Rob's practice focuses on established and emerging public and private companies that are building their business through mergers, acquisitions and financings. He currently serves as Chair Emeritus, focusing on client development and special projects. Rob previously served as the Firm’s Managing Partner from 2009-2022 and the Co-Managing Partner – External Affairs from 2022-2023.

Rob has represented clients in energy exploration, production, service and transmission, alternative and renewable energy, energy industry technology, biotech, and the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of products. He has also represented investment banking firms in various financings and merger and acquisition transactions primarily in the energy industry. He has extensive experience in:

  • Mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of public and private entities
  • Private equity fund 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 and registration statements of all types
  • Public and private offerings of equity and debt securities
  • Executive employment agreements and compensation
  • Corporate governance and board and board committee issues

Honors & Recognitions

Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Texas)

IFLR1000 United States, Rated “highly regarded,” M&A and Capital Markets: Debt/Equity

Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law

Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year," Securities / Capital Markets Law, 2022

  • IFLR1000
  • Best Lawyers in America

Credentials

Education

J.D., University of Texas School of Law, with honors, 1978

B.A., University of Texas, summa cum laude, 1975

Harvard Law School Executive Education, Leadership in Law Firms Certificate, 2018

Admissions

Texas

Experience

Rob's experience has included advising:

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Maintenance Supply Headquarters, a leading distributor of maintenance, repair and operations products to the multifamily housing industry, in its agreement to be acquired by Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) for $512 million.
  • Quantum Capital in the acquisition of Houston-based Apache Industrial Services and the simultaneous contribution of another Quantum portfolio company.
  • Special Committee of an exploration and production company in two shale acreage acquisition transactions with a combined value of more than $550 million.
  • Investment in a coal and biomass gasification company with operations in China.
  • Publicly held Texas retail energy provider in its sale to a utility company.
  • Publicly held waste company in over 30 public and private offerings and acquisitions, including a $1.5 billion acquisition of an industry competitor.
  • Creation of sponsor entities to execute “roll ups” of multiple companies in a variety of industries.

Capital Markets

  • Underwriters of an exploration and production company's $240 million public 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.
  • Underwriters of an oil and gas company in two public offerings totaling over $200 million.
  • Exploration and production company in a $193 million Gulf of Mexico acquisition and a $200 million senior note offering.
  • Publicly traded energy exploration company in its recapitalization and subsequent sale, including private equity offerings, Rule 144A debt offering and new credit facilities.
  • Coal and biomass gasification company in its public offerings and private placements.
  • Houston-based biotechnology companies in IPOs, secondary offerings, and private placements.

Private Equity

  • Formation of new upstream and midstream energy companies funded by private equity sponsors.
  • Oil and gas company in acquiring assets from a public oil and gas company for $800 million using private equity and bank financing.
  • Oil and gas company in selling Marcellus midstream assets to a private equity fund.
  • Private equity sponsors in “buy and build” transactions.

Newsroom

News

Media Mentions

Affiliations

TerraLex Global Law Firm Network, Board Member, Executive Committee Member, and Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee

Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow

Alley Theatre, President of the Board (2009-2013), Chairman of the Board (2013-2016)