King & Spalding announced on Tuesday that the firm has lured the former associate general counsel and chief compliance officer at Hercules Offshore and HERO Liquidating Trust to its Houston office as a partner.
Bill Gordon oversaw the compliance and litigation functions at Hercules, a Houston-based global oil services and drilling company with 3,000 employees. His role included business strategy, risk management, corporate restructuring and SEC reporting.
At Hercules, Gordon oversaw numerous transactions, including a $1.2 billion debt equity swap, a $600 million restructuring support agreement, $200 million in global asset sales and multiple joint venture agreements.
“Bill is known for adeptly navigating and negotiating corporate restructuring and financing matters and influencing major decisions with sound and strategic judgment,” Tracie Renfroe, managing partner of the firm’s Houston office and co-head of the energy practice, said in a statement. “His ability to address complex issues for multinational companies makes him a great resource for our general counsel clients who are faced with these risks.”
Gordon provided The Texas Lawbook with insights into his decision to return to private practice at King & Spalding.
The Lawbook: What brought you to King & Spalding?
Gordon: I’ve had the privilege to work with numerous King & Spalding attorneys on various matters over the course of the last decade. During that time, I’ve made many friends within the firm, some of whom I am proud to consider among my best and closest friends. During my time at Hercules Offshore as a client, K&S proved over and over again to have extraordinary capabilities in all of its practices. When it came time to choose where I wanted to practice myself, it was a no-brainer to choose the firm that had both amazing legal talent and great friends. It’s an honor to be working with such extraordinary people.
The Lawbook: Have you worked with King & Spalding on matters in the past?
Gordon: Yes, dating back to my time in private practice, I’ve been both co-counsel and opposed to K&S. In that capacity, I was always impressed with the abilities and professionalism of the K&S lawyers with whom I worked. As a client, I was continuously amazed by the quality of their work and the skill of their business counseling.
The Lawbook: What are two or three prominent or important matters that you have handled in the past?
Gordon: Guided Hercules Offshore, Inc. and HERO Liquidating Trust through two Chapter 11 reorganizations and its subsequent wind-down and liquidation; represented energy, pharmaceutical and engineering companies before the DOJ and SEC in global FCPA and related anti-corruption investigations and voluntary disclosures; and represented multiple companies and individuals before the World Bank Sanctions Board in relation fraud and obstruction investigations by the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency.
The Lawbook: Are there any existing matters that you are handling that we are able to note?
Gordon: I continue to represent HERO Liquidating Trust in federal litigation and international arbitration matters and I am working on several government investigations, but am unable to disclose the clients at this time.
The Lawbook: What do you feel distinguishes you from others in your practice area?
Gordon: I have extensive cross-border litigation, regulatory and investigations experience. I’ve represented companies before the DOJ, SEC, and in multiple civil and criminal matters in US federal court. I’ve also been in-house at a company that has gone through two bankruptcies and a subsequent liquidation. I understand how and why things can go wrong, and as a result, have unique insight on how to prevent issues from arising. As a former general counsel, I also understand the demands that general counsel face from their management teams, boards and investors. As such, I hope my clients think of me as one of them, someone who has been in the trenches with them, and someone who instinctively understands what I can do to help them and their companies.
The Lawbook: Do you have any specific interests in non-practice focused matters, such as pro bono, community service, diversity in the profession, etc.?
Gordon: I serve on the boards of directors of Children at Risk and Executive Service Corps. I am also very involved with Family Houston. Pro bono and community service is something that we owe to our communities. I have been very lucky throughout my life and career, and have had terrific people who have supported and mentored me. I hope I can give that back 10-fold.
The Lawbook: What is something about you that clients should know?
Gordon: I care about them and their issues. That’s not just lip service. Because I have been in their position, I know the pressures they are facing on multiple fronts. I take pride in doing my absolute best every day, in both work and life.