The week ending April 12 saw 14 deals reported with an aggregate value of only $2.7 billion. Don’t let that mislead. It’s both better and worse than the numbers suggest. There were 10 M&A/funding deals. But the bulk of the M&A/funding value was provided by a $1 billion fund closing. That and more in this week’s CDT Roundup, The Texas Lawbook‘s regular feature highlighting the work Texas dealmakers are doing inside and outside the state.
M&A Newsmaker: Term Sheet to Triumph, Pillsbury’s Andy Smetana Fuels Startup Successes
Andy Smetana took what he considers an unconventional path to transactional law. After graduating from Boston University School of Law, he sensed that the conditions weren’t favorable for dealmaking. He patiently worked as a litigator while waiting for corporate and market opportunities to improve. Once they did, Smetana quickly transitioned into the transactional sector and has not looked back since, he told The Texas Lawbook.
CDT Roundup: Final Deadline for Submitting Deals for Lawbook’s 1Q CDT Rankings
In this edition of the CDT Roundup, we take a look at a more robust deal week than we’ve seen recently, while the first-quarter deadline for being included in the rankings is later today. Plus, a helpful guide is now available for all things Corporate Deal Tracker. That and more in this week’s CDT Roundup, our regular feature highlighting the work Texas dealmakers are doing inside and outside the state.
M&A Newsmaker: Michael King and His Crowning Achievements at Latham
Drawn by Latham & Watkins’ dominance in oil and gas transactions and its legal reputation he described as akin to playing for the New York Yankees, Michael King joined its Houston office as a partner in 2012. Over 13 years at Latham, King has been involved in a number of notable energy deals and more. He recently discussed his path to becoming a lawyer, his deep experience in the O&G sector and his expectations for the rest of the year with The Texas Lawbook.
CDT Roundup: Deadline for Submitting Deals for M&A Rankings is Next Week
In this edition of CDT Roundup for the week ending March 29, there were 21 Texas-related transactions valued at a total $8.2 billion. The week prior had seen 19 deals for $6.5 billion. It was the third straight week of volume uptick since the 2025 low of seven deals for $2.2 billion for the week that ended March 8. This time last year, there were 12 deals for $9.3 billion. Also, The Texas Lawbook has new 2025 quarterly deadlines for deal submissions to qualify for its quarterly and annual firm and lawyer deal rankings. Firms and lawyers who wish to be considered for the first quarter and year-end Lawbook leaderboards for M&A and CapM must submit all of their first-quarter deals by April 7 at 5 p.m.
Excelerate Energy to Purchase New Fortress Energy’s Jamaican Assets and Operations for Over $1B
Excelerate Energy announced on Thursday that it had entered an agreement with New Fortress Energy to acquire its Jamaican assets and operations for $1.055 billion. Lawyers from Gibson Dunn, Vinson & Elkins and Simpson Thacher are advising on the deal.
Municipal Bond Boom Continues as Texas Cities Sell $68B in Bonds to Keep Pace with Migration
Texas continues to experience rapid population growth, adding nearly 563,000 new residents in 2024, pushing its population north of 31 million. To accommodate this influx, municipalities issued about $68 billion in bonds last year to fund critical infrastructure projects like schools, hospitals, and roads. The leading bond counsel firm in the state, McCall Parkhurst & Horton, advised on 372 bond issues last year as managing partner Mark Malveaux attributes the steady bond activity to the strong Texas economy and robust demand for public services and infrastructure.