The Legal 500

Within Energy: litigation, Thompson & Knight LLP is a third tier firm,

Thompson & Knight LLP’s Houston-based energy practice focuses on a mix of Texas court cases and international arbitrations in the oil and gas arena, and is often involved in drilling, leasing and royalties issues. The ‘capable’ practice ‘performs at the highest level, especially in its expertise, efficiency and sensitivity to the budget’. Clients add that it the group is ‘overall good value for the dollar’ and ‘will not disappoint’. It represented Boots & Coots in its merger transaction with Halliburton, and is currently representing the client in the associated shareholder class action lawsuits and Delaware Chancery court suits. The petitions associated with the class actions seek an injunction prohibiting consummation of the merger, and in one instance, rescission or damages in the event the merger is consummated; these cases are currently pending. Greg Curry leads the team, with Andrew Derman ‘one of a kind’, and Becky Jolin ‘always superb’.

Within Environment: litigation, tier 4

Thompson & Knight LLP represents clients in a variety of industries including oil companies, oil refiners, chemical plants, energy companies, and pipeline companies. It deals with all areas of environmental work and its oil and gas experience in particular is extensive. It successfully defended BNSF Railway against more than 200 lawsuits filed by residents of Somerville, Texas regarding alleged contaminated due to exposure of toxic substances from a railroad tie treatment facility formerly operated by BNSF. Other work included providing litigation and settlement advice for Beazer Homes in an enforcement action by the EPA regarding compliance with laws and regulations governing the discharge of storm water from construction sites around the country. Austin-based James Morriss heads the team.

Within Technology: outsourcing, tier 4

Thompson & Knight LLP in Texas handles complex multi-process outsourcing transactions, notably representing energy, public utility/electric power, manufacturing and telecoms companies, retail businesses and banks. Attorneys represent service providers and customers in large and mid-tier outsourcing transactions. According to clients, ‘it is good at what it does – across the board’. The ‘top quality, fast, and efficient’ Jeffrey Andrews in Houston represents longstanding client Oncor Electric Delivery Company. Other representative clients include American Water Works Company and Intercomp Global Services.

Within M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m), tier 4

Thompson & Knight LLP has expanded its M&A capabilities, with Lawrence Hall joining the corporate and securities practice group in Dallas. Hall focuses his practice on corporate, energy, finance, and general business representation. Hunter White joined the oil and gas practice group in Houston. White is noted for oil and gas, energy, and real estate transactions. Recent highlights at the firm include representing the board of directors of Allied Technology in conjunction with the $700m merger/roll-up of five separate companies – Forum Oilfield Technologies, Triton Group, Subsea Services International, Global Flow Technologies, and Allied Technology – to form Forum Energy Technologies. The practice also advised Cardinal Midstream in the acquisition of midstream assets located in the Woodford Shale area of the Arkoma Basin in Oklahoma from Antero Resources for approximately $268m, acted for Boots & Coots in its sale to Halliburton for $235m, and assisted Eagle Rock Energy Partners in the $174m-plus sale of its fee mineral and royalty interests business to an affiliate of Black Stone Minerals Company. In Dallas, corporate and securities practice group leader Fred Fulton is a key contact.

Within Real estate, tier 4

Thompson & Knight LLP’s ‘outstanding’ 38-partner practice is based in offices across Texas and New York. The ‘talented’ Alfred Meyerson chairs the practice and is representing Granite Properties on the $165m sale of its portfolio of 17 industrial properties. Martha Harris and Christopher White acted for General Electric Capital Corporation on a complex transaction involving the assumption of a loan secured by 18 medical office buildings in Phoenix. Mark Weibel advised Brewer Development on land acquisitions, pre-leasing and various other matters relating to its proposed development of a 120,000 sq ft retail space in California. Susan Coleman advised KanAm 1000 Main on its over 200,000 sq ft lease to Shell Oil in Houston. Mark Sloan led a team of attorneys on Dunhill Partners’ acquisition of Las Palmas Market Place, a 638,000 sq ft retail center in Texas.

Within Domestic tax: Central, Thompson & Knight LLP is a third tier firm,

Thompson & Knight LLP’s tax practice group wins the ‘highest marks for response times, business acumen and industry knowledge in the oil and gas industry, strength-in-depth of team and value for money’. The Texas practice, with a complement of 35 lawyers, provides broad-based federal, state, and local tax planning and compliance advice to individuals, businesses, investors, the public sector and tax-exempt organizations. In Dallas, Emily Parker and David Wheat are ‘top choice tax counsel’, and in Houston, Roger Aksamit is commended for his ‘expertise in energy industry tax issues’. In recent instructions, the group represented four private equity sponsors in the structuring and marketing of various private equity oil and gas funds and their associated domestic and international feeder funds to a total private equity investment of $4bn. Terry Simmons, in Dallas, is highly recommended for tax advice in charitable gift planning and tax-exempt sector. Clients of the practice include EnCap Investments, Centex Corporation, Chevron, Noble Energy and Texas Department of Transportation.