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Address
333 Clay Street, Suite 3300
Houston, Texas 77002-4499 (Ft. Bend, Harris & Montgomery Cos.)
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Established in 1887, Thompson & Knight today is a dynamic firm of approximately 420 attorneys. In the United States we have four offices in Texas and one in New York, and our international offices are located in Brazil, Europe, Mexico, and North Africa. Thompson & Knight opened its Houston office in 1978 and has since grown to more than 100 lawyers today. In Houston, our traditional focus on litigation remains strong. Clients also benefit from our strength in oil, gas, and energy; corporate and securities; finance; real estate and banking; bankruptcy; tax; and labor and employment. Statement of PracticeAcquisitions and Divestitures, Administrative, Africa Trade, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Antitrust and Trade Regulation, Appellate and Supreme Court, Aviation and Aerospace, Bankruptcy, Biotechnology, Business, Chemicals, China, Class Actions, Climate Change, Commercial Law, Complex and Multi-District Litigation, Computer Hardware and Software, Construction Law, Consumer Products, Contracts, Copyrights, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, Corporate Reorganization, Creditors' Rights, Election Campaign and Political Law, Eminent Domain, Employee Benefits (ERISA), Endangered Species, Energy, Energy Finance, Entertainment Law, Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation, Estate Planning and Individual Wealth Management, Executive Compensation, Ethanol, Federal and State Taxation, Finance, Financial Institutions, First Amendment Law, Food and Beverage, General and Tort Litigation in Federal and State Courts, Franchises and Franchising, General Civil Practice, Global Projects and Infrastructure, Government Contracts, Government Relations, Health Law, Hospitality, Immigration, Information Management and E-Discovery Solutions, Initial Public Offerings, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Litigation, Internal Investigations, International Energy Law, International Investment, International Law, International Trade, Investment Partnerships, Investment and Hedge Funds, Labor and Employment Law, Latin America, Land Use, Legal Malpractice Defense, Litigation, LNG, Lobbying, Manufacturing, Media Law, Medical Malpractice, Mergers, Natural Gas, Natural Resources, Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations, Occupational Safety and Health, Oil and Gas, Oil and Gas Acquisitions, Oil and Gas Contracts, Oil and Gas Exploration, Oil and Gas Finance, Oil and Gas Litigation, Oilfield Drilling, Oil Pollution, Partnership Law, Patents, Petroleum Law, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, Pipelines, Probate and Fiduciary Services, Probate Litigation, Products Liability, Professional Liability, Public Capital Markets, Railroad, Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Refineries, Regulatory Matters, Renewable Energy, Restaurant Law, Retail, School Law, Securities, Semiconductors, Sports Law, Taxation, Technology and Science, Sweepstakes and Contest Law, Telecommunications, Tenancy-in-Common (TIC), Toxic Torts, Trade Secrets, Trademarks, Transportation, Trustee Service, Trusts and Estates, White Collar Crime, and Wills. Year Established: 1887
Firm Size: 420
Languages: Arabic, Catalan, French, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Firm Affiliations INTERLAW: Thompson & Knight is a member of Interlaw, an international alliance of 64 member firms in 118 global business centers, providing access to more than 5,000 lawyers worldwide
Address333 Clay Street, Suite 3300 Houston, TX 77002-4499, (Ft. Bend, Harris & Montgomery Cos.)
PhonePhone: 713.654.8111 Fax: 713.654.1871
Websitehttp://www.tklaw.com
Firm/Affiliate OfficesDallas, Texas: (Main Office) One Arts Plaza 1722 Routh Street Suite 1500 75201. Telephone: 214.969.1700. Fax: 214.969.1751.
New York, New York: 919 Third Avenue 39th Floor 10022-3915. Telephone: 212.751.3001. Fax: 212.751.3113.
Austin, Texas: 98 San Jacinto Boulevard Suite 1900 78701-4238. Telephone: 512.469.6100. Fax: 512.469.6180.
Fort Worth, Texas: 801 Cherry Street Unit 1 Burnett Plaza Suite 1600 76102-6881. Telephone: 817.347.1700. Fax: 817.347.1799.
San Antonio, Texas: 4040 Broadway Suite 615 78209. Telephone: 210.225.2285. Fax: 210.225.7045.
Algiers, Algeria: Residence PTT Villa 45 A Hydra 16035. Telephone: +213.2159.1377. Fax: +213.2159.2034.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Tauil & Chequer Advogados Affiliated with Thompson & Knight LLP Rua do Carmo 43 - 8° e 9° Andares - Centro 20011-020. Telephone: +55 21.2271.4210. Fax: +55 21.2272.4211.
São Paulo, Brazil: Tauil & Chequer Advogados Affiliated with Thompson & Knight LLP Av. Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek 1455 - 6° Andar - Vila Nova Conceição SP 04543-011. Telephone: +55.11.2504.4210. Fax: +55.11.2504.4211.
London, England:
Paris, France: Representative Office 2300 rue Balzac 75008. Telephone: +33 1.5353.6958. Fax: +33 1.5353.6700.
Mexico, D.F., Mexico: Paseo de las Palmas 405 - 1901 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec C.P. 11000. Telephone: +52 55.5002.8100. Fax: +52 55.5002.8110.
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico: ING Torre Comercial América 30th Floor Batallón de San Patricio #111 Col. Valle Oriente Garza García N.L. C.P. 66269. Telephone: +52 81.8215.7700. Fax: +52 81.8215.7701.
(For biographical data on other personnel, see Professional Biographies at Algiers, Algeria; Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, Texas; London, England; New York, New York; Monterrey and Mexico City, Mexico; Paris, France; and São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
PARTNERSRoger D. Aksamit (Practice Leader Tax) admitted to bar, 1978, Texas; 1980, U.S. Tax Court. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.B.A., with honors, 1975); The University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1978); Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law (LL.M., Taxation, 1987). Listed: Texas Rising Star (Tax, Energy and Natural Resources), 2002; Chambers USA (Tax), 2006; The Best Lawyers in America (Tax Law), 2006-2010; Who's Who Legal: Texas (Corporate Tax), 2008; Texas Super Lawyers (Tax Law), 2009. Summer Instructor: El Paso Association of CPAs, Partnerships, International Taxation, C&S Corporations; UT McDonald Observatory Board of Visitors; The Kalahari Children's Home Foundation. Member, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Member: Houston (Member, Tax Section), El Paso and American (Member, Taxation Section) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Member, Taxation Section and Energy and Natural Resources Committee). Fellow: Houston Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Corporate Tax Planning; Tax Controversies; Tax Law; Tax Planning.Email: Roger D. Aksamit
Jeffrey B. Andrews (Partner) admitted to bar, 1997, Texas; 2004, New York. Education: Trinity University (B.A., 1994); University of Texas at Austin (J.D., 1997). Named to: "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," (Outsourcing, Technology and IT Outsourcing) Chambers & Partners, Chambers USA, 2008. Publications and Presentations: "Outsourcing to a Better Bottom Line," Annual Energy Industry Symposium, April 16, 2009; "The Outsourcing Contract: Overview and Critical Issues," Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University, January 2009; "Best Practices in Multi-Supplier Contracting," Sourcing Interests Group, Fall Leadership Summit, September 2008; "Best Practices in Structuring Outsourcing Agreements," 21st Annual Technology Law Conference, The University of Texas School of Law, May 2008; "Framework Agreements Useful Tool for Multisource Strategies," Houston Business Journal, February 2008; "Best Practices in Structuring Technology Contracts," Intellectual Property Assets in Oil and Gas 2007, International Quality & Productivity Center, October 2007. (Also at New York, New York Office). Practice Areas: Outsourcing; Technology Transactions.Email: Jeffrey B. Andrews
Mitchell E. Ayer, Sr. (Partner) admitted to bar, 1990, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1999, U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Wittenberg University (B.A., 1974); Cleveland State University (M.B.A., 1984); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 1989). Member, The Arthur L. Moller - David B. Foltz, Jr. American Inn of Court. Academic Honors: Order of the Coif; Order of the Barons. Phi Eta Sigma; Phi Delta Phi. Associate Editor, Houston Law Review, 1988-1989; American Jurisprudence Awards in Business Organization, Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law, Property, and Civil Procedure. Listed, Texas Super Lawyers (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights, Energy and Natural Resources), 2003-2004, 2008-2009. Selected for inclusion in listing of Best Lawyers in Houston; H Texas Magazine, 2004, 2005. Member: Houston Bar Association (Director, 1999-2001; Treasurer, 2002; Secretary, 2003; Chair Elect, 2004; Chair, 2005, Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section; Member, Bankruptcy Section); American Bankruptcy Institute; Houston Energy Finance Group; Inns of Court (Master, Houston-Bankruptcy). [Electronics Technician, U.S. Coast Guard, 1970-1974]. (Board Certified, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization) (Board Certified, Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification). Reported Cases: Nancy Sue Davis Trust v. Davis Petroleum Corp., --- B.R. ---, 2009 WL 523096 (S.D.Tex.); H&M OIL & Gas L.L.C. v. Brazos 440 Partners, L.P., 386 B.R. 631 (W.D. Tex. 2008); Nancy Sue Davis Trust v. Davis Petroleum Corp., 385 B.R. 892, 2008 WL 1744732 (Bkrtcy.S.D.Tex.); Funk v. Devon Louisiana Corp., No. 13-04-261-CV, 2005 WL 256017 (Tex. App. -- Corpus Christi Oct., 13, 2005); Bass v. Shell Western E&P, Inc., 957 S.W.2d 159 (Tex. App. B San Antonio 1997, no pet.); Hay v. Shell Oil Co., 986 S.W.2d 772 (Tex. App. B Corpus Christi 1998, pet. denied); North Central Oil Corp. v. Louisiana Land & Exploration Co., 22 S.W.3d 572 (Tex. App. B Houston [1st Dist.] 2000, pet denied); Ambrosio v. Carter's Shooting Center, Inc.; 20 S.W.3d 262 (Tex. App. B Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, pet denied); TransAmerican Energy Ltd. III v. Shell Western E&P, Inc.; 687 So.2d 698 (La. Ct. App. 1997); Rio Gas Co. v. Midcon Gas Services Corp., No. 01-96-00967-CV, 1999 Tex. App. LEXIS 3986 (Tex. App. B Houston [1st Dist.] 1999, pet. denied); Richards v. Suckle, 871 S.W.2d 239 (Tex. App. B Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, no writ). Practice Areas: Bankruptcy Law; Energy Law; Oil and Gas Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Mitchell E. Ayer, Sr.
Hunter M. Barrow (Partner) admitted to bar, 2000, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2001, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 2007, New York, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas and U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York; 2008, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Education: Baylor University (B.B.A., 1995); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1999). National Order of Barristers. Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Business Litigation, Securities Litigation, General Litigation), 2004-2005, 2007-2009. Listed, "Future Star," The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys (Benchmark, 2009-2010). Articles Editor, South Texas Law Review, 1998-1999. Author: "Real Estate Workouts And Lender Liability," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Vol. 16, No. 9, September 2008; "The Hearsay Rule and Its Exceptions: Recent Developments," How to Offer and Exclude Evidence Seminar, University of Houston CLE, August 2002, September 2002, January 2003, February 2003; Note, "Diluting States' Interests with the Abortion Distortion Doctrine: Partial-Birth Abortion Avoided and Misconstrued," 40 S. Tex. L. Rev. 311 (1999). Co-Author, "Decrypting the Hearsay Code: The Hearsay Rule and Its Exceptions," How to Offer and Exclude Evidence Seminar (Univ. of Houston C.L.E., August 22-23, 2002, September 5-6, 2002, January 30-31, 2003 and February 6-7, 2003). Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy, South Texas College of Law. Barrister, Garland Walker Chapter, American Inns of Court. Member: National Association of Corporate Directors; National Center for State Courts, Lawyers Committee. Member: Houston, New York State and American (Member, Business Law Section; Co-Chair, Banking and Lender Liability Litigation Subcommittee; Member, Commercial and Business Litigation Committee; Member, Litigation Section, 2008-2009) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; College of the State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation.Email: Hunter M. Barrow
Harry R. Beaudry (Partner) admitted to bar, 2000, Texas. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.S., 1993); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2000). Business and Management Consultant, MetLife, New York, N.Y., 1993-1997. Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Securities and Corporate Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, Business/Corporate), 2006-2007 and 2009. Publications and Presentations: "Fiduciary Duties of Special Committees, July 2007"; "Overview of SEC's New Rules on Executive Compensation Disclosure, November 2006"; "Client Alert: Executive Compensation Reform: Issues to Address Now, November 03, 2006"; "Client Alert: Changes To Form 8-K Executive Compensation Disclosure, October 18, 2006"; "Securities Offering Reforms, November 2005"; New 8-K Disclosure Requirements, May 2004. Member: Houston Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Transactions: Representation of private and public clients in connection with capital-raising activities, including exempt and public offerings; advice and counseling with respect to mergers, acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, and divestitures of businesses for both sellers and purchasers; counseling start-up companies with respect to formation issues, including choice of entity, stock option plans, employment agreements, protection of proprietary information, and angel and seed-round financing. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities; Energy.Email: Harry R. Beaudry
J. Michael Bell (Partner) admitted to bar, 1973, Texas; 1977, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; 1981, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 1985, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 2005, New York; U.S. District Court, Southern, District of Texas. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1970); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1973). Listed, Texas Super Lawyers (Business Litigation), 2008-2009. Publications and Presentations: "Discovery in Complex Cases," University of Houston Law Foundation Advanced Evidence and Discovery Institute, 1996-1997. Vestry, Christ Church Cathedral, 1995-1996. Chairman, Southampton Civic Club Legal Restrictions Committee, 1992-1994. Listed in 2007-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America (Personal Injury Litigation). Member: State Bar of Texas (Member, Litigation Section). (Board Certified, Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization)(Also at New York, New York Office). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Complex Litigation; Business Torts; Class Actions; Aviation Litigation.Email: J. Michael Bell
Stephen M. Block (Partner) admitted to bar, 1972, Texas. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1967); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1971). Phi Delta Phi. Recipient, Corning Glassworks Traveling Fellowship 1967-1968. Associate Editor, Texas Law Review, 1971-1972. Selected for inclusion in listing of Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2004, 2005. Listed in 2005-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Law). Listed, Texas Super Lawyers (Real Estate, Business/Corporate), 2005-2009. Member: State Bar of Texas (Member, Sections on: Real Property; Construction Law). [First Lieutenant, Texas Air National Guard, 1969-1975]. Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate; Business Law; Construction Law; Finance; Investments.Email: Stephen M. Block
Alex J. Brown (Partner) admitted to bar, 2000, Texas; 2008, New York; U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Education: Texas Tech University (B.A., 1996); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2000). Omicron Delta Kappa. Finalist, Hofheinz Tournament of Champions. Articles Editor, Houston Journal of International Law. Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Business Litigation, General Litigation), 2006-2007 and 2009. Listed in 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America (Banking and Real Estate Law). Member: Texas Young Lawyers Association; Garland Walker American Inn of Court. (Also at New York, New York Office). Practice Areas: Litigation; International Energy Law; Franchise Law.Email: Alex J. Brown
