Porter Hedges LLP

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Craig Bergez counsels private companies and their owners regarding general business matters, and provides tax advice to a wide variety of stakeholders in connection with planning transactions. Craig’s corporate practice is focused on the middle market and involves counseling private companies and their owners (including family-owned businesses) regarding general organizational and operational matters (including business formation and structure), and in connection with making investments, selling businesses, buying businesses, entering into joint ventures, and admitting investors and key employees as new owners. Craig’s tax practice is focused on general transactional planning, with an emphasis on joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, investment transactions, and choice of entity considerations. Craig has been selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers in tax law since 2004. In 2009, he was named as a top lawyer in the State of Texas in the area of tax law by Super Lawyers - Corporate Counsel Edition.

Corey Brown leads the Corporate Practice Group. He advises companies on a wide variety of corporate and commercial matters, focusing on company formation, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions. His energy industry experience covers a broad spectrum of matters within the upstream, midstream, downstream, and services sectors, with particular experience in the midstream and services sectors. Corey has extensive experience in private mergers, acquisitions, financing, and sale transactions for private and publicly held companies in many industries, including private placements of debt and equity, management, and leveraged buy-outs. He assists private equity firms with forming and funding portfolio companies, mergers and acquisitions, and general legal matters, as well as representing equity-backed companies in company formation, funding, and employment matters. Corey also assists private investors, including family offices, with formation, funding, growth, and general legal matters. Corey was recently recognized as “highly regarded” for M&A and Capital Markets: Debt/Equity by IFLR1000 United States.

George Craft leads the firm’s real estate and real estate finance sections. His practice focuses on a wide range of real estate related transactions including real estate finance, acquisition and disposition of real estate related assets, structuring of various real estate entities and real estate loan workouts. His experience also includes representing clients in matters related to tax credit finance, mass tort finance, law firm finance, and aircraft and aircraft engine finance. He has been Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Commercial Real Estate Law and Residential Real Estate Law since 1983. Representing Lenders George represents lenders across the country in construction loans, development loans, loans secured by unimproved property and improved property, including regional shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, golf courses, industrial complexes, residential subdivisions, flex space, mid- and high-rise luxury condominium projects, mini storage complexes, and mid and high rise multi-family complexes, low-income housing tax credit transactions, housing finance corporation financing, historical tax credit transactions, public facilities corporation financing, and the construction of improvements on leasehold estates. He also represents lenders in connection with aircraft financing secured by airframes, aircraft engines and avionics and lenders providing law firm financing. Representing Developers, Investors, Landlords & Tenants George represents both foreign and domestic developers and investors in acquiring, disposing of, developing, and leasing all types of commercial real estate, including mid- and high-rise luxury condominium projects, mid- and high-rise multi-family complexes, office buildings, residential subdivisions, regional shopping centers, unimproved property, hotels, golf courses, deep water facilities, and industrial warehouses and developments. He also represents landlords and tenants regarding complex lease issues, including development agreements, operating agreements, reciprocal access agreements, and restrictive covenant agreements.

John Hawkins represents businesses in complex commercial disputes in federal and state court and in arbitration, in litigation avoidance, and in related transactional and non-litigation matters. His experience includes, generally: Litigation, including construction, design professional, distressed real estate litigation for lenders and investors, patent and copyright infringement, homeowner association litigation, and general commercial Preparing, reviewing, and negotiating design, construction, EPC, and energy infrastructure contracts Defending design professionals in disciplinary proceedings John practiced architecture for ten years before attending law school. As an architect, his experience encompassed a broad range of commercial and institutional projects, including (at 3D/International, Inc.) high-rise office, laboratory, museum, and hospital projects.John is recognized by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and Best Lawyers in America. One client tells Chambers USA, “[John] is very responsive and thorough. He is also sensitive to my need to control legal costs.”

