M&A activity was down, down, down around the world in January, but dealmaking involving Texas lawyers was up, up, up. Claire Poole reports on that plus last week’s M&A and capital markets activity.
Mergermarket: Kirkland No. 1 in Deal Count, V&E No. 1 in Deal Value
Kirkland & Ellis, Vinson & Elkins and Latham & Watkins continue to top the Texas M&A charts, according to new data from Mergermarket. Despite a decline in dealmaking in 2019, a few firms showed a jump in the number of transactions they handled last year, including DLA Piper, Willkie Farr, Hunton AK and Holland & Knight.
Two More Deal Lawyers Leaving Locke Lord
The moves – one to another law firm and the other in-house – follow the firm’s global capital markets co-chairs departing for Winston & Strawn. Claire Poole has the story.
CDT Roundup: 13 Deals, 13 Firms, 62 Lawyers, $7.43B
Bankruptcies in the oil and gas industry increased last year, especially in the fourth quarter, according to one report, and commodity prices may remain challenged despite recent geopolitical events. Claire Poole reports on that plus last week’s dealmaking slide.
Locke Lord Loses Two Top Energy Dealmakers to Winston
The former capital markets co-chairs said in an interview they needed the Chicago firm’s platform to better serve their clients and “truly be on top.”
2019 Texas M&A: Bad Mood Rising
The total value of deals among companies in the Lone Star State dropped to the lowest level since 2013 and deal count slid as well, a phenomenon many blame on the sinking fortunes of the oil and gas industry.
CDT Roundup: 23 Deals, 15 Firms, 120 Lawyers, $9.58B
The money continued to roll into private equity firms last year while Austin companies raised the most venture capital since 2000. Claire Poole delves into the data and discusses dealmaking last week among Texas attorneys.
CDT Roundup: 21 Deals, 18 Firms, 199 Lawyers, $14.2B
The average value of M&A deals globally last year reached $389 million, the highest since 2015, and take-privates amounted to $158.3 billion, the highest value since 2007. Claire Poole discusses those and other Mergermarket statistics plus the dealmaking week that was among Texas lawyers.
2019 In Review: The Top 10 Most Important Deals in Texas
The year was dominated by creatively crafted oil and gas deals, given the negative climate around the industry, but also populated with bank combinations and sell-offs of much-loved state brands.
UPDATED: Kirkland Picks Up Compensation/Benefits Partner from Baker Botts
Rob Fowler will rejoin forces with Kirkland partner Sean Wheeler, who previously worked with him on deals at Baker Botts.