E. James Cowen

James Cowen represents public and private companies, boards of directors and special committees, and individuals in a variety of corporate, securities and finance matters. He also serves as Co-Managing Partner – Administrative Affairs, focusing on the management and administration of the Firm’s internal affairs.

His practice includes public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, project development and finance, securities law compliance, reorganizations & restructurings, corporate governance, executive employment agreements and compensation, and general corporate and commercial matters.

James represents clients in the energy (upstream, midstream, downstream, renewables and oil field services), technology, healthcare, infrastructure and construction, and manufacturing and distribution industries. He also represents investment banking firms, investors, and indenture trustees in capital markets transactions.

Prior to and while attending law school, James worked as an aerospace engineer and software developer for a NASA subcontractor, Unisys, where his responsibilities included developing and maintaining software for the space shuttle program, and then as a software development consultant for an oilfield services company.

Honors & Recognitions

Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer in Corporate/M&A

Practice Areas

Credentials

Education

J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 1997

B.S., University of Texas at Austin, 1990

Admissions

Texas

Clerkships

Judicial intern to the Honorable Karen K. Brown, Justice, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas

Experience

Capital Markets

Diversified energy company regarding its $100 million common stock rights offering.
Underwriters of an exploration and production company's $250 Million IPO focused on exploration, acquisition, and development of oil and natural gas resources in the Eagle Ford shale.
High yield offerings of debt securities pursuant to Rule 144A for publicly held companies in the energy and pharmaceutical industries, including subsequent registration with the SEC.
Public debt exchange offers and consent solicitations for publicly held companies in the energy industry.
Public offerings of equity and debt securities for companies in the energy and pharmaceutical industries.
Representation of underwriters in IPOs and follow-on public offerings of equity securities by companies in the energy industry.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Diversified energy company in acquiring a refinery and related storage, logistics, and retail assets in Hawaii for $400 million.
Exploration and production company in its $193 million acquisition of Gulf of Mexico producing assets and related $200 senior note offering.
Independent energy company in completing a $3.2 billion joint venture with an energy producer in the Marcellus Shale.
Diversified energy company in acquiring a transportation and trading business.
Oilfield services company in its acquisition of subsidiaries of a privately held oilfield services company.
Simultaneous acquisitions of numerous companies in “roll up” transactions for new entities.

Corporate Finance and General Corporate Advice

Establishment of shareholder rights agreements, or “poison pills” for publicly held companies.
Private placements for publicly and privately-held companies in the energy, information technology, and telecommunications industries.
Venture capital financings for privately held companies in the information technology industry.
On-going representation of publicly held companies with respect to corporate governance, equity compensation, SEC reporting, and compliance matters.
Establishment of universal shelf registrations for publicly held companies.

Newsroom

Affiliations

State Bar of Texas, Business Law and Corporate Counsel Sections, Member

American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Member

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Houston Bar Association, Mergers and Acquisitions Section, Chair (2013-2014); Treasurer (2012-2013)