Timothy R. Brown (Partner) admitted to bar, 1971, Texas; U.S. District Court, Southern and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Stanford University (B.A., 1968); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1970). Listed in: Best Lawyers in Houston, Inside Houston, May 2002; The Best Lawyers in America, 2003-2004, 2005-2008, and 2010 (Real Estate Law; Natural Resources Law; and Banking Law). Listed, Texas Super Lawyers (Real Estate, Energy and Natural Resources, Business/Corporate), 2003-2009. Selected for inclusion in listing of Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2004, 2005. Author, Chapter on Financing and Committee Member, The Texas Homebuyer's Manual, State Bar of Texas, 1985. Author and Speaker: "Practitioner's Guide to City Hall," Advanced Real Estate Law Course, South Texas College of Law, June 1992; "Real Estate Financing," Advanced Real Estate Law Course, South Texas College of Law, August 1991; "Tenant and Lender Estoppels," Advanced Real Estate Drafting Course, Professional Development Program, State Bar of Texas, January 1991. Speaker, "Lender Liability," Seminar, Houston Chapter, Mortgage Bankers Association, 1990. Presenter: "A Practitioner's Guide to City Hall," 18th Annual Real Estate Law Conference, South Texas College of Law, May 2002; "Shopping Center, Retail and Similar Leases," University of Houston Law Foundation on Commercial Leases, June 2000, July 2002; "Synthetic Leases," Houston Bar Association, November 1998; Advanced Real Estate Law Seminar for Attorneys, Legal Assistants and Other Professionals on Conveyancing, October 1997. Member, Subcommittee on Legal Fees Paid by Title Companies, State Bar of Texas, 1987. Member: Houston Real Estate Lawyers Council; College of the State Bar of Texas; Texas Association of Bank Counsel. Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation; Houston Bar Foundation. (Board Certified, Commercial Real Estate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Business Law; Oil and Gas Law; Real Estate Law; Financing; International Energy Law.Email: Timothy R. Brown
Rhett G. Campbell (Partner) admitted to bar, 1973, Texas; 1974, U.S. Court of Military Appeals; 1976, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Claims Court and U.S. Tax Court; 1977, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1991, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1994, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; 1999, U.S. District Court, Northern and Western Districts of Texas. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1970; J.D., cum laude, 1973). Phi Beta Kappa; Order of the Coif; Order of Barristers. Practice Leader: Corporate Reorganization and Creditors' Rights; Financial Crisis Working Group. Named to "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," (Bankruptcy/Restructuring Law) Chambers & Partners, Chambers USA, 2004. Named in Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2005. Listed: Texas Super Lawyers (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights, Business Litigation, Energy and Natural Resources), 2003-2009; Top 100 Overall, Texas Super Lawyers, 2008-2009; Top 100 Houston Region, Texas Super Lawyers, 2008-2009; The Best Lawyers in America, 2003-2010 (Business Litigation and Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law), 2009-2010, (Derivatives Law and Oil and Gas Law), and 2010 (Commercial Litigation). Listed in Who's Who Legal: Texas (Insolvency & Restructuring), 2007 and 2008. Presentations and Publications: Client Alert: Anticipating and Addressing Customer Financial Distress, Default, and Bankruptcy, February 06, 2009; Client Alert: Automotive Vendor Contracts: Managing the Risk of Counterparty Default, December 03, 2008; "Current Developments in Oil & Gas Bankruptcy," 2008 University of Texas Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, Austin, Texas, November 2008; "Valuing Oil & Gas Reserves," The Journal of Corporate Renewal, September 2008; "Buying Oil and Gas Assets in Bankruptcy," West Legalworks Webinar, June 2008; "The 10 Things You Ought to Know About Oil & Gas Bankruptcy (and probably didn't know to ask)," State Bar of Texas, 26th Annual Advanced Business Bankruptcy Course, Dallas, Texas, May 2008; "Hedge Funds and Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code: SPhinX and Bear Stearns High-Grade," Futures & Derivatives Law Report, January and February 2008; "Prepacks Reduce Time & Costs of Business Filings," The National Law Journal, March 2007; "Prepackaged Bankruptcy Filings," State Bar of Texas, 25th Annual Advanced Business Bankruptcy Course, Dallas, Texas, February 2007; "The Current Status of Future and Forward Contracts, Swaps, Safe Harbors and the Bankruptcy Code," 25th Anniversary Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, University of Texas at Austin, November 2006; "The Current Status of Energy Future and Forward Contracts, Safe Harbors and the Bankruptcy Code (Part 1)," Futures and Derivatives Law Report, March 2005; "Energy Futures and Forward Contracts, Safe Harbors and the Bankruptcy Code," 78 Amer. Bankr. L.J. 1, 2004; "Energy Bankruptcy: Developments, Issues, and the Uniform Commercial Code," State Bar of Texas 21st Annual Advanced Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Course, Houston, Texas, October 2003; "Gas Producers Response to the Enron Bankruptcy - A 'Report from the Front Lines'," Independent Petroleum Association of America Law Committee, Houston, Texas, March 2003; "The Current Status of the Bankruptcy Code, Forward Contracts, and Safe Harbors," 21st Annual Bankruptcy Conference, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, November 2002; "Energy Bankruptcy in the New Millennium: Energy, Insolvency and Enron," 48th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, July 2002; "Valuing Oil and Gas Assets in the Courtroom," "Oil & Gas 2002"; Seminar, sponsored by the American Institute of Business Law in conjunction with the Oklahoma Bar Review and the Conference on Consumer Finance Law, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 2002; "Bankruptcy Road Map for Corporate Counsel," 24th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute, University of Texas School of Law, April 2002; "Lessons from Enron - Issues Raised When a Giant Falls," South Texas College of Law Bankruptcy Law Conference, Houston, Texas, April 2002; "The Impact of Bankruptcy on the Collection Process, 2001," Dun & Bradstreet's Advisory Group "Eastern" Meeting, Austin, Texas, November 2001; "Fundamentals of Bankruptcy: Automatic Stay, Ethics, Disclosure Statement, and Confirmation Issues," CLE Online, a virtual seminar, July 2001; "Workouts, Valuation and Liquidation of Oil and Gas Collateral," Lorman Education Services, Houston, Texas, June 2001; "Current Developments in the Uniform Commercial Code Relating to Oil Gas & Mineral Law," State Bar of Texas, Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section, Annual Seminar in Houston, Texas, March 2001; "Oil & Gas and Chapter 11 in the Year 2000," Houston Bar Association, Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section, March 2000; "Significant Issues in Oil and Gas Bankruptcy Cases," 18th Annual Bankruptcy Conference, Austin, Texas, November 1999; "Fundamentals of Bankruptcy: Automatic Stay, Ethics, Disclosure Statement, and Confirmation Issues," National Business Institute, Houston, Texas, July 1999; "Selected Bankruptcy and Credit Issues Concerning Outer Continental Shelf, Minerals Management Service Practice and Onshore Oil and Gas Practice," 1998 Oil and Gas Institute, South Texas College of Law, August 1998; "Issues in Litigation: Litigating Constructive Trusts in Bankruptcy," 1 J.Bankr. L.& Prac. 316, 1992; "Issues in Litigation: Postconfirmation Jurisdiction," 1 J.Bankr. L.& Prac. 94, 1991; "Post-Confirmation Issues," 10th Annual Bankruptcy Conference, University of Texas, November 1991; "A Survey of the Rules of Bankruptcy Litigation," 20 Houston B.J. No. 9 at 20, August 1983; "Civil Actions Under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)," co-author, 3 The Review of Litigation 223, Spring 1983; "The Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy," 20 Houston B.J. No. 4 at 10, March 1983. Panelist, West Legalworks Webinar, June 2008. Member: Member, Advisory Committee on Complex Chapter 11 Matters for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, 1999-2003; Member, Ad Hoc Committee on Complex Chapter 11 Rules for the State of Texas, 2003-2004; Member, American Bar Association Member, Houston Bar Association. Fellow: American College of Bankruptcy; College of the State Bar of Texas. [Captain, USAF, Judge Advocate Corps, 1973-1977]. (Board Certified, Civil Trial Law and Business Bankruptcy, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Reported Cases: Represent Bank of New York Mellon Trust as a member of the Creditors Committee in In re Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, Case No. 08-45664, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division; Represent senior secured debenture holders in In re PRB Energy, Inc., Case No. 08-12658-ABC, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado; Represent Debtor-in-Possession lender, working interest owner, and Sec. 363 purchaser in In re Lothian Oil Inc., Case No. 07-70121, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas; Represent senior secured collateral agent in In re Viking Offshore (USA) Inc., Case No. 08-31219, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas; Represented Official Unsecured Creditors Committee in In re Cygnus Oil & Gas Corp., Case No. 07-32417 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; Represented Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., Indenture Trustee in In re Scotia Pacific Company LLC, Case No. 07-20032, Jointly Administered under Case No. 07-20027, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division; Represented Official Unsecured Creditors Committee in In re Reichmann Petroleum Corp., Case No. 06-60843, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division; Represented Albert S. Conly, Trustee in defense of Nancy Davis Trust v. Davis Petroleum Company, et al., Adversary No. 06-02062, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, action brought under 11 U.S.C. § 1144; Represented Chevron USA Inc., creditor in In re Northwest Timberline, Inc., 04-36426, and In re Construction & Real Estate Information Services, Inc., 04-36448, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division; Represented Davis Petroleum Company, Debtor, In re Davis Petroleum Company, et al., Case No. 06-20152 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, Debtor is engaged in onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and development, prepack plan of reorganization filed March 7, 2006, confirmed March 10, 2006; Represented Kenneth K. Laughlin, et al., in W. Steve Smith, Trustee v. Morris R. Greenhaw Oil & Gas, Inc., et al., Adversary 06-3343, In re Greenhaw Energy Inc., Case No. 03-30422 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, adversary proceeding by trustee alleging fraudulent transfer and related claims; Represented creditors in In re Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC, Case No. 05-44481 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York; Expert witness for Trail Mountain, Inc. in Trail Mountain, Inc. v PYR Energy, Inc., et al., Adversary No. 06-01027, In re Venus Exploration, Inc., Case No. 02-13109 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas, declaratory judgment action dealing with oil and gas title issues; Represented Dunhill Exploration & Production, LLC, and John M. Hall; In re Dunhill Resources, Inc., Case No. 03-41264-H-7 (Judge Steen) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; Represented Official Unsecured Creditors Committee; In re Texas Commercial Energy, LLC, Case No. 03-20366-C-11 (Judge Schmidt) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division; debtor is engaged in wholesale purchase and retail sale of electricity; Represented Sociedad Internacional Petrolera, S.A., purchaser of substantially all oil and gas assets of debtor and its affiliates; In re Seven Seas Petroleum, Inc., Case No. 02-45206 (Judge Steen) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; filed December 20, 2002; Represented Mirant Americas Energy Company LP, secured creditor; In re TDC Energy LLC, Case No. 02-15902 (Judge Brahney) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; Represented Lehman Brothers, Inc., et al., bondholder and DIP lender; In re EOTT Energy Partners, L.P., Case No. 02-21730 (Judge Schmidt) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division; Represented Davis Petroleum Company, interest owner and secured creditor; settlement agreement approved by court confirming client's interests; In re TransTexas Gas Corp., Case No. 02-21926 (Judge Schmidt) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division; Represented Official Unsecured Creditors Committee; In re TEPCO Resources, Inc., Case No. 02-51625 (Judge Schiff) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Opelousas Division; Represented Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.; In re EnRe, L.P., Case No. 02-21354-C-11 (Judge Schmidt) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division; Represented PG&E in litigation regarding interpretation of California Production Balancing Agreement; Torch Energy Marketing, Inc. v. Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Civil Action H-01-3402 (Judge Rosenthal) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas; Represented Official Unsecured Creditors Committee; In re Panaco, Inc., Case No. 02-37811 (Judge Clark) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; filed July 16, 2002; Represented Davis Petroleum Corp.; litigate disputed farmout agreement; In re Reliant Exploration, Ltd., Case No. 01-24229-C-11 (Judge Schmidt) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division; Represented numerous producers, sellers of hydrocarbons, and financial contract counterparties; tried motion to transfer venue; In re Enron Corp., Case No. 01-16034 (AJG) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York; Represented David I. Lapin, principal; In re Premiere Holdings of Texas, LP, d/b/a Money Mortgage Ltd., d/b/a Lapin & Wigginton, Ltd., Case No. 01 40836-H2-11 (Judge Steen) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division Served on the Official Unsecured Creditors' Committee as representative of Kellogg Brown & Root., In re Sterling Chemicals Holdings, Inc., et al., Case No. 01-37805-H4-11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; Represented the equity holders, Tribo Petroleum Corporation, and Richard Bowman; substantial participation in $130 mm bond offering that provided exit financing for Chapter 11 debtor - a first for the industry; In re Tri-Union Development Corporation, Case No. 00-32498-H4-11 (Judge Greendyke) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; Represented trade creditor on Creditors' Committee; In re KCS Energy, Inc., Case No. 00-0028 (PJW) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware; Represented Official Creditors' Committee; In re Michael Petroleum Corp., Case No. 99-50569-L2-11 (Judge Steen) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Laredo Division; Represented liquidating plan trustee in a gas trading company reorganization; In re Kimball Trading Co., L.L.C., Case No. 99-32383-11 (Judge Steen) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; Represented trade creditors and lien claimants; obtained transfer of case to Southern District of Texas; In re TransTexas Gas Corporation, Case No. 99-21550-C-11 (Judge Schmidt) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division; filed as Case No. 99-889 (MFW) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware; Represented trade creditors and lien claimants; In re Forcenergy, Inc., Case No. 99-11391 "A" in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Served as special litigation counsel to debtors; In re Paladin-Hayes I, and II, Ltd., Case Nos. 98-14550-FM and 98-14548-FM (Judge Monroe) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division; Represented Shell Western E&P Inc., operator and secured creditor; also represent Dresser Industries, secured and unsecured creditor; In re Rand Energy Company, Case No. 398 80004 SAF 11 (Judge Felsenthal) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division; Represented Halliburton Energy Services, and Nabors Drilling USA Inc., both secured and unsecured creditors; In re Rincon Island, L.P., Case No. ND 98 14791 RR in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Santa Barbara Division; Represented Shell Western E & P Inc., principal secured and unsecured creditor; In re Triangle Production and Operating, L.L.C., Case No. 98 BK 51503 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana; Represented Halliburton Energy Services; In re Gulf Resources Corp. and In re Mustang Oil and Gas Corp., Case Nos. 97 56619 C and 97 56620 K (Judge Leif Clark) in the Western District of Texas; Represented Official Creditors' Committee; In re Midcon Offshore, Inc., Case No. 96 25269 C 11 (Judge Schmidt) Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division Extensive experience in negotiating and litigating contracts dealing with the providing of services and materials in connection with drilling of oil and gas wells in a "payout out of production" context; litigated these issues extensively in connection with the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of In re GHR Corp. (TransAmerican Natural Gas Corp.), Case No. 84-03474-HI-l in the Southern District of Texas, resulting in the reported decision Terry Oilfield Supply Co., Inc. v. American Sec. Bank, 195 BR. 66 (S.D. Tex. 1996), Appeal of judgment in suit brought by Trustee for Chapter 7 debtor and subsidiaries suing debtor's directors, officers and related parties, asserting claims for fraudulent conveyance, breach of fiduciary duty and duties of due care and loyalty, conspiracy, breach of contract, negligence, fraud, and unlawful redemption of stock; Askanase v. Fatjo, 130 F.3d 657 (5th Cir. 1997); Oil and gas well purchaser brought an action to recover escrowed portion of purchase price from Trustee for Chapter 7 estate of debtor energy corporation; Knostman, Trustee v. FDIC, 966 F.2d 1133 (7th Cir. 1992). Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Creditors Rights; Business Litigation.Email: Rhett G. Campbell