John Higgins leads the firm’s bankruptcy and restructuring practice. His practice focuses on corporate reorganization, restructuring, acquisitions, and litigation. He has extensive experience representing entities in their Chapter 11 cases and/or out of court restructurings, creditors' committees, Chapter 11 and 7 Trustees, institutional and corporate creditors, and directors and officers. His practice also includes general civil litigation in both federal and state courts. Mr. Higgins is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, an honorary professional and educational association of the leading bankruptcy and insolvency professionals from around the country. He is also listed as one of America's leading lawyers in bankruptcy/restructuring by Chambers USA, has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law since 2004, and has been listed as a recommended corporate restructuring/bankruptcy lawyer by The Legal 500 since 2013. He has been named "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America in 2013, 2015 and 2018 for bankruptcy law. Mr. Higgins was also listed as one of the state's leading lawyers in the Insolvency and Restructuring practice by Who's Who Legal: Texas in 2007 and 2008. Mr. Higgins has been selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers since 2003, Super Lawyers Business Edition since 2011, and Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition in 2009 and 2010. These surveys have also named him as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the State of Texas in 2007 and 2009 and in the Houston Area since 2005. Mr. Higgins serves on the board of directors of the Turnaround Management Association (Houston chapter) and was the President of the Houston Chapter in 2013. He has served as an adjunct professor of bankruptcy law at the University of Houston Law Center and is a Certified Mediator (Attorney-Mediator Institute, January, 1996).

Stephanie Holcombe

Stephanie Holcombe works with companies and their owners and executives to manage the full range of issues related to business disputes — from risk control and litigation avoidance to the successful management of ongoing litigation in a strategic and cost-effective manner. She has second-chair trial experience in state and federal court trials and in arbitrations on a variety of issues. Stephanie’s experience includes the following: Contractual disputes Trade secrets Oil and gas contracts Oil and gas production equipment Non-competition and non-solicitation agreements Fiduciary duties Trademark infringement Stephanie serves in leadership roles across the firm including on our Recruiting Committee and as a member of our Women’s Initiative. She is also an active member of DRI, serving on the DRI Membership Committee, Young Lawyers Steering Committee, and Women in the Law Steering Committee (Chair of Marketing). She also serves as an advisory board member for Theater Under the Stars (TUTS), Houston’s non-profit home for musical theater and as a board member for the Nottingham Forest Civic Association.

C. Randall King

Randy King is a former Co-Chair of the firm’s Energy Section. His practice focuses on a wide range of energy-related projects located onshore, offshore, upstream, midstream, and internationally, including: Acquisitions, divestitures, construction, and financing of pipelines, gathering systems, and storage facilities for natural gas, crude oil, condensate, natural gas liquids, and LNG Acquisitions and divestitures of producing and non-producing oil and gas properties Oil and gas joint ventures and exploration and development programs Exploration and development project agreements, including joint operating agreements and COPAS accounting procedures Natural gas purchase, sales, and marketing agreements; NAESB agreements Natural gas processing and treating agreements, oil and gas transportation agreements, natural gas storage agreements, natural gas supply agreements Operating and maintenance agreements for mid-stream facilities Production handling agreements Master service agreements and IADC drilling contracts Hedging, derivative, swap, and ISDA agreements Credit support annexes, cash collateral agreements, and letters of credit Master setoff and netting agreements Reserve-based and mezzanine oil and gas producer and mid-stream financings Seismic data licenses and acquisition agreements Prior to becoming a lawyer, Randy spent 13 years practicing as an independent petroleum landman. His experience included negotiating oil and gas leases, title examination, structuring oil and gas property acquisitions, and exploration transactions. Randy has been a Certified Professional Landman since 1984.

Stephen Lee is a trial lawyer and leader of the firm's Litigation Practice Group. For the last 25 years, he has represented energy and chemical companies involved in the exploration, production, transportation and processing of refined petroleum products, chemicals, and specialty chemicals. He represents clients in a wide variety of matters, including contract, trade secret, product liability, construction, and employment disputes. He also defends pharmaceutical companies and their employees in product liability matters, including governmental investigations, and advises and represents companies in investigating and defending accident and personal injury claims.Stephen has worked with exploration and production companies, as well as oilfield service providers, in matters across the country and knows the business challenges across the full spectrum of the energy sector. In addition, through his representation of chemical manufacturers and marketers in a broad spectrum of disputes, he is well versed in the design, operation, and economics of chemical facilities.

