Executive Director, The KBH Energy Center

Jack Balagia is Executive Director of the KBH Energy Center at UT Austin. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from UT and clerked for Chief U.S. District Judge W.M. Taylor Jr. He was VP and General Counsel of ExxonMobil (2010–2016), leading 450 lawyers and 350 staff in 31 offices. After retirement, he joined UT Law as an adjunct professor and practiced law in litigation, mediation, and arbitration. He chaired the Law School Foundation Board, led the Alumni Association, and won the 2014 Outstanding Alumnus Award.