
David Palmer Oelman

Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002





David is on of the country’s leading public company lawyers, have worked with over one hundred NYSE and NASDAQ listed issuers over the last 30 years. The long term growth of the US midstream and infrastructure industry beginning in the 1990s followed by the explosive growth of onshore E&P activity beginning in the late 2000s combined to make David one of the most successful IPO lawyers practicing in the US today. This experience has lead to more recent IPO engagements for emerging LNG and transition energy issuers. More recently, David has devoted significant time to helping his clients in the evaluation, negotiation and completion of strategic M&A as the energy industry has moved to consolidate. Many of David’s clients have worked with him for over 20 years.
In April 2019, David was inducted into the Alerian Hall of Fame, together with Kelcy Warren, Raymond Plank and David Fleischer, in recognition of his work in the U.S. midstream and infrastructure industry over three decades. His work has been recognized by Chambers as Tier 1 for U.S. Capital Markets as well as by Legal 500, The Best Lawyers in America© and the International Who’s Who of Capital Markets Lawyers. In its most recent edition of the Chambers USA national securities rankings, Chambers noted that David “brings to bear significant experience in diverse industries” and clients praised him saying he is “very smart, handles deals very well and has a great sense of humor, which is incredibly valuable when the going gets tough”.
David’s thirty year career has included substantial and ongoing work with leading participants in the midstream and infrastructure industry, the shale revolution and the rapidly developing national and international energy transition.
David serves as V&E’s lead talent partner and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and Diversity Executive Committee.
Experience Highlights
Enable Midstream in its $7.2 billion merger with Energy Transfer
Hygo Energy Transition in its $5 billion merger with New Fortress Energy
Liberty Oilfield Services in its acquisition of Schlumberger’s onshore hydraulic fracturing business
Oasis Petroleum in the simplification of Oasis Midstream Partners and drop-down of Bobcat DevCo and Beartooth DevCo
Underwriters to Sunnova Energy International Inc. in its $168 million initial public offering of common stock
New Fortress Energy LLC in its $291 million initial public offering of Class A shares
BP Midstream Partners LP in its $765 million initial public offering of common units
Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc. in its $249 million initial public offering of common stock
Plains GP Holdings, L.P. in its $7.2 billion simplification transaction between Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and Plains AAP, L.P.
Plains GP Holdings, L.P. in its $2.9 billion initial public offering of common units
Oasis Petroleum Inc. in its $676 million initial public offering of common stock
Continental Resources, Inc. in its $443 million initial public offering of common stock
Harold G. Hamm in his acquisition of the remaining shares of Continental Resources, taking the company private
Oasis Petroleum Inc. in a $6 billion merger of equals with Whiting Petroleum Corporation creating Chord Energy
Continental Resources in its $220 million sale of mineral rights in the SCOOP and STACK oil and gas plays to, and formation of a joint venture with, Franco-Nevada Corporation
Select Energy Services, an affiliate of Crestview Partners, in its $1.3 billion merger with Rockwater Energy Solutions
SemGroup Corporation in its $2.1 billion acquisition of Houston Fuel Oil Terminal Company, one of the largest oil terminals in the U.S., from Alinda Capital Partners
Energy Transfer Partners in the transfer of 100% of outstanding interests in Trunkline LNG Company, whose primary asset is a regasification facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Energy Transfer Equity
The Shaw Group in its $3 billion sale to Chicago Bridge & Iron
Devon Energy Corporation in the $8.84 billion contribution of substantially all of its U.S. midstream business to Crosstex Energy, Inc. and Crosstex Energy, L.P, to form a consolidated midstream business controlled by Devon
Energy Transfer Partners in the $3.75 billion purchase of Energy Transfer Equity’s 60% interest in ETP Holdco Corporation