Todd E. Chen (Partner) admitted to bar, 2001, Texas. Education: Emory University (B.A., Economics, 1998); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2001). Transactions: Mergers and Acquisitions: Represented public industrial services company in acquisition of company in Chapter 11; Represented public industrial services company in stock acquisition of a private company; Represented Austrian industrial technology company in acquisition of U.S. and U.K. assets of European conglomerate; Represented selling shareholders in merger of telecommunications company into public company; Represented buyer of well established paintball company; Private Placement/Project Finance: Represented emerging software company in numerous Rule 506 private placements; Represented marine technology company in Rule 506 private placement; Prepared offering memoranda for private placement of securities in real estate holding company, technology companies and fast food franchisor; Securities Matters: Preparation of periodic and current reports to SEC for pharmaceutical company, industrial services company and Fortune 500 oil company; Preparation of registration statements for debt securities for Fortune 500 oil company. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities.Email: Todd E. Chen
Alexandre Ribeiro Chequer (Partner) admitted to bar, 1997, Brazil. (Not admitted in Texas). Education: Harvard Business School (M.B.A., 1999); Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, PUC/RJ (Bachelor of Law, 1997). Distinctions and Honors: Listed: "Leaders in their Field" (Corporate/M&A and Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas); Chambers Latin America, 2009; "Leaders in their Field" (General Business Law and Overseas Specialists); Chambers Global, 2007-present; Chambers Latin America (Corporate/M&A and Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas); 2009; The International Who's Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers. 2007 Publications and Presentations: Client Alert: Brazil Pre-Salt and Other Strategic Areas: New E&P Legal Framework, September 28, 2009; Pre-Salt - Commercial Opportunities, September 24, 2009; "Pre-Salt in Brazil: Past, Present and Future," Annual Energy Industry Symposium, April 16, 2009; Client Alert: Atualização de Informações Econômico-Financeiras Perante o Banco Central do Brasil, April 16, 2009; Client Alert: Update of Financial Information Before the Central Bank of Brazil, April 16, 2009; Client Alert: Brazil E&P Round 10, October 10, 2008; "Cultural Issues Make Difference When Doing Business Overseas," Coauthored with Alexandre R. Chequer, Houston Business Journal, July 2007; "Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Gulf of Guinea Countries," Offshore Technology Conference, May 2007; "A Indústria do Petróleo e a Insegurança Jurídica," Valor Econômico, April 2007; "The New Rules for Public Bid in the Oil Sector in Angola," AIPN Advisor, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, January 2006; Client Alert: Angola Offshore Acreage Release, November 21, 2005; "Transparent Tender System in African Oil and Gas Sector: An Option for the Regulatory Agencies and Concession Model," AIPN Advisor, October 2005. Presentations on energy seminars in Brazil and abroad, December 2004. Professor, "Energy regulation module" course, post-graduation course in business law, Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets, 2002-present; "Aspectos Jurídicos dos 'JOAs' na Ind. do Petróleo," Revista de Dir. da Assoc. dos Procuradores do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - V. IX, Lúmen Júris, 2002; "State Intervention in the Economy and Legal Aspects of the Politics of Natural Gas Pricing," Technology and Business Petroleum Magazine, Number 8, 2001; "New Regulatory Framework of Gas Industry in Brazil," Technology and Business Petroleum Magazine, Number 9, December 2001; "Intervenção do Estado na Economia e a Política de Preços do Gás Natural," Revista T&N Petróleo, Number 17, 2001; "Monopólio Natural do Transporte de Gás," Revista T&N Petróleo, Number 19, 2001. Speaker in several energy and oil and gas seminars around the world organized for institutions such as the AIPN, since 2001. ACTIVITIES: Member, Board of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), 2002-2006; Member, International Bar Association (IBA); Member, Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo e Gás (IBP); Lecturer, "Energy regulation module" course, post-graduation course in law, Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets; Lecturer, Energy Law, Federal Fluminense University Lecturer, JVs in Energy transactions, Fundação Getulio Vargas. Member: Brazilian Bar Association. (Also at Sáo Paulo, Brazil Office). Transactions: Privatization of one of the largest power distributors in Brazil; Privatization of a state-owned natural gas distributor; Upstream contract negotiations for operators an service companies in many countries in South America and Africa; Projects for thermoelectric energy generation in Brazil and Venezuela; Representing IOC's in negotiations with host countries in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Angola, Ecuatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Gabon; Representing IOC in the restructuring of a business after an acquisition of an energy company through a transaction worth over US$3 billion; Representing Energy company in a LNG integrated project with investments over to US$6billion in West Africa. Languages: Portuguese, English and Spanish. Practice Areas: International Energy Law; Oil and Gas; Business Transactions; Finance; Banking; Arbitration; Taxation; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Corporate Law; Latin America.Email: Alexandre Ribeiro Chequer
Barry Davis (Partner) admitted to bar, 1984, Texas. Education: North Texas State University (B.B.A., Accounting, 1977); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1984). Member, Order of the Lytae. Listed in: Who's Who Among American Law Students; Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2005-2006. Recipient, Community Based Volunteer Award, American Diabetes Association, 2008. Listed in 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America (Corporate Governance and Compliance Law). Member: American Bar Association (Member, Business Law Section); Texas Association of Bank Counsel. Practice Areas: Corporate and Commercial Transactions; Mergers; Business Acquisitions; Dispositions of Assets and Stocks; Commercial Lending; Secured Financing; Loan Restructuring and Workout Transactions; Energy-Related Financings; SEC Filings.Email: Barry Davis
E.F. Mano DeAyala (Partner) admitted to bar, 1992, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., 1988); Southern Methodist University School of Law (J.D., 1992). Listed: Texas Rising Star (Business Litigation, Civil Litigation Defense, Real Estate), 2004-2006; Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, July 2004. Member: Houston Bar Foundation. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Construction Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Energy; Real Estate; Real Estate Finance.Email: E.F. Mano DeAyala
Andrew P. Flint (Partner) admitted to bar, 1989, Texas. Education: Dartmouth College (A.B., 1984); Tulane University Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 1989). Order of the Coif; Phi Alpha Delta. Senior Associate Editor, Tulane Law Review, 1988-1989. Law Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1989-1990. Selected for inclusion in listing of Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, July 2004. Named to "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," (Banking and Finance Law) Chambers & Partners, Chambers USA, 2009. Practice Areas: Energy Finance; Secured Transactions; Commercial Banking; Loan Workouts; Project Finance.Email: Andrew P. Flint
David A. Furlow (Partner) admitted to bar, 1984, Texas; 1985, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1987, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1988, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; 1991, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., summa cum laude with highest honors, 1980; J.D., with honors, 1983). Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Delta Phi; Order of Barristers. Member, National Moot Court Team. Selected for inclusion in listing of: Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2004-2005; Texas Super Lawyers (Appellate, Civil Rights/First Amendment, General Litigation), 2004-2009; Top 100 Houston region, Texas Super Lawyers, 2006, 2008-2009. Newsletter Editor, TIPS Media, Defamation, and Privacy Committee E-Newsletter, American Bar Association, 2004-2005. Speaker/Author: "Filing a Certiorari Petition in the U.S. Supreme Court," DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar 2009 Annual Meeting, Appellate Committee Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, October 2009; "Recent Supreme Court Precedent and Its Progeny," Speaker, ERISA Litigation 2009 Seminar, Practising Law Institute (PLI), New York, New York, September 30, 2009; "How the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in Kennedy v. DuPont Savings and Investment Plan Changes ERISA Law and Federal Litigation," Author, pp. 53-86, ERISA Litigation 2009, Practising Law Institute (PLI), New York, New York, September 2009; "The Hearsay Rule and Its Exceptions: Recognizing It, Getting It In, and Excluding It," How to Offer and Exclude Evidence Seminar, University of Houston CLE, Houston, Texas, July 9-10, 2009, Dallas, Texas, July 16-17, 2009; "Historical Origins of American Appellate and Constitutional Law," 19th Annual Conference on State and Federal Appeals, University of Texas School of Law, June 4-5, 2009; "Hounded by Homeowner Associations and Dogged by Zoning Boards," Chapter in A Lawyer's Guide to Dangerous Dog Issues (Joan E. Schaffner, ed.), American Bar Association, June 2009; "How to Find Needles in a Haystack - Contemporary Accounts of Seventeenth Century Goods Traded on the Delaware," Early Colonial Period Archaeology of the Delaware Valley: A Symposium, New Castle Court House Museum, New Castle, Delaware, May 9, 2009; "Colonial Merchants and Law," Seminar, From De Halve Maen to KLM: 400 Years of Dutch-American Interaction, New Netherlands Institute, Albany, New York, June 9, 2006; "Colonial Merchants and Law," Seminar, Extreme Makeovers: Histories of Self-Fashioning in the Mid-Atlantic States, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, November 4, 2006. Associate Member, Nansemond Indian Tribal Association, Virginia. Member, Appellate Section, Litigation Section, Insurance Section and Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section, State Bar of Texas. Member, Publications Committee, Appellate Section and Member, Trial Section, Houston Bar Association. Vice Chair, 2005-2006 and Chair, 2006-2007, TIPS Media, Defamation, and Privacy Committee, American Bar Association. Historical Expert, "Warrior Queen Boudica," March 10, 2006 and March 19, 2006, History Channel. Member: Houston, Fifth Circuit, Seventh Circuit and American Bar Associations; Association of Certified Trial and Appellate Specialists. Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation. (Board Certified, Civil Appellate, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Reported Cases: FCLT Loans Asset Corp. & Tim Blair, Class Representative, Appellants v. First City Financial Corp., No. 01-06-00798, 2009 Tex. App. LEXIS 3897 (Tex. App. - Houston [1st Dist.] June 4, 2009) (reversal of an adverse summary judgment favoring First City Financial Corporation and remand of the case to the trial court for consideration of the rights of a class of former First City retirees to recover retirement benefits resulting from the demutualization of Prudential Insurance Company Group Annuity Contracts, resulting in an $18 million demutualization fund); Kennedy v. Plan Administration v. DuPont Saving & Investment Plan, 497 F.3d 426 (5th Cir. 2007), cert. granted, No. 07-636 (U.S. Feb. 19, 2008, oral argument, Oct. 7, 2008, decided Jan. 26, 2009) (Petitioner Kari Kennedy's counsel presenting oral argument in a Supreme Court case addressing the relationship between the Early Retirement Income Security's (ERISA's) anti-alienation and Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) provisions and a divorcing spouse's knowing, voluntary, and express waiver of her ex-husband's pension plan benefits in a Texas divorce decree); Citizens National Bank v. Bryce, 271 S.W.3d 347 (Tex. App. - Tyler 2008) (orig. proc.), pet. for mandamus denied, No. 08-0892 (Tex. 12/05/08) (defeated a bank's mandamus and interlocutory appeal filed to compel arbitration of disputes alleging misappropriation and mismanagement of assets on the grounds that the bank waived the right to compel arbitration by substantially invoking the civil litigation process); In the Matter of Danny Hilal, 534 F.3d 498 (5th Cir. 2008) (affirming a bankruptcy court & plan confirmation after finding that equitable mootness had not mooted Danny Hilal's appeal); In the Matter of Beach Development, LP (Hytken v. Williams), No. 07-20350, 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 12240 (5th Cir. June 6, 2008) (per curiam) (represented Defendant/Appellee Randy W. Williams, Trustee, presented oral argument, and secured an appellate affirmation of a Southern District of Texas district court decision dismissing on grounds of equitable mootness a case complaining of a bankruptcy trustee's sale of beach front property in Galveston, Texas); Pruett v. Harris County Bail Bond Board, 249 S.W.3d 447 - (Tex. March 28, 2008) (partially reversing and partially affirming Harris County Bail Bond Board v. Pruett, 177 S.W.3d 260) (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2005) (in a case involving the representation of a bail bondsman and a national insurance company, David A. Furlow secured a summary judgment and then rulings in the Texas Supreme Court vindicating the First Amendment rights of bail bondsmen and their surety companies to advertise and solicit business about unserved arrest warrants and to notify family members of their right to post a bail bond within twenty-four hours of the incarceration or arrest of a criminal defendant, resulting in a judgment holding that restrictions on advertising and solicitation in Harris County Bail Bond Board Local Rules 24 and 25 violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution); Baum v. Blue Moon Ventures, LLC, 513 7.3d 181 (5th Cir. Jan. 3, 2008) (affirming entry of a permanent injunction requiring an abusive litigant to obtain U.S. District Judge Lyn Hughes' written approval before filing any federal claims); DiPortanova v. Monroe, 229 S.W.3d 324 (Tex.App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2006), rhg. denied, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 11346 (Dec. 7, 2006), pet. denied, 2007 Tex. LEXIS 917 (Tex. June 1, 2007, rhg. overruled) (affirming a probate court's ruling that the filing of a declaratory judgment lawsuit does not violate the no-contest clauses in two wills); Pruett v. Harris County Bail Bond Board, 249 S.W.3d 447 - (Tex. March 28, 2008), partially reversing and partially affirming Harris County Bail Bond Board v. Pruett, 177 S.W.3d 260 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2005) (in a case involving the representation of a bail bondsman and a national insurance company, David A. Furlow secured a summary judgment and then rulings in the Texas Supreme Court vindicating the First Amendment rights of bail bondsmen and their surety companies to advertise and solicit business about unserved arrest warrants and to notify family members of their right to post a bail bond within twenty-four hours of the incarceration or arrest of a criminal defendant, resulting in a judgment holding that restrictions on advertising and solicitation in Harris County Bail Bond Board Local Rules 24 and 25 violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution); Felix Michael Kubosh v. City of Houston, No. 2007-11183 (127th Harris County District Court: declaring that two red light ticket determinations of liability under a City of Houston right light camera ordinance were void, holding that those determinations had resulted from violation of the Texas Constitution, and permanently enjoining the City of Houston from enforcing them as civil judgments); Aleman v. Ben E. Keith Co., 227 S.W.3d 304 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet. h.) (affirming a no-evidence summary judgment in a slip and fall case) (oral argument only); David Mandell v. Jeanne Mandell, et al., 214 S.W.3d 682 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] Jan. 9, 2007) (represented as co-counsel the executrices of the Estate of Sam Field in a case involving breach of contract and appellate waiver issues); Garton v. Rocket, 190 S.W.3d 139 (Tex. App. -- Houston [1st Dist.] 2005, rhg. denied, no pet.) (represented, as appellate co-counsel, the Estate in a case concerning the validity of a disputed copy of a will); Funk v. Devon La. Corp., No. 13-04-261-CV, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 8420 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi, Oct. 13, 2005) (memo. op.), pet. denied, 2006 Tex. LEXIS 1108 (Tex. Oct. 27, 2006), rhg. overruled, 2006 Tex. LEXIS 1288 (Tex. Dec. 15, 2006) (affirming a limitations-based summary judgment for an oil and gas producer); Whittington v. Devon Louisiana Corp., No. 14-04-261-CV, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 58 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi, Jan. 6, 2005) (memo. op.) (settlement on appeal of oil and gas claims); HS Resources, Inc., Plaintiff v. James Wingate, Defendant, Cause No. 1:01-CV-221 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 28, 2004, Judgment and Memorandum Opinion) (service as a plaintiff oil and gas company's appellate counsel and trial co-counsel in a lawsuit to recover royalty overpayments made to a lessor who threatened to terminate a lease, resulting in a jury verdict in favor of HS Resources and a judgment for $1,279,966.32 in overpayment damages, $191,882.04 in agreed prejudgment interest and additional prejudgment interest, $450,617.50 in reasonable and necessary attorney's fees, and $11,096.76 for reasonable and necessary costs and expenses); In re FCLT Assets Loan Corp., Successor in Interest to FCLT Loans, L.P., No. 14-04-00940-CV, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 9183 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 15, 2004) (memorandum opinion) (defeating a creditor's mandamus action against a party involved in probate proceedings); In re Cingular Wireless, L.L.C., No. 09-03-090-CV, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 3293 (Tex. App.