Ray Lees focuses on advising oil and gas companies on corporate transactional and commercial matters, with an emphasis on upstream and midstream oil and gas transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, finance, and real estate. He has advised clients on some of the oil and gas industry’s largest conventional and unconventional oil and gas acquisition and divestiture transactions, including deals with a combined value of more than $100 billion over the last fifteen years in the Bakken, Barnett, Eagle Ford, Fayetteville, Haynesville, Marcellus, Mississippi Lime, Niobrara, Permian, SCOOP, STACK, Uinta, and Utica plays. He has also counseled clients in equity commitments from private investors and energy financing transactions involving oil and gas and midstream assets across the country.Ray’s oil and gas experience includes negotiating and drafting purchase and sale agreements, swap agreements, development agreements, limited liability company agreements, transition services agreements, seismic licenses, mineral leases, royalty agreements, net profit interest agreements, marketing agreements, and other agreements and instruments customary in connection with oil & gas joint ventures, acquisitions, and divestitures. Ray is recognized by Chambers USA, for his Energy practice. He was also named “Lawyer of the Year” for Mergers and Acquisitions Law by Best Lawyers in America in 2017. Prior to joining the Porter Hedges, Mr. Lees was the managing partner at the Commercial Law Group, P.C. in Oklahoma City.

Sean McChristian

Sean McChristian is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Construction Law and represents contractors, subcontractors, developers, owners, suppliers, sureties, and design professionals in all types of construction-related disputes. These include claims for: delay, acceleration, impact, and inefficiency; defective plans and specifications; construction defects; payment and performance; wrongful termination; cost overrun and extra work; and bond and lien claims.His practice also focuses on resolving complex business issues and disputes involving contracts, trade secrets, and business torts. Sean has experience with a range of industries and sectors including construction, energy, manufacturing, commercial real estate, multifamily housing, and technology. Sean is listed as a Texas Rising Star for Construction Law and named a Top Lawyer in Construction Law by Houstonia Magazine.

Jeremy A Mouton

Jeremy Mouton focuses on advising E&P companies, private equity and direct investment firms, and lenders on a variety of corporate, transactional, and other commercial matters, with an emphasis on upstream and midstream oil and gas transactions and a variety of other energy matters. He also serves on the firm’s Management Committee.Jeremy has advised clients on some of the oil and gas industry’s larger conventional and unconventional acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures in recent years – deals with a combined value of more than $40 billion across more than 20 states, including projects in the Bakken, Barnett, Eagle Ford, Fayetteville, Haynesville, Marcellus, Mississippi Lime, Niobrara, Permian, SCOOP, STACK, Uinta, Utica, and other plays.Since 2017, Jeremy has been recognized by Chambers USA among the nation’s leading lawyers in Oil and Gas Transactions.

Eugene M Nettles

Gene Nettles extensive litigation practice focuses on all types of energy disputes, ranging from gas purchase contract interpretation, preferential rights issues, removal of operators, interpretation over joint operating agreements and exploration agreements, gas plant accounting issues, royalty disputes, take or pay disputes, and more.As lead counsel in civil and criminal matters, Gene has tried more than 125 jury trials representing the State of Texas, corporations (publicly and closely held) and individuals in complex litigation in the state and federal district courts in Texas and elsewhere in the United States, as well as representing clients in arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Throughout his career Gene has also handled appeals to the Texas Courts of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court.Apart from his energy-related practice, Gene handles complex litigation that includes breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, fraud, securities fraud, CFTC violations, antitrust, price fixing, insurance bad faith, defamation, personal injury, product liability, medical and legal malpractice, class action, trade secret, trademark and copyright infringement, patent infringement, covenants not to compete, and employment related matters.Gene began his career as an Assistant District Attorney with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, where he worked from 1975-1980. He has been recognized by a number of legal publications, including Chambers USA, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers in America, and Texas Super Lawyers.

