The Legal 500

Within Project finance, tier 4

Andrews Kurth LLP’s project finance team is based principally in Houston and has a strong base in oil and gas transactions, with notable clients including Eurus Energy, Macquarie Cook Power, BP and DKRW. The group also gains significant mandates in the wind power sector and, to a lesser extent, other forms of renewable energy. The practice is headed by the well-respected figure of Timothy Unger, who has been advising Enviro Petroleum on the projected $5bn development, financing and construction of a Libyan oil refinery. A team led by Mark Thurber advised the sponsor on a joint venture with a major gas transportation company to develop a $1bn 500 MMCFD natural gas pipeline and associated facilities in Sonora, Mexico. Recommended partner Hal Haltom assisted Hilcorp Energy Company in a newly formed partnership to own and develop Hilcorp’s oil and gas properties located in the Eagle Ford Shale trend of South Texas. In the area of solar power, Dahl Thompson and Rob Taylor advised TX Solar I (a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation) on the financing of a 13.8MW AC solar-powered electric generation facility, and a solar-powered electric generation test facility in Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas. In further renewable energy transactions, the team represented Goshen Phase II, a joint venture owned by BP, Mitsubishi and Veolia, on the construction and term financing of a 125MW wind generation facility to be constructed in Bonneville County, Idaho; and Pattern Gulf Wind on the purchase and corresponding financing of the assets of Texas Gulf Wind, a 283MW wind farm in Kennedy County, Texas. Further recommended individuals include of counsel Roger Feldman in Washington DC, who has long-established expertise in renewable and alternative energy; Doris Rodriguez in Houston, who has a focus on Latin American transactions; and George Humphrey, who is also in Houston and focuses on US and international project development and finance.

Within Technology: transactions, tier 4

Andrews Kurth LLP’s 37-strong technology and emerging companies practice, led by Carmelo Gordian and Matthew Lyons, is based in Austin, Dallas and Houston and focuses on the technology, telecoms and healthcare industries. Gordian’s clients include life science, software, telecommunications, semiconductor and energy sector companies. Together with David Kavanaugh, he represented Phoenix IP in its $70.1m acquisition of Iroko Pharmaceuticals. Lyons focuses on forming and operating businesses, capital raising strategies and M&A. He assisted Valence Technology with the issuance of a registered direct offering to Seaside 88. The group advises emerging companies, entrepreneurs, and venture capital and private equity firms, and leverages its strong ties with investors, funds, investment banks and financial institutions. Other clients include LDR Holding (LDR Medical), Innography, Spinal Restoration, Site-Controls, Nuventix and iCeutica.

Within M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m), Andrews Kurth LLP is a third tier firm,

With US offices run from Austin, Houston, Dallas, Washington DC and The Woodlands, Andrews Kurth LLP’s lawyers handle deals of all sizes, ranging from less than $1m to more than $15bn, and encompassing all major methods of buying and selling companies and assets, such as negotiated stock purchases, cash transactions, tender offers, going private and management buyout transactions, exchange offers, auctions, spinoffs, restructurings and divestitures. The practice has a pre-eminent reputation for handling asset purchases and sales for businesses that explore, develop, produce, store, market, transport and process energy resources. It advises on the ownership transfer of highly specialized assets, including producing properties, pipelines, power plants and cogeneration facilities, in the US and other countries. The firm also has significant M&A experience in the finance, manufacturing, technology, hospitality and real estate sectors. Houston-based David Buck recently represented the acquirer in an $8bn merger with Enterprise GP Holdings. Buck is particularly experienced in domestic and international energy, maritime transportation, aviation and the death care industries. Also in Houston, Michael O’Leary is co-chair of the corporate and securities practice. O’Leary was counsel to Hilcorp Energy in connection with an Eagle Ford joint venture with KKR and affiliated funds, and advised BJ Services Company in connection with its merger with Baker-Hughes.

Within Real estate, tier 4

Andrews Kurth LLP has a broad-based commercial real estate practice with 56 attorneys in Houston, Dallas, Austin and New York. The firm is particularly strong in Texas but acts on matters across the US. Darren Inoff represented PinPoint Commercial in a $13m transaction relating to a 30,000 sq ft build-to-suit surgical hospital in Humble; and acted for Plan B-MOB on a $38m transaction involving the sale of partnership interests in a large, “class A” medical office building in Texas. Daniel McCormick is representing a number of clients in the hospitality sector, including Braveheart on transactions totaling $264m, and a private REIT on a $78m matter relating to its ownership and financing of full-service hotels in Texas and California. Michael Boyd represented Anadarko Petroleum on the $214m acquisition of its 1 million sq ft headquarters in Texas, and Crimson Real Estate Advisors on the $51m sale of a “class A” building in New Jersey. Mark Arnold has experience in sports stadium transactions and Andrew Campbell has pension fund expertise.