--Beaumont, April 18, 2003, orig. proc.) (compelling the submission of a wireless service contract case to arbitration); Acosta v. Starr Produce Co., No. 04-00-00623-CV, 2001 Tex. App. LEXIS 5888 (Tex. App.--San Antonio Aug. 29, 2001, no pet. h.) (unpublished op'n) (affirming a summary judgment for a general contractor in a negligence case); Mescalero Energy, Inc. v. Underwriters Indem. General Agency, Inc., 56 S.W.3d 313 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 2001, pet. denied, rhg. overruled) (holding that a blowout policy was ambiguous, reversing a summary judgment and remanding for a new trial); Guajardo v. Conwell, 46 S.W.3d 2001 (Tex. 2001) (summary judgment finality issues); Hay v. Shell Oil Co., 986 S.W.2d 772 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 1999, pet. denied, rhg. overruled) (oil and gas royalties case, affirming a summary judgment on statute of limitations grounds); Malmgren v. Inverness Forest Residents Civic Club, Inc., 981 S.W.2d 875 (Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, no writ) (deed restriction case, reversing a summary judgment); N.W. Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Houston, 27 F. Supp.2d 754 (S.D. Tex. 1998) (affirmed in part and revered in part, 352 F.3d 162 (5th Cir 2004), rhg. denied en banc, cert denied, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 10607 (U.S. Nov. 1, 2004) (First Amendment commercial free speech challenge to business signs and victory under the Texas Local Government Code); Deer Park Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Harris Cty. Appraisal Dist., 132 F.3d 1095 (5th Cir.), cert. denied-U.S.-, 118 S. Ct. 2343, 141 L.Ed.2d 714 (U.S. 1998) (constitutional victory for business over taxing authorities); Automaker, Inc. v. C.C.R.T. Co., Ltd., 976 S.W.2d 744 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, no writ) (affirming two summary judgments, one in a bill-of-review case); City of Houston v. West Capital Fin. Servs. Corp., 961 S.W.2d 687 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1998, no pet. h.) (holding that a city employee was not entitled to judicial immunity in a contractor's lawsuit); Lee M. Bass, Inc. v. Shell Western, Inc., 957 S.W.2d 159 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1997, no writ) (oil and gas royalties case, affirming a summary judgment); Meininger v. Lufkin Federal Savings Association, 1997 Tex. App. LEXIS 5043 (Tex. App.--Amarillo 1997, writ denied) (securing a remand that resulted in a settlement); Casa El Sol-Acapulco, S.A. v. Fontenot, 919 S.W.2d 709 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, pet. dism'd per agmt.) (reversing an adverse jury verdict in an option and breach of contract case and rendering a foreclosure); William Pentak, Plaintiff v. City of Piney Point Village, et al., Defendants, No. 95-44986 (represented Plaintiff William Pentak, and on September 9, 1995 secured complete injunctive relief and recovery of attorney's fees, in a declaratory judgment and constitutional challenge to the City of Piney Point's criminal and civil enforcement of its Ordinance No. 647 banning residential display of "For Sale" signs in the front yards of homes in a Memorial area subdivision) Cotham v. Garza, 905 F.Supp. 389 (S.D. 1995) (First Amendment victory for voters, securing the right to bring an election guide or editorial into the voting booth); Marco and Jeanette DuBose, Plaintiffs v. Meyerland Community Improvement Association, Inc., No. 94 -- 009758, in the 280th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (final judgment: Oct. 14, 1994) (represented Meyerland homeowners Marco and Jeanette DuBose and secured a final declaratory and injunctive judgment under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and their trial court attorney's fees, costs, and conditional awards of appellate fees in a challenge to the Meyerland Community Improvement Association's enforcement of deed restrictions banning the residential display of political candidate signs); Gulf States Ins. Co. v. Alamo Carriage Serv., Inc., 22 F.3d 88 (5th Cir. 1994) (affirming a judgment for the insurer, and obtaining appellate sanctions); Richards v. Suckle, 871 S.W.2d 239 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1994) (summary judgment case); Mafrige v. Ross, 866 S.W.2d 590 (Tex. 1993) (the "Mother Hubbard" summary judgment case); Ralston Purina Co. v. McKendrick, 850 S.W.2d 629 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1993, writ denied) (franchise case) Rhodes v. Batilla, 848 S.W.2d 833 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, writ denied) (legal malpractice case); Sanus/New York Life Health Plan, Inc. v. Dube-Seybold-Sutherland Mgmt., 837 S.W.2d 191 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1992, applic. for writ dism'd) (health care provider "capitation" case); United Cab Co. v. Mason, 775 S.W.2d 783 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1989, no writ) (independent contractor case); Crowley v. Coles, 760 S.W.2d 347 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1988, no writ) (bank officer and director case); Crown Resources Corp. v. Gold Capital Corp., I, 650 F.Supp. 985 (D. Colo. 1987) (hostile takeover case). Languages: German. Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Business Litigation; Constitutional Law; Property Law; Insurance; ERISA.Email: David A. Furlow
Tye C. Hancock (Partner) admitted to bar, 2001, Texas; 2002, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2004, U.S. District Court, Western, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas; 2008, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Texas Tech University (B.B.A., Finance, 1997); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2001). Collegiate Honors: Member, Student Senate, Texas Tech University, 1995-1996; Order of Omega; Sigma Alpha Epsilon (President); Phi Eta Sigma; Alpha Lambda Delta; Dean's List various semesters. Graduate Honors: Langdell Scholar; Dean's list various semesters; Best Brief, Spurgeon Bell Moot Court Competition. Member, South Texas Law Review. Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights, Business Litigation), 2005-2009. Publications and Presentations: "Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Survey," Texas Tech Law Review, Volume 38, No. 3, Spring 2006; "Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Survey," Texas Tech Law Review, Volume 37, No. 3, Spring 2005; "Advanced Judgment Enforcement in Texas," How to Discover Assets Seminar, Lorman Education Service, Houston, Texas, February 2005; "Bankruptcy in Texas," Avoidance Litigation Seminar, Lorman Education Service, Houston, Texas, March 2004; "Judgment Collection and Post-Judgment Discovery," Thompson & Knight LLP. Member: Houston Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Bankruptcy; Litigation); Houston Young Lawyers Association; The Honorable Arthur L. Moller/David B. Foltz, Jr. American Inn of Court - Houston (Member, Bankruptcy Section). Reported Cases: In re Delphi Corporation et al.; Case No. 05-44481 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York; represented trade vendor -with large reclamation/unsecured claim for goods sold to Delphi - in connection with the prosecution and ultimate sale of the claim to a third-party investment fund In re Corpus Christi Resources, LLC; Case No. 07-20576 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas; represented Chapter 11 Debtor in a case involving substantial liabilities in connection with the Debtor's ownership of waterfront property formerly used as an oil terminal in Brooklyn, New York In re Lothian Oil, Inc.; Case No. 07-70121 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas; represented preferred shareholders and other stakeholders in connection with several bankruptcy-related litigation matters and the purchase of oil and gas leases from the Chapter 11 Debtor; See, e.g., H&M Oil and Gas, LLC v. Brazos 440 Partners, LP, 386, B.R. 631 (Bankr. W.D. Tex. 2008) In re Turnkey E&P, Inc.; Case No. 08-37358; represented secured lender/creditor in Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving security interest in several hydraulic, casing drilling rigs In re ZG Gathering, Ltd.; Case No. 07-53161; represented contract operator of oil and gas pipeline when contract counterparty sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection In re Cygnus Oil and Gas Corp. et al.; Case No. 07-32417; represented official committee of unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving largely undeveloped oil and gas leases in the Fayetteville shale (Arkansas - Oklahoma) Washington Mutual Bank v. Heard; Case No. 07-03444; represented creditor in dischargeability action challenging the Chapter 7 Debtor's discharge based on fraud; See Washington Mutual Bank v. Heard (In re Heard), 2008 WL 5479099 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. November 25, 2008) In re Erie Power Technologies, Case No. 03-12126 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Erie Division; represented Ref-Chem, L.P. in claims and stay litigation involving the enforcement of a pre-petition arbitration agreement; See Erie Power Technologies, Inc. v. Ref Chem, L.P. (In re Erie Power Technologies, Inc.), 315 B.R. 41 (Bankr. E.D.Pa. 2004) In re First Air Express, Case No. 01-13587 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division; prosecuted numerous preferential transfer cases as special counsel for the debtor In re Parker, Case No. 04-34127; represented creditor in objection to discharge action under 11 U.S.C.§ 523 based on fraud In re Ask Harris.com, Case No. 01-44064 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas; represented Chapter 7 trustee in prosecuting various avoidance actions Represented a plaintiff in the 189th Judicial District Court of Harris County Texas in a suit for breach of a commercial architectural services contract In re Surgent, Case No. 03-80806 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas; represented unsecured creditor in automatic stay litigation related to the ownership of certain mineral interests 48 Hour Funding, LLC v. Hinojosa et. al., Cause No. 2003-18362 in the 55th Judicial District Court of Harris County; represented plaintiff in an action for breach of a financing contract Bates v. First Capital Interest, LLC et. al.; Cause No. 2006-39450 in the 165th Judicial District Court of Harris County; represented defendant in dispute relating to the sale of undeveloped real property In re Eastern Seaboard Packaging, Inc.; Case No. 06-30069 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division; represented creditor and defendant in preference lawsuit In re Diversified Diemakers, LLC; Case No. 04-67597 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan; represented creditor and defendant in preference lawsuit In re A-1 Cleaners; Case No. 05-44003 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; represented landlord in commercial lease In re AH-DH Apartments, Ltd.; Cause No. 06-40355 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas; represented trade creditor In re Zohouri Group South Padre, L.P.; Cause No. 06-10875 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas; represented secured lender in case involving a real estate development company. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Commercial Litigation.Email: Tye C. Hancock
Henry L. Hardwick (Partner) admitted to bar, 1987, Texas, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., Finance, with honors, 1984); Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., 1987). Delta Theta Phi. Member: Houston Bar Association (Member, Bankruptcy Section); State Bar of Texas (Member, Bankruptcy Section). (Board Certified, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Bankruptcy Litigation; Creditors Rights.Email: Henry L. Hardwick
Nancy Wilson Hargrove (Associate General Counsel) admitted to bar, 1984, Texas; 1988, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1992, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 1993, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 1997, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: The University of Texas at Austin (B.S., 1971); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1984). Phi Delta Phi. South Texas Law Journal, 1983-1984. Member: Harris County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Professional Ethics; Professional Liability.
William T. Heller IV (Houston Recruiting Chair) admitted to bar, 1991, Texas. Education: University of St. Thomas; Rice University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1988); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1991). Phi Beta Kappa. Listed in 2009-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America (Corporate Law). Practice Areas: Mergers and Acquisitions; Corporate Finance; Corporate and Securities Law.Email: William T. Heller IV
Boris A. Hidalgo (Partner) admitted to bar, 1983, Texas; 1985, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1986, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 1988, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 1990, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Education: Texas Arts & Industries University (B.A., 1973); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1983). Member, 1994 and Chair, 1996-2005, Board of Advisors, Arte Publico Press, University of Houston. Member, Board of Directors, Imprint, Inc., 2003-2006; Board of Advisors, 2006-2007. Raul Tijerina Jr. Foundation, 2002. Secretary/Tresurer, 2003. Member, Advisory Board, Woodway Financial Advisors, 2008. Mayoral Appointee, Board of Directors, Houston Arts Alliance (formerly, Cultural Arts Council of Houston and Harris County), 2008. Chair, Human Resources Committee, 2009; Member, Marketing Committee, 2009. Member, Grants Committee, 2009. Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas (Member, Grievance Committee 4F, 1993-1998; Chair, 1995-1998); Houston Bar Foundation. Languages: Spanish and English. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Trial Practice; Appellate Practice; Oil and Gas; Real Estate and Real Estate Finance; Labor and Employment.Email: Boris A. Hidalgo
Thomas R. Lamme (Partner) admitted to bar, 1993, Texas. Education: Dartmouth College (B.A., 1990); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1993). Tax Consultant, Arthur Andersen LLP, 1994-1996. Associate, Brown, Parker & Leahy LLP, 1996-1999. Listed, Texas Rising Star (Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities and Corporate Finance), 2004-2006. Associate, 1999-2001 and Partner, 2001, Thompson Knight LLP. Member: Houston Bar Association State Bar of Texas. Transactions: Represented public oil and gas company in multiple underwritten public equity offerings totally more than $1 billion; Represented private company in $800 million 144A transaction; Represented public company in $130 million 144A transaction; Represented institutional investor in multiple going-public transactions of midstream companies; Represented public company merger with public company (deal value approximately $200 million); Represented venture capital company in $40 million investment in oil and gas company; Represented private company in raising preferred equity, subordinated debt, senior debt, and acquisition of stock of private company (deal value approximately $15 million); Represent public companies in filings pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Practice Areas: Corporate; Securities Law; Mergers and Acquisitions; Corporate Finance.Email: Thomas R. Lamme
Wilburn O. (Bill) McDonald, Jr. (Partner) admitted to bar, 1979, Texas. Education: Texas Tech University (B.B.A., 1974); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 1979). Editor, Houston Law Review, 1978-1979. Adjunct Professor, Legal Research and Writing, 1979-1980 and Corporate Tax, 1980-1981, University of Houston Law Center. Certified Public Accountant, Texas, 1976. Life Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation. Member: State Bar of Texas; American Bar Association (Member, Business Law Section). Transactions: International energy projects, domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, renewable energy projects and technology licensing. Practice Areas: Corporate; Securities; Partnership Law; International Energy Law; Climate Change and Renewable Energy; International Energy Projects; Domestic and International Mergers and Acquisitions; Renewable Energy Projects and Technology Licensing.Email: Wilburn O. (Bill) McDonald, Jr.