David has extensive experience in litigation and arbitration of construction, insurance, surety and commercial issues. David frequently represents owners, lenders, general contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals in claims; disputes; arbitration and litigation; contract documents; mediation services; commercial, industrial, offshore, multi-family, and surety trials and appeals of contractual disputes; supply contracts; deceptive trade practices; and breach of warranty. His industrial construction experience includes disputes related to pipelines on and offshore, storage facilities, vessel failures, turbines, jack up rigs, cogeneration plants, welding, delays, insurance claims, man power efficiency, and equipment failures. His commercial construction experience includes design and construction defects, extra work and acceleration claims, and multi-party case management and trials. David is a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers.

Benjamin J Rajabi

Ben Rajabi counsels a broad array of energy clients in transactional matters with a particular focus on the midstream sector, including: Acquisitions and divestitures of pipelines, gathering systems, storage facilities and related midstream infrastructure facilities for crude oil, natural gas, produced water, and constituent products Joint ventures for midstream and downstream energy projects Natural gas purchase, sales and marketing agreements and NAESB agreements Gathering, processing, treating, supply, storage, and related midstream operational agreements for crude oil, natural gas, and produced water Engineering, procurement and construction agreements for midstream and downstream infrastructure projects, including pipelines, gathering systems, LNG, and CNG terminals Operation and maintenance agreements for midstream and downstream infrastructure projects Acquisitions, divestitures, construction, installation, and operations agreements for renewable energy projects Acquisitions and divestitures of portfolios of oil and natural gas purchase, sales and hedging agreements Power purchase agreements Hedging agreements

Rob Reedy’s practice focuses on public companies and emerging privately held entities that are building their business through mergers, acquisitions and financings such as public offerings and private equity transactions. In many cases, he coordinates all of the legal work for his clients as they build their businesses, acting as an advisor and “de facto” general counsel. Rob also serves as the Firm Managing Partner. Rob’s clients include businesses involved in energy exploration, production, service and transmission, alternative and renewable energy, energy industry technology and the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of products. He also represents several investment banking firms specializing in public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions for companies in all components of the energy industry. He has extensive experience in: Initial public offerings Secondary public offerings of equity and debt securities Mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of public and private entities Private equity fund entity formations and acquisitions/divestitures Representation of management teams in start-up companies funded by private equity Formation, structuring and financing of new ventures Joint venture and partnership formations and financings Venture capital transactions Preparation of SEC filings of all types Executive employment agreements and compensation Corporate governance and board and board committee issues Rob has been recognized by Chambers USA as among the leading lawyers in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, and he has been included in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of corporate law since 2009. IFLR1000 United States rated him "highly regarded" for M&A and Capital Markets: Debt/Equity in 2019. He has also been selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers in Securities/Corporate Finance Law since 2003 and was named in Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition in the area of Securities and Corporate Finance in 2008.

Joyce K Soliman

Joyce Soliman leads the firm’s Finance Section and chairs the Diversity Committee. She represents commercial banks, private equity sponsors, and other lenders in corporate finance transactions, including commercial loans, asset-based financings, syndicated credit facilities, project finance, letter of credit facilities, real estate loans, acquisition financings, leasing facilities, and energy and infrastructure finance. She also represents both issuers and borrowers in credit facilities, capital market transactions, and general corporate matters, as well as borrowers and lenders in mezzanine and subordinated loans. Representing both domestic and foreign banks as administrative agent and lender, Joyce has assisted in revolving credit and term loan facilities; multi-currency credit facilities; real estate financings; project finance; letter of credit facilities; syndicated, club and single lender financings; loan workouts; restructurings; and recapitalizations. Joyce also advises target companies and purchasers in private company mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Porter Hedges, Joyce served as Associate General Counsel in the legal department of a NYSE listed company at its corporate headquarters in Houston. In that capacity, she handled various corporate matters, with particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions.

Cornelius Sweers

Cory Sweers represents clients in all stages of the construction process, from drafting, reviewing, and negotiating construction agreements to litigation and arbitration of construction disputes. He has experience advising and representing construction clients in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts relating to commercial, multi-family, and industrial construction projects. In addition to construction transactions, Cory advises and represents clients regarding a wide range of construction disputes, including construction defect claims, delay claims, lost productivity claims, change order disputes, wrongful contract termination disputes, mechanic's lien issues, and bond claims.

