Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures Conference

Overview

Download the Brochure (pdf)

For more details, download the online brochure.

Conference Co-Chairs

James E. Parsons
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Irving, TX

Jonathan B. Newton
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Houston, TX

Tuition

Registration includes the Conference, all meals, and the course material provided online, which may be printed or saved by customer. It does not include printed binder of program material.

• $650 - Regular Registration Fee
• $525 - IEL Advisory Board Member
• $525 - IEL Young Energy Professional Member
• $525 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee
• $525 - CAIL Member or Member Employee
• $125 - Law Professor
• $125 - Law Student
• $125 - Materials Only (Not attending)
• $75 - Printed Binder (In addition to registration fee)

Schedule and Faculty

Thursday, May 18

9:00 am

Doing Deals Part I - Current Trends in M&A Clauses

Evolving market practices, court cases and deal trends continue to make for a dynamic M&A negotiations environment and we'll explore latest trends in this session, including under Delaware law.

• Melissa A. DiVincenzo, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell L.L.P., Wilmington, Delaware
• Warren J. Ludlow, XTO Energy Inc., Fort Worth, Texas
• Robert L. Kimball, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Dallas, Texas

10:00 am

Doing Deals Part II - Private Equity v. Corporate Buyer

Not all M&A deals are alike and the continued growth of private equity makes it ever more important to understand the difference between a traditional corporate M&A deal and one involving a private equity component. This session will explain the difference and offer guidance for accomplishing deals with private equity.

• Sam Pitts, EnCap Flatrock Midstream, Houston, Texas
• Omar Samji, Jones Day, Houston, Texas
• Laura Tyson, The Energy & Minerals Group, Houston, Texas

10:45 am

Break

11:00 am

Lessons Learned from Energy Bankruptcies (and other Distress Events)

Despite some stabilization in the O&G industry, there continues to be much to learn from related distress events and bankruptcies. This session will highlight what M&A lawyers need to learn from those events before they sign-up for their next deal.

• Robin Russell, Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP, Houston, Texas
• Michael E. Hanson, Jr., Parkman Whaling LLC, Houston, Texas
• Christopher M. Abundis, Swift Energy Company, Houston, Texas

11:45 am

Lunch and Luncheon Presentation

North American Energy Security

• Ken Salazar, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Denver, Colorado. Former US Secretary of the Interior and United States Senator from Colorado

1:15 pm

Lessons Learned from Big Deals

From anti-trust to regulatory hold-ups to major deal collapses to large deals that made it through, this panel will explore what we can learn from the last 12 months of major deal making.

• Geoffrey L. Newton, Baker Botts L.L.P., Dallas, Texas
• Rahul Vashi, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Houston, Texas

2:15 pm

Regulatory Developments Affecting M&A Transactions

Whether increased anti-trust scrutiny around the world or a new administration, there is a lot M&A lawyers need to know about regulatory developments when negotiating deals. This session will cover a variety of regulations of interest to attorneys in structuring deals.

• Armando F. Benincasa, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Charleston, West Virginia
• David L. Wochner, K&L Gates LLP, Washington, DC
• Charles F. (Rick) Rule, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Washington, DC

3:15 pm

Break

3:30 pm

New Deals and Projects in Mexico’s Energy Sector in 2017: US $100 Billion and Counting

The Mexican Energy Reform has attracted 100 billion dollars in just three years from its enactment. 2017 will be a very busy year with many huge projects and deals in upstream, midstream, downstream, power and renewables. Panelists will discuss the current status of M&A in Mexico, new energy infrastructure, keys to structuring cross-border transactions and the trends in the energy sector.

• Nicolas Borda, Haynes and Boone, SC, Mexico City, Mexico
• Steven P. Otillar, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Houston, Texas

4:15 pm

Financing and Structuring of Transactions

M&A deals are not just about M&A clauses, they also need to consider tax issues and alternative structures that can affect the overall transaction. This session will address the financial components of deals on which attorneys must focus and current trends.

• Neil Barr, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York
• Michael Kaplan, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York

5:00 pm

Doing Deals Part III - Representation and Warranty Insurance

Many deals are bridging last minute traditional indemnity issues with third party indemnity insurance and we'll cover the basics for those new to these insurance products.