Sarah E. McLean (Partner) admitted to bar, 1999, Texas. Education: Oklahoma State University (B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with honors, 1996); University of Texas at Austin School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1999). Phi Kappa Phi; Alpha Epsilon Delta; Order of the Coif. Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Mergers and Acquisitions, Energy and Natural Resources), 2004-2009. Notes Editor, Texas Law Review, 1998-1999. (Also at Austin Office). Practice Areas: Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Corporate Law; Partnership Law; Securities; International Energy Law.Email: Sarah E. McLean
Gregory S. Meece (Partner) admitted to bar, 1987, Texas, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Northeast Louisiana University (B.B.A., summa cum laude, 1984); Emory University School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1987). Order of the Coif; Beta Gamma Sigma. Business Manager and Editor, Emory Law Journal, 1986-1987. Selected for inclusion in listing of Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, July 2004. Practice Areas: Litigation; Class Actions; Complex Commercial Litigation; Energy; Construction Litigation; Securities Litigation; Products Liability; Health Law.Email: Gregory S. Meece
Jerry L. Metcalf (Partner) admitted to bar, 1973, Texas; 2007, New York. Education: Texas Christian University (B.A., 1969); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1973). Member, Houston Law Review, 1972-1973. Member: Business Law Section, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and International Law Section, American Bar Association; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and International Law Section, State Bar of Texas; Real Estate Section and International Law Section, Houston Bar Association; World Trade Division, Greater Houston Partnership; Board of Directors, InterAmerican Chamber of Commerce, 1994-1998; Board of Directors, Swiss American Chamber of Commerce, 1989. Member, Board of Directors, 1989-2000, Vice Chairman, 1991-1993 and Chairman, 1993-1997, Interlaw, Ltd. Member, Board of Directors and President, 1996-1997, Kiwanis Club of Houston. Listed in 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Law). Listed, Texas Super Lawyers (Real Estate), 2004. Member: American and International Bar Associations; Texas Association of Bank Counsel. Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation. [1LT, U.S. Army, Adjutant General Corps, 1969-1971]. (Board Certified, Commercial Real Estate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Transactions: Commercial Lending and Finance Transactions: Lender's counsel in a wide variety of secured and unsecured senior and mezzanine debt transactions. Business Transactions: counsel for companies involved in the acquisition or divestiture of assets of all types ranging from manufacturing plants to energy loan portfolios. International Transactions: counsel for companies as well as individual investors on both inbound and outbound transactions and investments involving acquisition and divestitures of assets, parituclarly oil & gas properties, establishing foreign branch operations, and negotiating cross-border joint ventures. Has advised clients on projects or export finance transactions involving the European Union, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. Practice Areas: Business Transactions; Finance; Commercial Lending; International Law; International Business Law; International Project Finance; Commercial Real Estate; International Energy Law.Email: Jerry L. Metcalf
Alfred M. Meyerson (Practice Leader - Real Estate and Banking Law) admitted to bar, 1984, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., with highest honors, 1981; J.D., 1984). Phi Beta Kappa. Listed in 2003-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Law); Inside Houston Magazine "Super Lawyers" August 2003; Texas Monthly's Super Lawyers, 2003-2009 (Real Estate Law); Top 100 Houston Region, Texas Super Lawyers, 2009; Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2004, 2005 and 2008. Chair; Anti-Defamation League Southwest Region, 2008. Legal presentations and publications including: "Investor interest in distressed properties decidedly on the uptick," Houston Business Journal, September 18, 2009; "Purchasing Distressed Real Estate Assets," Houston, Texas, July 2009; "The Basics of Build-to-Suit Leases," Forum Nacional do Mercado Imobliario (National Real Estate Market Forum), Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 2007; "Shining a Light on Shadow Anchors and Outparcels - Balancing the Interests of Developers, Shadow Anchors, and Outparcel Users," International Council of Shopping Centers, 2005 Law Conference, Phoenix, Arizona; "Letters of Intent - Enforceability Issues," published in Probate & Property, September/October, 2003; "Purchase and Sale Agreements for Shopping Centers from the Buyer's Perspective," Presentation to International Council of Shopping Centers, National Shopping Center Law Conference, October 2003, Palm Desert, California; "Letters of Intent," Publication & Presentation for ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law 14th Annual Spring Symposium, April 2-4, 2003, New York City, New York; "Financing The Deal: Key Issues For Borrowers and Lenders," published in The Real Estate Finance Journal, Fall 2002; "Financing the Deal - Key Issues for Borrowers and Lenders," Publication and Presentation for Real Estate Development Conference, February 4-5, 2002, Houston, Texas; "Radius Restrictions in Shopping Center Leases," Publication for International Council of Shopping Centers, National Shopping Center Law Conference, October 2000, Orlando, Florida; and "Fundamentals of Leasing: Use, Trade Name, Radius, Assignment," Presentation to International Council of Shopping Centers, National Shopping Center Law Conference, October 2000, Orlando, Florida. Member: Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section, State Bar of Texas; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Houston Bar Association. Chairman, Thompson & Knight LLP Real Estate and Banking Practice Group. Chair, Anti-Defamation League Southwest Region, 2008. Member: International Council of Shopping Centers; Texas Association of Bank Counsel; State Bar of Texas (Member, Corporation, Banking, and Business Law Section); Houston Bar Association (Member, Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section). Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation. (Board Certified, Commercial Real Estate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Real Estate Secured Lending; Real Estate Development; Landlord and Tenant Law; International Energy Law; Shopping Center Law; Construction Contracts.Email: Alfred M. Meyerson
John S. Orton (Partner) admitted to bar, 1975, Texas; 1976, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1990, Colorado. Education: Trinity College (B.A., 1972); Washington and Lee University School of Law (J.D., 1975). Delta Theta Phi. Selected for inclusion in Texas Monthly's 2007 listing of Texas Super Lawyers (Real Estate Law). Member: Colorado Bar Association. Practice Areas: Financial Institutions Law; Mortgage Law; Real Estate Law; General Business Law.Email: John S. Orton
Robert L. Paddock (Partner) admitted to bar, 1997, Texas; 1998, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2001, U.S. District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.A., 1994); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1997). Note and Comment Editor, South Texas Law Review, 1996-1997. Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Business Litigation, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights), 2004-2006, 2008-2009. Named in Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas, 2005-2007. Practice Areas: Business Fraud; Business Torts; Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy.Email: Robert L. Paddock
Dallas Parker (Office Leader Houston) admitted to bar, 1972, Texas. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1969); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1972). Order of the Coif; Chancellors; Phi Delta Phi. Editor, Texas Law Review, 1971-1972. Listed in: Who's Who in American Law; The Best Lawyers in America, 1983-2010 - Corporate Law, M & A and Securities Law and 2009-2010, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law and Venture Capital Law; Texas Super Lawyers (Securities and Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions), 2003. Named to; "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," (Corporate/M&A, Technology Law, Corporate & Commercial) Chambers & Partners, Chambers USA, 2006-2009; "Lawdragon 500," 2006-2007. Listed in Who's Who Legal: Texas (Corporate Governance and Merger & Acquisitions), 2008. Past Vice Chairman, Federal Securities Law Committee, Young Lawyers Division, American Bar Association. Past Chairman, Advisory Board of Directors, Houston Technology Center. Director and Past President, Odyssey House Texas. Former Chairman, Amigos de las Americas International. Member: Houston (Fellow) and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Fellow). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Corporate Governance; International Trade; International Energy Law; Oil and Gas.Email: Dallas Parker
Kevin J. Parks (Partner) admitted to bar, 1998, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas; 2007, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Education: University of St. Thomas (B.A., magna cum laude, 1995); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1998). Listed, Texas Rising Star (Class Actions/Mass Torts, General Litigation, Personal Injury Defense, General), 2004-2005. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Kevin J. Parks
Douglas F. Pedigo (Co-Practice Leader Climate Change and Renewable Energy Group) admitted to bar, 1982, Louisiana; 1983, U.S. District Court, Eastern Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit; 1993, Nebraska; 1994, Texas. Education: University of Southwestern Louisiana (B.S., 1976); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1982). Law Clerk to the Honorable Fred A. Blanche, Jr., Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1982-1983. Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Aquila Energy Corp., 1990-1995. Senior Counsel and Director, Enron North America Corp., 1995-2000. Vice President and Associate General Counsel, InterGen North America LP, 2000-2001. Member: Louisiana State and Nebraska State Bar Associations. Reported Cases: Weaver v. Aquila Energy Marketing Corporation (In re TransMarketing Houston, Inc., Debtor), 196 B.R. 945 (Bkrcy. S.D. Tex. 1996); Liquid Drill, Inc. v. U.S. Turnkey Exploration, Inc., 48 F.3d 927 (5th Cir. 1995); In the Matter of Senior G&A Operating Co., Inc., 957 F.2d 1290 (5th Cir. 1992); In re Senior G&A Operating Co., Inc., 118 B.R. 444 (Bkrcy. W.D.La. 1990); In re Arbitration Between U.S. Turnkey Exploration, Inc. and PSI, Inc., 577 So.2d 1131 (La. App. 1st Cir. 1991); American Bank & Trust Co. v. Hannie, 568 So.2d 216 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1990); Charter National Bank v. Power Source, Inc., 537 So.2d 1304 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1989); Hare v. Ganaway Constr. Co., 536 So.2d 722 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1988); LeTriomphe Partnership v. Dorbandt, 527 So.2d 1176 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1988); Cromwell v. Commerce & Energy Bank, 514 So.2d 198 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1987) and 484 So.2d 299 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1984). Transactions: Acquisition of Mountainview Power Company and Mountainview Power Company, L.L.C. by Sequoia Generating LLC, an affiliate of InterGen North America Inc., December 2002; Senior secured credit facilities for 1200 MW Cottonwood Energy facility, arranged by Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas, April 2001; Senior secured credit facilities for 1200 MW Redbud Energy facility, arranged by Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC and Salomon Smith Barney Inc., November 2001; Senior secured credit facilities for 900 MW Magnolia Energy facility, arranged by ABN ANRO Bank NV and Credit Lyonnais, New York Branch, December 2001; Construction bridge loan for 215 MW Wildflower Energy project, structured and underwritten by Deutsche Bank, Fortis Capital Corp., Nord LB and Citibank, December 2001;Contract-based transaction for financing 1300 MW peaking power plants underwritten by Westdeutsch Landesbank, December 1998. Practice Areas: Energy; International Energy Law; Natural Gas; Electric Power Marketing; Energy Project Development; Power Plant Construction and Operations; Corporate Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Litigation; Climate Change and Renewable Energy.Email: Douglas F. Pedigo
Michael K. Pierce (Partner) admitted to bar, 1979, Texas. Education: Drake University (B.S.B.A., summa cum laude, 1976); Southern Methodist University School of Law (J.D., 1979). Beta Gamma Sigma; Order of the Coif; Phi Delta Phi. Member, Barristers. Managing Editor, Southwestern Law Journal, 1978-1979. Listed in 2003-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America (Corporate, M & A and Securities Law; Natural Resources Law); Texas Super Lawyers (Securities and Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions), 2003-2009; Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2004-2005. Recent presentations include "Mergers, Conversions and Transmogrifications," by Robert R. Keatinge and Michael K. Pierce, presented at Current Issues Affecting Partnerships, Limited Partnerships and LLCs, sponsored by the University of Texas School of Law, July 2003; and "Overview of Substantive Law Governing Partnerships, Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies," by Michael K. Pierce, presented at Partnerships, LLCs and LLPs: Uniform Acts, Taxation, Drafting, Securities and Bankruptcy, sponsored by ALI-ABA (March 2006). Member, 1985, Vice Chairman, 1994-1995 and Chairman, 1995-2002, Partnership Law Committee, Member, Limited Liability Company Committee, 1993and Member, Ad Hoc Codification Committee, 1995, Business Law Section, State Bar of Texas. Member: American College of Investment Counsel. Transactions: Representation of sponsor in connection with formation of venture capital partnership with commitments from institutional and other investors of $1,500,000,000; representation of privately held company in connection with its sale of upstream and midstream assets for $2,600,000,000; since January 1, 2005, representation of sellers of equity or assets in transactions totalling $1,500,000,000; representation of seller in connection with a monetization of producing oil and gas reserves structured as a sale of net profits overriding royalty interest to an institutional investor for approximately $102,000,000 cash; representation of buyer in connection with the purchase of a venture capital firm and the restructuring of the firm's interest in existing institutional funds; representation of sponsor in connection with formation of two venture capital funds with aggregate commitments from institutional and other investors of $1,425,000,000; representation of seller in connection with the monetization of certain Section 29- qualified natural gas properties for $128,750,000; representation of private equity funds and other institutional investors in connection with numerous significant private equity financings. Practice Areas: Venture Capital; Mergers and Acquisitions; Oil and Gas Acquisitions; Partnership Law; Limited Liability Company Law; Business Law.Email: Michael K. Pierce
Ricky A. Raven (Partner) admitted to bar, 1987, Texas; 1994, U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1994, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas; 2006, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 2007, Arkansas; 2008, New York and U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. Education: University of Houston (B.S., with honors, 1983); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1986). Listed in 2008-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America (Mass Tort Litigation); Texas Super Lawyers (Environmental), 2007-2009. Selected for inclusion in Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon 500, 2006. Designated by the National Law Journal as having won one of the most significant verdicts of 1998. Assistant District Attorney, Harris County, Texas. Member, Alumni Board of Directors, University of Houston Law Center. Member, Advisory Council, University of Texas Health Science Center. Member, Board of Directors, Ronald McDonald House of Houston, Houston Symphony Orchestra, and the South Central YMCA. Member: New York State and Arkansas Bar Associations. Houston Young Lawyers Association (Former Director); Texas Young Lawyers Association; Supreme Court Bar Association; National Bar Association; International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC); Defense Research Institute; College of the State Bar of Texas; Houston Bar Association; Houston Lawyers Association; American Bar Association - Co-Chair, Trial Practice Committee; International; DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar - Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee; Texas Defense Counsel Association. Fellow: Houston Bar Foundation. (Also in New York, N.Y. Office). Practice Areas: Toxic Tort Litigation; Personal Injury; Products Liability; White Collar Criminal Defense.Email: Ricky A. Raven
