John Goodgame > Akin > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

The ‘top notch’ team at Akin is regularly engaged by public and private companies on a host of corporate governance matters spanning ESG programs, shareholder activism and board evaluations. The cross-departmental team often works alongside the firm’s corporate, litigation and cybersecurity practices, augmenting its client work with the production of articles and newsletters. ‘Terrific’ co-chair Kerry E Berchem, based in New York, has a strong track record working with boards and C-suites on a broad range of matters, ranging from the establishment and compliance with corporate governance policies to fiduciary duty obligation. A mix of public and private companies and private equity funds turn to Houston-based co-head John Goodgame for his expertise in the MLP industry.

Regularly advising on the sale and purchase of assets, company acquisitions, stock mergers, and public offerings, Akin is a popular choice for industry players, sponsors and investors engaging with oil & gas, petrochemicals and LNG. The team is frequently called upon by premium clients such as Tug Hill Inc. and DiamondBack energy as they expand their portfolios, and the group has been largely active on upstream and midstream M&A, often handling multi-billion-dollar deals. Co-head of the corporate practice, New York’s Zachary N. Wittenberg possesses a multifarious offering, working with public and private companies across a range of instructions. Sitting alongside Wittenberg at the head of the team and operating out of Dallas, Wesley Williams is an M&A specialist with a notable focus on upstream and midstream transactions. The Houston-based John Goodgame is often positioned as a financial advisor to clients, guiding them through capital raises, while Stephen Boone, also based in Houston, has overseen the acquisition of interests in both the Permian and Texas Delaware Basin, as well as actively engaged with a number of different pipelines, over the past twelve months. Cole Bredthauer operates out of Fort Worth and is a regular advisor to FireBird Energy II LCC alongside other exploration and production companies. Washington DC’s Emily Mallen adds further midstream knowledge and understanding to the team. David Patrick Elder departed the firm in February 2024.