• Craig A. Schioppo, Marsh USA Inc., New York, New York
• Jim Vetter, Marsh USA Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah
• Harry C. Wallace, Marsh USA Inc., Houston, Texas

5:30 pm

Reception

Friday, May 19

8:30 am

Current State of the Oil & Gas Markets

The world of Energy M&A has changed substantially in recent years. This session will address the current and future landscape of the oil and gas markets.

• Mark Deverka, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Houston, Texas

9:15 am

Let’s Litigate: What You Can Learn from A Litigator About M&A

For better or for worse, a huge percentage of M&A deals end-up in litigation. This session will provide insight and guidance from litigators that may help keep your next deal out of court or arbitration, including what they look for in agreements, what clauses are problematic and why.

• Brendan D. Cook, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Houston, Texas
• Rudolf Koch, Richards, Layton & Finger, Wilmington, Delaware

10:15 am

Break

10:30 am

Developments Abroad - Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, etc.

The vast majority of energy transactions cross borders and this session will cover the latest in energy hot spots across the globe.

• Julia A. Czarniak, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York
• Steven F. Hill, K&L Gates LLP, Washington, DC
• David B. Kultgen, General Counsel and Secretary, Saudi Aramco 2010-2016, Austin, Texas

11:15 am

The MLP Landscape

The announcement of the demise of the MLP market may be premature. This session will cover the latest on MLPs.

• Raymond C. Fossett, EY, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• David Palmer Oelman, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Houston, Texas

11:45 am

What Every Attorney Must Know About Cyber Security and Data Privacy Issues and Their Ethical Obligations (Ethics)

This presentation will describe three main issues of concern to attorneys regarding cyber security and data privacy. First, what are counsel’s ethical obligations in this rapidly developing area. Second, what preventative measures or due diligence can counsel take in a merger or acquisition context. Third, what regulatory enforcement can a company expect from the FTC following a breach.

• Pierre Grosdidier, Ph.D., Haynes and Boone, LLP, Houston, Texas

12:45 pm

Adjourn

CLE Credit

This program is approved by the State Bar of Texas for a total of 10.5 hours, including 1 hour of ethics. Course ID Number: 901376143. Credit hours for other states will vary and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.

For this conference, IEL will directly apply (if requested) for course accreditation in the following states: California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Some of these states may not approve a program for credit hours before the program occurs. Attorneys may be eligible to receive CLE credit through reciprocity or attorney self-submission in other states. IEL conferences are typically accredited by all mandatory CLE states.

Hotel Information

The cost of housing is not included in tuition. However, rooms (in limited number) have been reserved at the JW Marriott Hotel, 5150 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056. Registrants should either use the link below to book online, or call 1.800.228.9290 and advise them they are attending the "IEL – Mergers & Acquisitions Conference". Nights available for our rate of $189 plus taxes are 5/17/17 through 5/18/17 and dates outside this stay are priced based on hotel availability. The last day to obtain this special rate is May 2, 2017.

BOOK HOTEL ONLINE

Sponsorship Opportunities

Conference Luncheon - $2,500 each

• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• Recognition at the conference, including orally and via signage at the luncheon
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference
• Up to 2 complimentary guests for the luncheon
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Breakfasts – $3000 (Exclusive) - SOLD OUT

• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• Recognition at the conference, including at main program and via a sign at the breakfasts
• 2 complimentary registrant at the conference
• Up to 2 complimentary guests at the networking reception
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Faculty Dinner - $2,500 (Exclusive)

• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• Recognition at the conference, including at main program and via a sign at the dinner
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference, including the Faculty Dinner
• Up to 3 complimentary guests for the Faculty Dinner
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Networking Reception - $2,000 each

• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• Recognition at the conference, including at the main conference and via signage at the reception
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference
• Up to 2 complimentary guests at the networking reception
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Wi-Fi Sponsor - $2,500 each (Exclusive)

• Name reflected in wi-fi access code
• Prominent recognition on the conference background slide
• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference
• Up to 2 complimentary guests at the networking reception
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Exhibitor - $1,500 each
(Non-law Firms only)

• Space to display company/firm materials at the conference.
• Name/logo on Conference website with link to company page

Other Information

Privacy Policy

We do not sell or rent information to any outside parties. By providing your information, you will receive postal and electronic communications from the Institute for Energy Law (IEL) of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) in accordance with CAIL's Privacy Policy. If we co-sponsor a program with another organization, information may be shared between the parties. All such co-sponsors will be identified on the event details and registration page. At any point, you can opt-out or unsubscribe by selecting either link at the bottom of each email or call us at 972.244.3400.