Glenn A. Reitman (Partner) admitted to bar, 2001, New York; 2005, Texas. Education: University of Houston (B.A., 1997); St. John's University (J.D., 2000). Editor, American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review. Listed: Texas Rising Stars (Real Estate, Banking), 2008-2009; Professionals on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine, 2008. Member: Lead Fundraiser, Friends of Island Academy; Board of Directors, The Houston Food Bank, 2005. Firm Leader, Associates Campaign, The Legal Aid Society, 2000-2004. Member: Houston and New York State Bar Associations; The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; State Bar of Texas. (Also at New York, New York Office). Practice Areas: Real Estate; Real Estate Banking Law; Secured Finance; Structured Finance; Securitization; Unsecured Finance.Email: Glenn A. Reitman
David M. Robins (Partner) admitted to bar, 1979, Texas. Education: Texas Tech University (B.B.A., with honors, 1976); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1979). Listed, Texas Super Lawyers (Real Estate, Business/Corporate, Securities and Corporate Finance), 2004. Listed in 2009-2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Law). Member: Texas College of Real Estate Attorneys. (Board Certified, Commercial Real Estate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions; Commercial Real Estate Development; Commercial Real Estate Finance; Water Law; Water Rights; Oil and Gas.Email: David M. Robins
Timothy T. Samson (Partner) admitted to bar, 1990, Texas. Education: Texas A&M University (B.B.A., 1985); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., cum laude, 1990). Phi Delta Phi. Member, Order of the Barrons. Certified Public Accountant, Texas, 1989. Publications and presentations: Seminar on Dissolution of Entities, South Texas College of Law, October 2002; Seminar on Securities Law Exemption Issues, Center for Entrepreneurial Development, University of Houston, 1999. Emeritus Member, The Children's Fund, Inc. Past President, Krewe of Maximilian. Member: American Bar Association; Houston Bar Association, Member, Business Law Section; Council Member, Merger and Acquisition Section Member, Corporate Counsel Section Transactions: $500 million initial capitalization of a Gulf of Mexico oil and gas company; $165 million acquisition of 75% equity interest and control of an oil and gas exploration subsidiary of public oilfield services and equipment company; $235 million acquisition of a private oil and gas company with assets in the Gulf of Mexico; $500+ million in private equity investments by energy-focused venture capital funds; $879 million sale of oil and gas exploration company by its public utility company parent; $1.05 billion sale of oil and gas company by its public company parent, which involved an $800 million 144A equity offering, and the creation of a $425 million debt facility; $850 million sale of Columbian oil and gas assets to a joint venture of two national oil companies; One of the largest international oil and gas companies in a multibillion-dollar restructuring of its refinery business assets and a related private placement of securities; and the multibillion-dollar restructuring of its deepwater offshore oil and gas property entities; One of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of rotating equipment in numerous acquisitions; Pipeline contractor in connection with its acquisition and combination to form one of the largest U.S.-based pipeline construction companies; Specialty chemical manufacturer in the sale of manufacturing facilities to an international company; Global industry leader for geophysical and geological interpretation software in its $160+ million recapitalization; Subsidiary of a NYSE company in its acquisition of a regional gas merchant company; Merger and sale of a public well servicing company to another public well servicing company; Sale of well servicing assets to a public company; Publicly held gas marketing company in its acquisition by a NYSE diversified energy company, with the operations of acquired company becoming the basis for the nonregulated gas business of acquirer; Sale of four traffic safety equipment companies to a public equipment rental company; Sale of a traffic safety equipment company to a public company; Beer and malt beverage distribution company in several acquisitions of other distributing companies. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities Law; Mergers and Acquisitions; Partnership Law; Energy.Email: Timothy T. Samson
W. Christopher Schaeper (Firmwide Chair, Client Development) admitted to bar, 1984, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Arlington (B.A., Economics, with highest honors, 1981); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1984). Alpha Chi; Omicron Delta Epsilon; Phi Sigma Alpha; Phi Alpha Theta; Beta Gamma Sigma. Member: Houston (Member, Antitrust and Trade Regulation Sections) and American (Member, Business Law Section) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Member, Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Mergers and Acquisitions; Corporate Finance; Securities Regulation; Commercial Contracts; Corporate Law; Corporate Governance; International Trade.Email: W. Christopher Schaeper
Vivienne (Lie) R. Schiffer (Partner) admitted to bar, 1983, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1987, U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Arkansas; 2006, New York. Education: University of Central Arkansas (B.S., 1979); Tulane University (J.D., 1982). Presenter: "Representations and Warranties in the Acquisition Context," Seminar, American Corporate Counsel Association, Houston Chapter; "Alternative Financing," Seminar, Houston Bar Association; "Intellectual Property," Seminar, 2001 Tax Forum; "Electric Power," Dallas Bar Association, Energy Section, Review of Oil & Gas XX. Named in Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas, 2007. Member: New York State and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Securities; Corporate; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures.Email: Vivienne (Lie) R. Schiffer
William P.M. Schwind (Partner) admitted to bar, 1996, Texas. Education: Hampden-Sydney College (B.A., 1993); Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; University of Texas at Austin (J.D., 1996). Member, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators; Houston Young Lawyers Association. DISTINCTIONS/HONORS: Chambers USA (Projects), 2008, 2009; Chambers Latin America (Projects), 2008, 2009; "Rising Star," Law & Politics, 2004, 2009; "Best Texas Energy Lawyers Under Age 40," Law & Politics, 2004. PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS: "Sustainable Development of the Gas Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa," Second Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Oil & Gas Conference, Houston, Texas, April 14, 2009; "Natural Gas Law Approved in Brazil," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Briefing - Energy and Latin America, March 31, 2009. Contibuting author, "What's Next for Mexico's Energy Sector?" Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Global Energy Law Brief, March, 2009; "Government Takings: Comparative and U.S. Law Perspective," 2° Congresso Internacional do Direito do Petróleo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 4, 2008; "Legal Issues and Strategies for Developing Offshore Prospects in Sub-Saharan Africa," Premier Sub-Saharan Africa Oil & Gas Conference, Houston, Texas, June 16, 2008; "Resource Nationalism, Country Risks and the Brazilian Oil & Gas Sector," Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, New York, New York, October 24, 2007; "Nuclear Energy: A Viable Alternative for Brazil?" Powering Brazil into the Global Energy Marketplace, published by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, September, 2007; "Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances," Oil, Gas and Energy Law Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, Dallas, Texas, September 27, 2007; "Legal Strategies for Managing Retroactive Liabilities," From Prospects to Production: Managing Upstream Risks, Denver, Colorado, September 12, 2007; "Aspectos e Desafios da regulação da energia elétrica e do gás nos Estados Unidos," Revista do Direito da Energia, No. 6 - 2007; "Biodiesel and Ethanol Projects in Latin America: A Case Study on the Brazilian Experience," New York, New York, June 21, 2007; "Managing Political Risk and Country Risk in Brazilian Exploration and Production Projects," Brazil: Drilling to the Point, Symposium on Critical Global Markets, Institute for International and Comparative Law, Dallas, Texas, June 20, 2007; "Legal Challenges to Investing in Guinea-Bissau," 5th Annual West & Central Africa Oil & Gas Conference, Houston, Texas, June 12, 2007; "Mexico's New Administration Faces Challenge of Energy Reform," Houston Business Journal, June 1, 2007; "A Regulação de Energia Elétrica e Gás Natural nos Estados Unidos," 4° Congresso Internacional do Direito da Energia, São Paulo, Brazil, April 17, 2007; "Energy Challenges for Mexico's Calderon Administration," North American Free Trade & Investment Report, Volume 17, Number 3, February 15, 2007. Member: State Bar of Texas; Houston Bar Association (Member of the Steering Committee for the Oil & Gas Section). Languages: French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Practice Areas: International Energy Law; Petrochemicals; Electric Power; Energy; Global Projects and Infrastructure; Corporate and Securities Law; Latin America Trade.Email: William P.M. Schwind
Robert C. Shearer (Partner) admitted to bar, 1979, Texas. Education: Villanova University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1976); University of Chicago Law School (J.D., 1979). Phi Kappa Phi; Omicron Delta Epsilon. Listed in 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America (Banking Law); Texas Super Lawyers (Banking), 2008-2009. Publications and Presentations: "Client Alert: The Federal Reserve Board Announces Commercial Paper Funding Facility," October 08, 2008; "Oil and Gas Lending-the Borrower's Perspective," 26th Annual Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, 2000; "Other Personal Property Liens - Common Law and Statutory Possessory Liens," State Bar of Texas Institute, Winter 1990; "Letters of Credit in Commercial Transactions," International Association of Drilling Contractors, Tax and Accounting Meeting, 1986. Member, Sections on Corporate, Banking and Business Law; Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law, State Bar of Texas. Director and Former Chairman, MIT Enterprise Forum of Texas. Former Director Steering Council, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. Selected for inclusion in listing of Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, July 2004. Member: Texas Association of Bank Counsel. Practice Areas: Banking Law; Energy; Corporate Law; International Law.Email: Robert C. Shearer
Jonathan B. Shoebotham (Practice Leader Complex Tort and Products Liability) admitted to bar, 1979, Texas; 1980, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1982, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1985, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; 1988, U.S. Supreme Court; 2000, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.S., 1976; J.D., 1979). Beta Gamma Sigma. Member, Mock Trial Team, 1978-1979. Briefing Attorney to Chief Justice Tom F. Coleman, First Court of Civil Appeals, 1979-1980. Listed in 2009-2010 editions of [italics on]The Best Lawyers in America[italics off] (Commercial Litigation); Texas Super Lawyers (Civil Litigation Defense, Business Litigation, Environmental Litigation), 2003-2004, 2006-2009; [italics on]Lawdragon[italics off] 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2006 and Finalist, 2007. Publications and Presentations: "Climate Change Litigation: Familiar Theories of Recovery," Toxic Torts Verdict Reports, September 2008; "Courts Not Warming to Climate Change Torts," Energy Law360, Products Liability Law360, May 29, 2008; "Ruling Affects Insurance for Contract Employees," Houston Business Journal, November 2007. Member: Defense Research Institute (Member, Toxic Tort/Environmental Section). Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Toxic Tort; Environmental Law; Commercial Litigation; Product Liability.Email: Jonathan B. Shoebotham
Richard S. Snell (Partner) admitted to bar, 1967, Texas. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.A., 1964); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1967). Certified Public Accountant, Texas, 1971. Listed: Texas Super Lawyers (Estate Planning and Probate, Tax), 2003-2004; Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2004, 2005. (Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Decedents Estates; Estate Administration; Estate and Gift Taxation; Estate Planning; Family Wealth Transfer.Email: Richard S. Snell
Kirk Tucker (Partner) admitted to bar, 1999, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., 1994); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1999). Listed, Texas Rising Star (Business/Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities and Corporate Finance), 2005-2007. Member: Houston and American (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Tax Law) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Energy Acquisitions; Oil and Gas Acquisitions; International Energy Law; International Petroleum Law; Business Associations Law; Nonprofit Organizations Law.Email: Kirk Tucker
José L. Valera (Partner) admitted to bar, 1981, Peru; 1986, Texas; 1987, Louisiana. Education: Catholic University, Lima, Peru (B.A., 1977; J.D., 1981); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1986). Listed in Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Projects and Energy in Latin America), 2008; 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America (Energy Law); Latin Lawyer 250 (Recommended Attorney), 2008; The Burton Awards for Achievement in Legal Writing; 2008. Author: "Leasing Laws in Flux for Offshore Leasing," Guest Column, Energy Law 360, August 25, 2008; "Cross-Border Unitization of Hydrocarbon Fields and Joint Development Zones," Presentation to representatives of Ministry of Oil of Iraq, Istanbul, Turkey, April 21-24, 2008; "Changing Oil and Gas Fiscal and Regulatory Regimes in Latin America," Oil & Gas Journal, Volume 105, Issue 45, December 3, 2007; "Canada and the U.S.: A Nice Fit for Oil and Gas Production," Oil & Gas Network, October 8, 2007; "Does the Energy Development of South America Depend on the Expansion of the LNG Market?," LNG Workshop Chair, Fourth Gas Summit, Latin America, São Paulo, Brazil, May 21-23, 2007; "LNG Projects in Argentina & Unique Issues in Energy Arbitrations," September 20, 2006; "Upstream Government Petroleum Contracts," Course Director and Sole Faculty, International Course, Singapore, August 28-29, 2006; "Energy Integration in Latin America," Panelist at Annual Conference of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association, New York, April 7, 2006; "Recent Legal Developments in the Andean Countries," 18th Annual International Law Institute, Texas Bar Association, Houston, March 24, 2006; "Political Risks for International Oil Companies Investing in Latin America," Speaker at conference organized by the Latin American Chapter of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), Lima, Peru, March 17, 2006; "SDRM - On the Heap of Half-baked Ideas," Latin Lawyer, September 2005; "Political Struggles Overshadowing Latin America's Risk Attractiveness," Oil & Gas Journal, April 4, 2005; "Financing Fallout: The Evolution of Latin American Debt Restructuring," Latin Lawyer, May 1, 2004. MEMBERSHIPS Association of International Petroleum Negotiators Houston Committee on Foreign Relations Houston World Affairs Council. Member: American, Texas, and Louisiana Bar Associations; Lima, Peru, Bar Association. Transactions: Developers of an LNG production facility in Africa and off-takers of regasified LNG from both LNG terminals under construction in Chile; Purchasers and sellers of oil and gas E&P assets in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Suriname, Peru, and Venezuela; Oil companies in negotiations with governments for exploration and production rights in Colombia, Iraq, Russia, Peru, and Venezuela; Purchasers and sellers of electric generation companies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, and Peru, in transactions involving privatizations and M&A between private sector companies; Developers of electric generation facilities (hydroelectric, coal, and natural gas) in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Peru; U.S. and foreign oil and gas companies in multiple transactions for the acquisition of working interests in leases in the deep water portion of the Gulf of Mexico and onshore throughout the United States. Languages: English, Spanish and French. Practice Areas: International Energy; Energy Project Development; Corporate Law; Oil and Gas; Energy; Global Projects and Infrastructure; Latin America.Email: José L. Valera
Robert J. Viguet, Jr. (Partner) admitted to bar, 1985, Arkansas; 1991, Texas. Education: Georgia Institute of Technology (B.E.S., with honors, 1980); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1985). Phi Delta Phi; Tau Beta Phi; Phi Eta Sigma. Managing Editor, The Review of Litigation, 1984-1985. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Business Law Section). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities Law.Email: Robert J. Viguet, Jr.
