Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
Since recovering from the demand shock wrought by the pandemic, upstream energy M&A is suddenly "red hot," according to Andrew Dittmar, a director at Enverus. With oil sitting at prices unseen since 2014, both value and mood is ripe for vigorous dealing in Q4, particularly among those holding smaller assets. Think consolidation. Details are in this week's CDT Roundup.
Barnes & Thornburg corporate partner John Willding is a showman. His often two-a-day selfies on Facebook are flashy, funny, political and often risqué. His personality could fill boxcars with an admixture of exuberance, confidence and stylishness. Willding’s zealous support of Donald Trump has caused backlash, but those who know him best say he is an adamant proponent of pro bono, public service and diversity.
Willding's flamboyant personality has also been a key to him developing a highly successful midmarket transactional practice with a particular niche representing entrepreneurs. He’s helped some sell their businesses at exponential multiples of the startup costs.Oil pricing hit a high unseen in nearly seven years, and energy deals seemed suddenly a thing again. It may be a passing moment, but one worth noting in this week's CDT Roundup.
The Texas Lawbook visited with England about what she is seeing in her finance practice, what concerns are front of mind for banks and corporate directors and which community organizations have been especially impactful to her.
In a deal that received some notice in October 2019, Houston's Kraton Corp. sold off one of its signature polymer businesses, Cariflex, to a Korean concern. This week, Kraton itself was acquired by that same Korean industrial company in the Corporate Deal Tracker Deal of the Week.
Baker Botts corporate partner Mollie Duckworth, who was partner-in-charge of the firm's Austin office and deputy chair of the firmwide corporate department until earlier this year, is expected to join Latham before the end of the year, The Texas Lawbook has learned. She will be the fourth corporate partner lateral to join Latham's newly opened Austin office.
The Texas Lawbook is sharing some changes for readers to be aware of heading into the fall. And in last week's transactions, Texas lawyers took part in a few SPAC IPOs, a proposed juggernaut of a Permian Basin asset sale and a handful of capital commitments.
After practicing law for 40 years, corporate attorney Chris LaFollette reflects on her career, coming up in Houston and focusing on energy transactions from 1980 to 2020.
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