Matt Falcone and Katherine Frank Named 2021 Top Rising Stars by The Deal

The Deal’s Top Rising Stars list recognizes top mergers and acquisitions-focused partners, based across the United States, for “spectacular work in the field of dealmaking.”

Falcone’s Houston-based practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and private equity, including advising Hartree Partners, LP in a transaction whereby a subsidiary of Third Coast Midstream sold its Cushing, OK crude oil storage business to HCS Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Hartree. He also recently advised Blackstone Credit in a strategic partnership between GreenStruxure, a joint venture of Schneider Electric and Huck Capital, and ClearGen, a Blackstone portfolio company, that will accelerate the ability for commercial and industrial customers to transition to cost-effective, sustainable and resilient energy.

“The first step in successfully representing a client in any strategic transaction is truly understanding the client’s business and how the transaction fits with those business needs,” Falcone told The Deal when asked what advice he would give to new partners.

Frank, based out of Dallas, focuses on capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. Among her notable experience, Frank advised Southwest Airlines Co. on several public offerings of debt, equity and convertible notes that raised over $9.4 billion for the airline and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. in connection with a definitive merger agreement to acquire HighPoint Resources Corporation valued at approximately $376 million.

Frank is recognized for her focus on listening and understanding the needs of clients at the start of a transaction, working ahead so the deal progresses as smoothly as possible.

“Always work to be a trusted advisor to your clients,” Frank told The Deal. “Be consistent in listening to their concerns and objectives and looking for positive solutions.”

Falcone and Frank were among a class of five lawyers elevated to partner by V&E effective January 1, 2021. Additional information on V&E’s newest partners can be found here.