Randy W. Williams (Partner) admitted to bar, 1985, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1986, U.S. District Court, Western and Northern Districts of Texas; 1987, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 2005, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Education: University of South Carolina (B.A., 1980); Indiana University (M.A., 1982); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1985). Order of the Barons. Associate Editor, University of Houston Law Review. Listed: Texas Super Lawyers (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights), 2003-2009; Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2004, 2005. Member, The Honorable Arthur L. Moller/David B. Foltz, Jr. American Inn of Court (Treasurer, 2006-2008, President Elect, 2008-2009). Chair, Southern District Bench Bar Conference Planning Committee, 2008. Member, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees. Publications and Presentations: "Buying Oil and Gas Assets in Bankruptcy," Panelist, West Legalworks Webinar, June 2008; "Bankruptcy Checklist for When the System Crashes," presented at 15th Annual Computer and Technology Law Institute, May 2002; "Bankruptcy Road Map for Corporate Counsel," 24th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute, University of Texas School of Law, April 2002; "Bankruptcy Road Map for Corporate Counsel," presented at 24th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute, April 2002; "Detour Ahead-Bankruptcy Road Map for the Judgment Creditor," presented at Judgment Enforcement in Texas, February 2002; "Avoiding a Pyrrhic Victory When Collecting a Judgment," presented at Collection Law in Texas, February 2002; "The Duties of a Bankruptcy Trustee or Charon and Cerberus," presented at Basic Bankruptcy Law and Practice, August 2001; "Disposing of the Remains," presented at Loan Workout and Collateral Liquidation in Texas, June 15, 2001; "Better Brite Casts Toxic Shadow on Trustee Liability," NABTalk, Vol. 7, No. 1, 1991. Member: Houston Bar Association (Member, Bankruptcy Section; Council Member, 2006-2008; Secretary, 2008-2009). Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation; Houston Bar Foundation. (Board Certified, Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization)(Also at New York, New York Office). Special Agencies: Standing panel of chapter 7 trustees for the Southern District of Texas. Reported Cases: In re: Hilal, 226 Fed. Appx. (5th Cir. 2007); In re: Zuniga, 332 BR 760 (Bkrtcy S.D. Tex. 2005); Pharris v. State of Texas, 165 S.W. 3d 681 (Tex. Crim App. 2005); In re: Micro Innovations Corp., 81 Fed. Appx. 478 (5th Cir. 2003); In re: Lapin, 302 BR 184 (Bkrtcy SD Tex. 2003); In re: Olympic Natural Gas Co., 294 F.3d 737 (5th Cir. 2002); In re: Olympic Natural Gas Co., 258 BR 161 (Bankr. SD Tex. 2001); In re: Micro Innovations Corp., 185 F. 3d 329 (5th Cir. 1999); In re: Johnson, 234 BR 671 (Bkrtcy SD Tex. 1999); Matter of Watts, 14 F3d 54 (5th Cir. 1994); Watts vs. Williams, 154 BR 56 (SD Tex 1993); In re: John Taylor Co., 935 F2d 75 (5th Cir. 1991); Broadhead v. Hartford Casulty Insurance Co., 773 F. Supp 882 (SD Miss 1991); El Paso Development Co. v. Berryman, 729 SW2d 883 (Tex App - Corpus Christi 1987). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Commercial and Consumer Law; Bankruptcy Law.Email: Randy W. Williams
Richard J. Zook (Partner) admitted to bar, 1988, Texas, U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Houston (B.S., Political Science, summa cum laude, 1985); University of Chicago (J.D., 1988). PRIOR EXPERIENCE: Research Assistant, Chief Judge Richard Posner, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, Chicago, Illinois, 1986-1988; Adjunct Professor, Business Law, C.T. Bauer College of Business, University of Houston, 2007. Member: Houston Trial Lawyers Association; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation (Sustaining Life Fellow). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Antitrust; Securities; Commercial Litigation; Contract Litigation; Complex and Multi-District Litigation; Energy.Email: Richard J. Zook
ASSOCIATESThad H. Armstrong (Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1999); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2002). Phi Delta Phi. Listed: Texas Rising Stars (Real Estate, Banking, Construction/Surety), 2007-2009; Professionals on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine, 2008. PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS: "Beware: Property sold 'as is' may come back to haunt the seller," Houston Business Journal, January 2007; "Anatomy of a Casualty Clause," NBiz Magazine, Summer 2006; "Letters of Intent - Enforceability Issues," Probate and Property Magazine, September/October 2003; "Letters of Intent - Good Starting Point for Smooth Real Estate Transaction," Houston Business Journal, May 2003. Member: Texas Young Lawyers Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association; American Bar Association; Houston Bar Association. Practice Areas: Business Transactions; Banking Law; Finance; Real Estate Transactions.Email: Thad H. Armstrong
Allison D. Byman (Associate) admitted to bar, 2003, Texas; 2004, U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.A., cum laude, 2000); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2003). Events Editor, Houston Journal of International Law, 2002-2003. Author: "Property of the Estate and Exemptions," Bankruptcy in Texas Seminar, March 2004; "Ethical Asset Protection," Bankruptcy in Texas Seminar, March 2004. Certified Mediator. Member: Houston Bar Association (Member, Bankruptcy Section); State Bar of Texas (Member, Bankruptcy Section); Turnaround Managers Association (Member, Houston Chapter); American Bankruptcy Institute; Moller/Foltz Inn of Court for Bankruptcy. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy.Email: Allison D. Byman
Meredith F. Cobb (Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, Texas. Education: University of Arkansas (B.S.B.A., 1997); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2002). Listed: Texas Rising Stars (Real Estate), 2008-2009; Professionals on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine, 2008. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Banking Law; Corporate Finance.Email: Meredith F. Cobb
Kenneth O. Corley (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Texas; 2006, Arizona and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Education: University of Arizona (B.A., Political Science, 1998); South Texas College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2004). Best Advocate, American College of Trial Lawyers National Moot Court Competition, New York Regional, 2003. Member, South Texas Law Review. Member: State Bar of Arizona. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Kenneth O. Corley
Christopher S. Farley (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Texas. Education: Indiana University (B.S., 1993); Rice University (M.B.A., 1998); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., cum laude, 2005). Order of the Barons. Recipient: James Baker Hughes Writing Award; American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence. Associate Editor, Houston Journal of International Law. Transactions: Representations: Representation of seller in the sale of an oil and gas exploration and production company for $320 million Representation of buyer in the combined acquisition of two oil and gas exploration and production companies for $305 million Representation of buyer in the acquisition of an oil and gas exploration and production company for $220 million Representation of seller in the sale of assets of an oil and gas services company for $115 million Representation of buyer in a series of acquisitions of industrial services companies Representation of seller in the sale of a seismic technology company for $120 million Representation of a private equity fund in connection with the establishment of a limited liability company engaged in oil and gas-related activities with a capital commitment of $200 million. Practice Areas: Mergers and Acquisitions; Securities Offerings; Corporate Law.Email: Christopher S. Farley
Pablo C. Ferrante (Associate) admitted to bar, 1999, Argentina; 2005, New York. (Not admitted in Texas). Education: Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina (J.D., 1998); Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina (LL.M., Especialista en Derecho de la Regulación de los Servicios Públicos, 2001); Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois (LL.M., 2003). Clerk, Trial Court in Commercial Matters No. 23, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1993-1997. Co-Speaker, "Recent Developments Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act," Latin America Update Seminar, PricewaterhouseCoopers, October 2005. Member, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators. Member, World Affairs Council of Houston. Member, Houston Section, Instituto Argentino del Petroleo y Gas. Former Part-Time Legal Advisor to President's Chief of Staff, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2001. Former Vice President, U.C.A. Student Bar Association, 1996. Member: New York State (Member, International Law and Practice Section) and American (Member, International Law Section) Bar Associations. (Also at New York, New York Office). Languages: English (fluent) and Spanish (native). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; International Business Law; International Energy Law; Oil and Gas.Email: Pablo C. Ferrante
Joe F. Flack, III (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 2002; J.D., 2006). Phi Delta Gamma (Vice President/Treasurer; House President), Plan II Honors and Business Foundation Program with Highest Distinction. Member, Texas Exes Alumni Association. Publications and Presentations: "Anatomy of a Title Opinion: Common Requirements and Curative," Review of Oil & Gas Law XXIV, Dallas Texas, August, 2009. Member: State Bar of Texas; American Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Oil and Gas Law.Email: Joe F. Flack, III
Juan C. Garcia (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2008, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Education: University of Houston, Clear Lake (B.A., 1993); South Texas College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2004). Order of the Barristers. Phi Delta Phi. Listed Texas Rising Stars (Business Litigation, Personal Injury Defense: General), 2009. Adjunct Advocacy Professor, South Texas College of Law. Member, Legal Advisory Committee, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Member: Board of Directors, Hispanic Bar Association of Houston; Member, Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston; Houston Bar Association (Member, Litigation Section). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Juan C. Garcia
Morgan L. Gaskin (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas; 2007, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.A., Psychology, cum laude, 2003); Cornell University Law School (J.D., 2006); New York University (LL.M., International Taxation, 2007). Alpha Kappa Alpha. Ray L. and Nancy Hunt Leadership Scholar. Vice President, 2004-2005 and 1L Representative, 2003-2004, Black Law Students Association. Member, Board of Trustees, Student Representative, Student Affairs Committee, Member, National Constitution Committee and Chair, Student Senate Diversity Committee, Southern Methodist University. Participant: Frederick Douglas Moot Court Competition, 2003-2004; Langfan First Year Moot Court Competition, 2004. Recipient, "M" Award for Outstanding Service to SMU. Associate Editor, International Law Journal, Cornell University Law School, 2005-2006. Member, Houston Young Lawyers Association's Leadership Academy, 2008-2009. Instructor, Trial Simulation Course - Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Member: American Bar Association; Defense Research Institute (Member, The Voice of the Defense Bar). Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Morgan L. Gaskin
Kristen R. Gibson (Associate) admitted to bar, 2003, Texas. Education: University of Houston, Central (B.A., cum laude, 1996); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2003). Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Banking, Real Estate), 2005, 2007-2009. Member: Houston (Member, Sections on: Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law) and American Bar Associations; Commercial Real Estate Women. Practice Areas: Real Estate and Banking; Finance.Email: Kristen R. Gibson
Brian D. Goodrich (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Texas. Education: Texas Tech University (B.B.A., Finance, 1994); South Texas College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2004). Order of the Lytae; Phi Delta Phi. Recipient, Highest Grade Award (AmJur) in: Torts I, Contracts I, Criminal Law, Property I, Federal Income Taxation, Payment Systems, Secured Transactions, Marital Property. Assistant Articles Editor, South Texas Law Review, 2003-2004. Member: Houston (Member, Real Estate Law Section) and American (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law) Bar Associations, State Bar of Texas (Member, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section). Practice Areas: Real Estate; Business Law; Banking; Finance.Email: Brian D. Goodrich
David T. Grand, Jr. (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Texas. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., Construction Management, 2001); Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 2008; B.C.L., magna cum laude, 2008). Order of the Coif. Recipient, CALI Award Contracts, Obligations, Basic Civil Procedure II, Legal R&W II. Member, Louisiana Law Review, 2006-2008. Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities.Email: David T. Grand, Jr.
Charles A. Lestage (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., Accounting, magna cum laude, 1999); University of Houston (J.D., 2006). Intern to the Hon. Wesley W. Steen, U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Court, 2004. Certified Public Accountant, Texas, 2000. Member, Audit Division Staff, Arthur Andersen LLP, 1999-2002. Audit Division Senior, Ernst & Young LLP, 2002-2003. Member: Houston Young Lawyers Association.Email: Charles A. Lestage
Demetra L. Liggins (Associate) admitted to bar, 2000, Texas; 2008, New York; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas. Education: Christian Brothers University (B.S., Business Administration, cum laude, 1997); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., cum laude, 2000). Phi Delta Phi. Member: American Inns of Court; National Moot Court Team; Henry Upsom Sims Moot Court Board. Cordell Hull Legal Research and Writing Teaching Fellow. Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights), 2005, 2007-2009; Lawyer on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine, 2004; President's Award, Houston Bar Association, 2005-2006. Articles Editor, American Journal of Trial Advocacy. Law Clerk to Honorable U.W. Clemon, United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, 2000-2001. Author: "Selected Oil and Gas Issues in Bankruptcy," May 2003; "Nuts & Bolts of Bankruptcy," Legal Assistant University, September 2002; "Nuts & Bolts of Bankruptcy," Houston Bar Association, Spring 2002. Director, Texas Young Lawyers Association. Member, Turnaround Management Association. Chair: Houston Lawyers Association, Scholarship Committee; International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation; Houston Young Lawyers Association, Child Adoption Committee. Director, Texas Young Lawyers Association. Member: State Bar of Texas (Member, Bankruptcy Section; Board Member, Young Bankruptcy Lawyers; Vice-President, Business); Houston (Chair-Elect, Bankruptcy Section, 2008-2009), American and National Bar Associations; Texas Young Lawyers (Member, Board of Directors). Practice Areas: Bankruptcy.Email: Demetra L. Liggins
C. Stoddard (Todd) Lowther, II (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: University of Georgia (B.B.A., 2001); Tulane University (J.D., magna cum laude, 2006). Clinic Director, 2004-2006 and Alumni Liaison, Tulane University Legal Assistance Program. Judicial Extern to the Hon. Kurt D. Engelhardt, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, 2004. Tax Senior, Robinson, Grimes, and Company P.C., Certified Public Accountants, 2001-2003. Member, University of Georgia Alumni Association. Member: Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Taxation; Electronic Discovery.Email: C. Stoddard (Todd) Lowther, II
Howard McCaleb (Mac) Marshall, Jr. (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., Economics, magna cum laude, 2001); University of Houston (J.D., 2006). Class President, Class of 2001, Vanderbilt University, 1999-2000. Summer Clerk to the Hon. Elizabeth Ray, 165th Civil District Court, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, 2002-2003. Member: Vanderbilt Alumni Association; Kinkaid School Alumni Association; Habitat for Humanity; Bo's Place. Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America. Member: Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Real Estate.Email: Howard McCaleb (Mac) Marshall, Jr.
