Akin Gump is handing over the reins of its Houston office from one prolific energy dealmaker to another.
The firm announced Thursday that John Goodgame has succeeded Chris LaFollette as partner-in-charge of the 80-lawyer office.
LaFollette, who was 2015’s top dealmaker in Texas, according to The Texas Lawbook’s Corporate Deal Tracker, had served in the role since 2008. The one-time King & Spalding and Andrews Kurth partner will continue representing public companies on transactions, reporting and compliance and board of directors-related matters.
“The Houston office has long been a focus of our work in the energy industry, and Chris has been an exceptional leader there for many years,” Kim Koopersmith, Akin Gump chair, said in a statement. “With his deep experience in — and respect throughout — the industry, coupled with his leadership roles within the firm, John is ideally positioned to further the success Chris helped build and sustain.”
Goodgame wears many hats at Akin Gump. The corporate partner sits on the firm’s management and partner compensation committees and co-leads its global transactions practice.
He also maintains an active practice. His firm bio notes that he has represented MLPs and other energy companies in capital markets transactions including more than $14 billion in cumulative senior and senior subordinated notes offerings; $11 billion in cumulative common equity offerings, including MLP and corporate IPOs; and $2 billion in tender offers for publicly traded securities.
Diamondback Energy kept him especially busy in the latter half of 2019. He represented the Midland-based company on a $3 billion notes offering in December; advised Rattler Midstream, a unit of the Diamondback, on a $335 million acquisition in October; and handled an acquisition of mineral and royalty interests valued at $150 million for Diamondback affiliate Viper Energy Partners in September.
Goodgame also assisted WildHorse’s largest investor, Dallas-based NGP, on its $4 billion sale to Chesapeake Energy Corp. last year.
– Claire Poole contributed to this report