King & Spalding Grabs M&A Attorney Mitch Tiras

King & Spalding announced Monday that deals attorney Mitch Tiras has joined the firm’s corporate, finance and investments practice group as a partner in Houston. He arrives from Locke Lord, where he spent the last 26 years.

Tiras represents business entities, private equity sponsors and portfolio companies in transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and governance matters, according to the press release. He also advises clients on the tax aspects of structuring and implementing transactions to maximize after-tax investment returns. He has experience executing deals in traditional and renewable energy, project development, construction, technology, healthcare, real estate and life sciences. 

Tiras has been busy on the M&A front this year. He represented Spinnaker Oilwell Services, an affiliate of NGP-backed Catapult Energy Services Group, on its sale to publicly traded RPC Inc. for $79.5 million and Mesa Solutions on an investment from Arroyo Investors for undisclosed terms. He also advised WildFire Energy I on its purchase of some of Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s Eagle Ford assets for $1.425 billion and Riverbend Energy Group on an investment in Endurans Solar for undisclosed terms.

Last year, Tiras also represented NGP on a $150 million equity commitment to Mesa Minerals Partners III and Riverbend on its investment in hydrogen storage developer Harnyss for undisclosed terms.

Todd Holleman, head of K&S’s CFI practice group in New York, said Tiras has a broad and diverse skill set and a strong following of private equity, public and private company and family office clients who turn to him for corporate transactions and advice.

“He will play an important role in our continued growth in energy and infrastructure, provides a strong complement to our corporate capabilities in Texas and brings proven leadership skills and a track record of developing transactional talent,” Holleman said.

Tracie Renfroe, managing partner of the firm’s Houston office, added that Tiras has a strong reputation in the Texas legal and business communities and the drive and leadership skills to help the firm continue growing its corporate practice in Texas and beyond. “His energy, entrepreneurial spirit and growth mindset are perfectly suited for our firm,” she noted.

Tiras earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin, his J.D. from South Texas College of Law and his LL.M. from New York University School of Law. While he was at Locke Lord, Tiras was on the executive committee and former chair of the tax department. 

“King & Spalding has a well-earned reputation for its extensive platform, collaborative focus and top-tier talent, so the opportunity to grow how I serve my clients here was one I could not pass up,” Tiras said. “I’m excited to contribute to the growth of this team and to practice with long-time professional friends and peers whom I greatly enjoy and respect.” 

K&S said Tiras is the fifth key hire to its Texas team this year after the additions of restructuring partner Michael Fishel in Houston, senior trial counsel and former U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel in Austin, trial partner Mary-Olga “Mo” Lovett in Houston and antitrust partner Sean Royall in Houston and Washington, D.C.