Julie A. Mediamolle (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: Rhodes College (B.A., Business Administration, cum laude, 2002); University of Alabama (J.D., cum laude, 2006). Omicron Delta Kappa. Member: Mortar Board; Farrah Law Society. Captain, Swim Team, Rhodes College. Member, Public Interest Institute Board. Member: John A. Campbell Moot Court Board; Jessup International Moot Court Team. Junior Editor and Lead Editor, Journal of the Legal Profession, University of Alabama, 2005-2006. Member: Houston Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities.Email: Julie A. Mediamolle
Nichole Dotson Olajuwon (Chief Diversity Officer) admitted to bar, 2003, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., English, 1996); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2002). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities; International Energy Law.Email: Nichole Dotson Olajuwon
Kevin Pennell (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. Education: University of Houston (B.A., English, 1998); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2004). Listed, Texas Rising Star (Business Litigation, Civil Rights/First Amendment, Energy and Natural Resources), 2007. Briefing Attorney, Honorable Samuel B. Kent, U.S. District Court, Galveston, Texas. PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS: "What Happens in Burma?" commentary on Alien Tort Statute for U.S. energy companies, Oil and Gas Investor, January 2007; "The Legal Aftermath of a Category 5 Hurricane: How Katrina and Rita Will Effect The Act of God and Force Majeure Defenses in Exploration and Production Activities," speaker, 52nd Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 2006; "The Antitrust Modernization Commission Holds a Hearing and Receives a Variety of Comments Regarding the McCarran-Ferguson Act," The Insurance Policy, Winter 2005; "On the Assignment of Legal Malpractice Claims: A Contractual Solution to a Contractual Problem," note, Texas Law Review, Vol. 82, Issue 2, December 2003. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Constitutional Law; Commercial Real Estate Litigation; Oil and Gas Law.Email: Kevin Pennell
Matthew R. Reed (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Texas and U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.B.A., Finance, cum laude, 2000); South Texas College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2004). Order of the Barristers. Listed: Texas Rising Stars, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2008-2009; Professionals on the Fast Track, H Texas Magazine, 2009. Note and Comment Editor, South Texas College Law Review, 2003-2004. Author and Presentations: "Ethical Asset Protection," Bankruptcy in Texas Seminar, March 2005; "Using Receiverships to Collect Judgments," Advanced Judgments Enforcements in Texas, February 2005. Member: Houston (Member, Bankruptcy Section) and American Bar Associations; American Bankruptcy Institute; Texas Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Creditors Rights; Commercial Litigation.Email: Matthew R. Reed
Karen Rose (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Texas. Education: Wofford College (B.A., French and Intercultural Studies, summa cum laude, 2005); University of Texas at Austin School of Law (J.D., 2008). Research Assistant, Loftus C. Carson II, Professor of Law, 2006. Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Taxation.Email: Karen Rose
Mayuca V. Salazar (Associate) admitted to bar, 2001, Mexico. Education: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (cum laude, 2001); University of Texas School of Law (LL.M., magna cum laude, 2006). Phi Delta Phi. Certified Spanish-English, English-Spanish legal translator, Supreme Court of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. (Resident, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico). Languages: English, Spanish and French. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securities; Energy; International Energy Law; Latin America.Email: Mayuca V. Salazar
Gabriel Salinas (Associate) born Monterrey, Mexico; admitted to bar, 2007, Mexico; 2009, New York. Education: Elmhurst College (B.A., English, summa cum laude, 2002); Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey (J.D., with honors, 2007); Harvard Law School (LL.M., 2008). Member: New York State Bar Association; Mexican National Association of Corporate Lawyers (ANADE); Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN); AIPN Young Negotiators; Mexican National Association of Corporate Lawyers (ANADE); Harvard Club of Houston. Languages: English and Spanish. Practice Areas: International Energy Law; Corporate and Securities Law; Oil and Gas Law; Global Projects and Infrastructure; Latin America Trade.Email: Gabriel Salinas
Nicholas F. Tsai (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Texas. Education: Washington University (B.S.B.A., Finance and Accounting, 2003); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., with honors, 2007). Dean's List. Recipient: National Merit Scholarship; Allen Lane Roberts Presidential Scholarship. Co-President, Asian Law Students Association, 2005-2007. Member: State Bar of Texas; Asian American Bar Association of Houston. Practice Areas: Corporate Law.Email: Nicholas F. Tsai
Corey M. Weideman (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., Economics, 2003); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2006). Member: First Team Academic All Big XII Conference, 2002-2003; Big XII Commissioner's Honor Roll, 2001-2003; South Texas University of Texas Exes. Recipient: Howard Warren Scholarship; Kenneth Foundation Endowed Scholarship; STCL Academic Merit Scholarship; STCL Annual Fund Scholarship; American Jurisprudence Awards in: Torts I; Legal Research and Writing I. Member, South Texas Law Review. Law Clerk, Harris County Attorney's Office, 2004. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Corey M. Weideman
Marlen D. Whitley (Associate) admitted to bar, 2001, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1998; J.D., 2001). Dean's Distinguished Graduate, College of Liberal Arts. President, Thurgood Marshall Legal Society, 2000-2001. Member, Board of Advocates, 2000-2001. Rocky Mountain Regional Director, 1999-2000 and Member, National Black Law Students Association. Member, Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals. Member, Commission of 125, UT. Listed, Texas Rising Stars (Securities and Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Business/Corporate), 2004, 2008-2009. Member: Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Securitization.Email: Marlen D. Whitley
SENIOR COUNSELMarc E. Grossberg (Senior Counsel) admitted to bar, 1965, Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Ninth Circuits; 1966, California (inactive); 1979, Florida (inactive); 1980, U.S. Supreme Court; 1985, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2007, New York; U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. Education: University of Houston (B.S., 1961); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1965). Order of the Coif; Phi Delta Phi; Omicron Delta Kappa; Chancellor. Listed in: The Best Lawyers in America, 1997-2010 - Tax Law; Marquis' Who's Who in America 2003-2008 Marquis' Who's Who in American Law 1999-2008. Listed: Texas Super Lawyers (Tax, Business Litigation, Business/Corporate), 2003-2009; Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 1998-2007; Houston's Top Lawyers. Articles Editor, Texas Law Review, 1964-1965. Selected for inclusion in Texas Monthly's, 2007. Certified Public Accountant, Texas, 1963. Law Clerk to Hon. Walter R. Ely, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1965-1966. Member: Houston, New York State and American (Member, Taxation Section) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation; Houston Bar Foundation. (Board Certified, Tax Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Reported Cases: Estate of Edna Chappel Ralston v. United States [US Tax Cases - S.D.Tex. Houston Div.], cited as Street v U.S., 24 AFTR 2d 69-6130, 11/12/1969; Battelstein v Internal Revenue Service,611 F2d 1033 (en banc) (5th Cir.1980) 631 F2d 1182 (en banc) (5th Cir.1980), cert. denied,101 S Ct. 2018 (1981); Theo W. Pinson, III, and Joan B. Pinson v Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent, 58 TCM (CCH) 1420 / 1990 WL 14043 (02/20/1990), 59 TCM (CCH) 554 / 1990 WL 61452 (05/14/1990); U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Special Session To Honor the Memory of Circuit Judge Walter Ely on Tuesday, January 8, 1985, Los Angeles, California, 2:00 P.M., 806 F2d Page 91 (Dedication given on behalf of Judge Ely's law clerks by Marc Grossberg of Houston, Texas; In re Guyana Development Corp., 201 BR 462 (10/08/1996); Conroe Medical Center Ltd v. Montgomery County Hospital District [Texas Court of Civil Appeals - Beaumont Division No. 09-98-466-CV) 2000 WL 30059 (Tex App-Beaumont Mar 23, 2000) (NO. 09-98-466-CV) review denied (Sep 07, 2000); Lain v UNUM Life Insurance Co. of America, 279 F3d 337 (5th Cir. 2002); in the Matter of Keith Klopfenstein v. PCC Flow Technologies, Inc. and Allen Parrott, ARB Case No. 04-149, May 31, 2006, reversing and remanding ALJ Case No. 04-SOX-11. Practice Areas: Tax Litigation; Tax Planning; Bankruptcy Taxation; Federal Income Tax; Federal Tax Controversies; General Business Counseling; Tax Audits; Federal Taxation; Business Litigation; Partnership Law; Mergers and Acquisitions; Bankruptcy Workouts Taxation; Bankruptcy Litigation; Bankruptcy Restructuring; Pre-Bankruptcy Workouts; Family Limited Partnerships; Non-Competition Agreements; Business Torts; Business Transactions; Corporate Taxation; Corporate Workouts; Business Structuring; Business Start-Ups; Business Transitions; Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations; Purchases and Sales of Businesses; Electronic Discovery.Email: Marc E. Grossberg
OF COUNSELPatricia Hendrix Chicoine (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1979, Texas; 1983, Louisiana; 1987, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1996, U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana. Education: University of Illinois (B.S., Journalism, with honors, 1973); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1979). Order of the Barons; Phi Delta Phi. Editor, Houston Law Review, 1978-1979. Publications and Presentations: "Louisiana Lien Law," presented to The 1998 Houston Landman's Institute, 1998; "Lien on LOWLA; It's a Privilege: Recent Revisions to the Louisiana Oil Well Lien Act," 57 Louisiana Law Review 1133, 1997; "LOWLA: Louisiana Oil Well Lien ActRecent Revisions," presented to 43rd Mineral Law Institute, LSU Law Center, 1996; "Revisions to Louisiana Oil Well Lien Law," presented to Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association, CID Meeting, 1995; "Assignments and Subletting; Expansion and Extension Option," presented to Third Annual Conference on Commercial Real Estate Leases, CLE International (1993); "New Tax Treatment of Oil and Gas Farm-Outs: A Threat to Domestic Production," 15 Hous. L. Rev. 387 (1978), reprinted in THE LANDMAN (November 1978) and in BASIC OIL AND GAS TAXATION, IED course publication (1978). Member: Security Devices Advisory Committee and Oil, Gas and Water Well Lien Act Subcommittee, Louisiana State Law Institute; Planning Committee, The Energy Law Institute for Attorneys and Landmen, South Texas College of Law, 1999-2000; Advisory Council, Louisiana Mineral Law Institute, 1994-1997. Associate Member, A.A. White Law Society, University of Houston Law Center. Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation. Member: Houston (Member, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section) and Louisiana State Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Member, Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section). Practice Areas: Oil and Gas; Corporate.Email: Patricia Hendrix Chicoine
N. E. (Skip) Maryan (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1973, Texas; 1985, Colorado. Education: Canisius College (B.A., Philosophy and Classical Lanugages, 1965); St. Mary's University of San Antonio (J.D., 1973); Southern Methodist University (LL.M., Tax, 1978). Listed in The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Oil and Gas Practice, 2007. Listed in Who's Who Legal: Texas (Oil & Gas), 2007 and 2008. Officer and Director, Association of International Petroleum Negotiatiors (AIPN), 2000-2004; VP Conferences, 2006-2007; Director, 2007-2008. Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Structuring and Financing International Transactions, co-taught with OPIC attorney Anna-Mita Bentancourt. Speaker for numerous CLE Programs sponsored by: AIPN, ACCA, Texas Bar, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, and South Texas College of Law. Speaker: "Strange Tales from Contracting," AAPL Annual Meeting, 2007; "Peak Oil-the End of the Roller Coaster Ride," RMMLF Annual Meeting, 2006; "Confidentiality Agreements, Lifting Agreements and Oil Sale Agreements," International Law Short Course, 2006-5-4; "Farmout Agreements," AIPN Annual Workshop, 2004; "Outside Counsel-How to pick 'em, When to Hire 'em, How to get the Best Deal," South Texas College of Law, 2003; "Acquisitions: A Checklist for Due Diligence," AIPN, 2003; "Negotiating Traps for the Unwary," South Texas College of Law, 2002; "Letters of Intent, Purchase and Sale Agreements," International Law Short Course, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003; "Special Problems dealing with a Sovereign," Practicing Law Institute, 1997; "Checklist for Doing Business in a Foreign Country," Texas Bar, 1992; revised 1996, 2002, and 2004. Co-Author with Andrew Derman, "Article-Negotiating: The Science of the Art," Landman Magazine, October 2002. Officer and Director, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), 2000. Director, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators. Member: Texas Bar-State Bar College; Colorado Bar Association. [U.S. Navy, Officer/Aviator, 1965-1969; Navy Reserve Aviator/Lawyer, 1970-1987; Commander, USNR Ret]. Transactions: International Upstream Energy Transactions in the following countries: Madagascar, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, UK, Netherlands, Equitorial Guinea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Peru, Egypt. Examples: Cortez Co. Pipeline Financing; Production Sharing Contracts-Madagascar, Indonesia-B Block Extension; Malaysia Deepwater A & B; Vietnam "Blue Dragon," Kazakhstan Caspian Sea Consortium; Equatorial Guinea-B Block, Zafiro Field Development; Kazakhstan, Tulpar, Tengiz. Practice Areas: International Energy Law.Email: N. E. (Skip) Maryan
Ned Price, Jr. (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1967, Texas. Education: The University of Texas (B.A., 1964); The University of Texas School of Law (LL.B., 1967). Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Natural Resources; Business Transactions; Real Estate.Email: Ned Price, Jr.
Leonard B. Rosenberg (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1953, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1947); University of Houston Law Center (LL.B., 1953). Phi Delta Phi. Certified Public Accountant, Texas, 1951.Email: Leonard B. Rosenberg
James W. Smith, Jr. (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1967, Texas; 1971, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., 1965; J.D., with honors, 1967). Associate Editor, Texas Law Review, 1966-1967. Fellow: Houston Bar Foundation. Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Real Estate Acquisitions; Real Estate Sales; Real Estate Leasing; Right of Way Easements; Mechanics Liens; Construction Contracts; Like Kind Exchanges; Real Estate Partnerships; Real Estate Lending (Borrowers).
Robert D. Topping (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1981, Texas, U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, U.S. Claims Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. Education: Lake Forest College (B.A., History, 1978); University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville (J.D., 1981). Delta Theta Phi. Arkansas Law Review: Student Editor, Business Manager, Citations Editor. Member, National Moot Court Team. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation.Email: Robert D. Topping
John T. Unger (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1977, Texas; 1978, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.A., 1973; M.B.A., 1974); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1977). Order of the Barons; Order of Barristers. Associate Editor, Houston Law Review, 1976-1977. Chief Justice, Advocates, 1976-1977; Southern Methodist University Mustang Club; Lettermen's Association. Director, 1990-2000 and President, 1999-2000, University of Houston Law Alumni Association. Director, 2000-2007 and President, 2007-2009, University of Houston Law Foundation. Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Sanders Morris Harris Group Inc., 2005. Member: Houston (Fellow) and American (Member, Business Law Section) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Member, Sections on: Business Law; Corporate Counsel). Practice Areas: Securities Offerings; Securities Regulation; Investment Company Law; Mergers and Acquisitions; Venture Capital; Debt and Equity Finance; Investment; Business Law; Corporate Law; Partnership Law; Contracts.Email: John T. Unger
COUNSELMillie Aponte Sall (Counsel) admitted to bar, 1989, Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern and Western District of Texas; 1995, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.A., 1986); Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D., 1989). Secretary, St. Paul's School Council, 2006. Parent Council, River Oaks Baptist School, 2006. Member, 2005; Co-Chair, 2007-2008; Chair, 2008-2009, Diversity and Equity Committee, River Oaks Baptist School. PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS: "Mega Size, Mega Claims: Managing Claims in Large Chapter 11 Cases," LAU Seminar, State Bar of Texas, September 2002; "Sailing the Uncharted Waters of a Cross Border Insolvency Debt Collection," Business and Litigation Course, State Bar of Texas, February 1999; "Como el Codigo de Quiebras de E.U. Puede Afectar los Intereses Economicos de un Comerciante Mejicano," Annual Academic Exchange Program, Monterrey, Mexico, 1998; "Dealing with Foreign Claimants, Including Mass Tort Claimants, in American Bankruptcies," Bankruptcy Law in the International Community, University of Houston, February 1997; "Representing the Franchisor in Bankruptcy," ABA Annual Forum on Franchising, October 1992; "Bankruptcy Impacts on the Foreclosure Process," 3 ACREL Papers Real Estate Foreclosures 11, (ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section), 1992 "Maximizing Attorneys' Fees," State Bar of Texas-Advanced Business Bankruptcy, May 1990; "Personal Property Foreclosures and Disposition," National Business Institute, May 1990. Member: Houston Bar Association (Appointed to HBA/Monterrey, Mexico Business Lawyers' Exchange Committee, 1993-1997; Chair, 1995-1996); State Bar of Texas (Member, Grievance Committee, 1990-1993); American Bankruptcy Institute (Member, Board of Advisors, Triad Communication, 1998; Director, 1990-1996); Houston Hispanic Bar Association (Director, 1990-1991, 1993-1995). Languages: French, Portuguese and Spanish. Practice Areas: Corporate Reorganization and Creditors' Rights; Trial Practice; Latin America.Email: Millie Aponte Sall
STAFF ASSOCIATESDarlea Feldt (Staff Associate) admitted to bar, 1992, Texas. Education: University of Houston (B.A., 1989); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1992). Practice Areas: Toxic Torts; Asbestos Defense; Asbestos Litigation; Chemical Exposure; Silicosis Litigation.Email: Darlea Feldt
Donna Polidoro (Staff Associate) admitted to bar, 2001, Texas. Education: University of California (B.A., Political Science, 1994); University of Texas (M.A., Government, 1997; J.D., 2001). Practice Areas: Litigation; Products Liability; Toxic Torts; Premises Liability Defense.Email: Donna Polidoro
Patrick Seale (Staff Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, Texas; 2003, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. Education: Stephen F. Austin State University (B.B.A., 1990); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2002). Order of Lytae. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Patrick Seale
All Members and Associates are Members of the Houston and American Bar Associations and the State Bar of Texas.
Ratings Methodology
The following firm members have been rated by their peers
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