Robert H Thomas

Bob Thomas is Co-Chair of the Energy Section of Porter Hedges. His practice principally consists of the representation of domestic and international oil and gas companies in all phases of the energy business with emphasis on the upstream and midstream segments of the industry. Although Mr. Thomas is principally involved in energy transactions, his practice includes representation of energy companies involved in disputes, whether mediation, arbitration or litigation, including serving as an expert witness in complex energy cases. Mr. Thomas's practice also includes the following: acquisition, divestiture and financing of midstream and upstream assets mergers and acquisitions acquisition and development of gas storage facilities upstream and midstream agreements including drilling agreements, marketing agreements, gas, liquids and crude oil purchase, transport and gathering agreements farmout and participation agreements, farmout of general and limited partnership agreements, seismic shoot agreements, data acquisitions and seismic licenses, executive compensation agreements, surface and subsurface easements and oil and gas leases drop down transactions for upstream and midstream Master Limited Partnerships Mr. Thomas has been recognized by Chambers USA as a “Leader in the Field” of Energy: Oil & Gas Transactions. He has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America in Energy Law since 2005 and has been selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers in Energy/Oil & Gas Law since 2003. Bob was also named to the Houston Business Journal's "Who's Who in Energy" list. Prior to joining Porter Hedges, Mr. Thomas was Division Attorney for Mesa Petroleum Co. in Houston, Texas and in-house counsel for Gulf Oil Corporation in Midland, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana.

James Thompson represents public and private companies in a variety of corporate, transactional, and other commercial matters. He focuses on the upstream, midstream, and renewable segments of the energy industry with additional experience in other industries. He is also board certified in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. James represents the entire spectrum of energy companies and participants – majors, independents, management groups, services companies, and mineral and royalty companies – with respect to assets and projects in over 20 states and in every major basin. His energy practice includes the following: Acquisition, divestiture and financing of upstream and midstream assets Joint ventures and exploration and development programs Renewable energy projects (carbon capture and sequestration, wind, solar and geothermal) Upstream and midstream agreements including farm out agreements, participation agreements, agreements related to seismic data acquisition and licensing, surface and subsurface easements, oil and gas leases, drilling contracts, master service agreements, marketing agreements, and gas, liquids and crude oil purchase, transport, and gathering agreements Oil and gas disputes

Eric Wade represents clients in virtually every type of complex business and commercial dispute, including cases involving all aspects of the energy industry, intellectual property, trade secrets, financial fraud, environmental liability, shareholder disputes, and qui tam matters. He has served as lead trial counsel in numerous jury and bench trials before state and federal courts, as well as representing clients in all forms of arbitration. In addition to his litigation practice, Eric advises clients on business strategies, government investigations, and risk management. Eric serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Texas Heart Institute, a nonprofit organization founded by world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Denton A. Cooley in 1962 that is dedicated to reducing the devastating toll of cardiovascular disease through innovative and progressive programs in research, education and improved patient care. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Camp for All. At the firm, he is a former member of the Management Committee and former leader of the Litigation Practice Group. Eric's experience and achievements have gained him recognition in Texas Rising Stars and Texas Super Lawyers for Business Litigation. He has also served as a board member for the local chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Amy K Wolfshohl

Amy Wolfshohl is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Construction Law and has been recognized by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, The Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers for Construction Law. Amy represents companies in analyzing risk and resolving problems in connection with highly complex construction transactions, with an emphasis on industrial construction, energy construction, commercial construction, and EPC contracts. She is also an experienced construction litigator. Her cases primarily concern complex energy and commercial facilities, pipelines, EPC contracts, and representation of parties in lien and defect actions. Amy is the immediate past chair of the Construction & Infrastructure Practice Group for TerraLex, an international network of more than 19,000 attorneys in 155 leading independent law firms in more than 100 countries, of which Porter Hedges is a member. Before practicing law, Amy was a project engineer for general contractors in Texas and California. Amy is a frequent contributor to the Porter Hedges Construction Law Blog.