Energy Transfer Partners in the $1.5 billion contribution by Southern Union Company, its affiliate through a joint venture with Energy Transfer Equity, of Southern Union Gas Services to Regency Energy Partners; transaction includes 5,600-mile gathering system and approximately 50 million cubic feet per day of processing and treating facilities in West Texas and New Mexico
Energy Transfer Equity in the $5.3 billion drop down of interest in Southern Union Company into an Energy Transfer Partners-controlled entity
Credentials
- University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with honors, 1990 (Chancellors; Phi Kappa Phi; Order of the Coif)
- Princeton University, B.A. Public and International Affairs summa cum laude, 1987 (Phi Beta Kappa)
- Legal 500 U.S., Finance: Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, 2013–2023; Finance: Capital Markets: Debt Offerings, 2013–2023; High-Yield Debt Offerings, 2018 and 2020; Venture Capital and Emerging Companies, 2017; Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), 2019 and 2020; M&A/Corporate & Commercial: M&A: Large Deals ($1bn+), 2020 and 2021; M&A/Corporate & Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts, 2020–2022
- The Best Lawyers in America©(BL Rankings, LLC), “Lawyer of the Year,” (Houston): Corporate Law, 2013, 2020 and Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2020
- The Best Lawyers in America©(BL Rankings, LLC), (Houston): Corporate Law, 2005–2024, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2005–2024
- Chambers Global, Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Central USA) 2014–2023
- Chambers USA, Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Nationwide), 2013–2018; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Texas), 2013–2019, 2021–2023; Corporate/M&A (Texas), 2005–2015; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Central United States)(Nationwide), 2019–2023
- The International Who’s Who of Capital Markets Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.), 2007, 2008, and 2010
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2003–2023
- IFLR1000, 2020–2023
- Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023
- Board of Directors: Energy Infrastructure Council
- Former General Counsel: Theatre Under the Stars
- Former Trustee: The Kinkaid School
- Texas
- Deals & CasesSeptember 22, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 18, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 21, 2023
- Deals & CasesAugust 14, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJuly 14, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Deals & CasesJune 5, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 17, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 16, 2023
- Deals & CasesOctober 17, 2022
- IFLR1000 2022 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 21 Practice Categories, Recommends 49 Individual LawyersRankings & AwardsAugust 25, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 18, 2022
- Deals & CasesAugust 17, 2022
- Deals & CasesAugust 1, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 16, 2022
- Deals & CasesJune 14, 2022
- Deals & CasesJune 3, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2022
- InsightMay 26, 2022
V&E ESG Update
- Press ReleaseMay 26, 2022
- Event RecapMay 15, 2022 - May 18, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 29, 2022
- Deals & CasesMarch 7, 2022
- Deals & CasesMarch 2, 2022
- Deals & CasesFebruary 18, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 17, 2022
- InsightJanuary 25, 2022
Published by The Texas Lawbook on January 11, 2022
- Deals & CasesNovember 22, 2021
- Deals & CasesNovember 10, 2021
- Event RecapNovember 4, 2021
- Deals & CasesOctober 26, 2021
- InsightSeptember 13, 2021
- IFLR1000 2021 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 21 Practice Categories, Recommends 52 Individual LawyersRankings & AwardsAugust 25, 2021
- Deals & CasesAugust 12, 2021
- Deals & CasesJuly 13, 2021
- Deals & CasesJune 29, 2021
- Deals & CasesJune 10, 2021
- Deals & CasesMay 25, 2021
- Deals & CasesMay 24, 2021
- Deals & CasesApril 20, 2021
- Deals & CasesMarch 26, 2021
- Deals & CasesMarch 22, 2021
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 18, 2021
- Deals & CasesFebruary 17, 2021
- Deals & CasesFebruary 9, 2021
- Deals & CasesJanuary 13, 2021
- Event RecapJanuary 13, 2021
- InsightAugust 4, 2020
V&E SEC Update
- InsightJanuary 10, 2020
V&E Energy Update
- InsightApril 8, 2019
- InsightFebruary 22, 2019
- InsightOctober 1, 2018
- InsightSeptember 14, 2018
- “2023 Could Be a Stronger Year for Energy Industry IPOs Amid Rising Investment,” The American Lawyer, February 7, 2023 (quoted)
- “Alternative Capital Transactions in the Energy Industry,” V&E Houston Office, August 22, 2019 (speaker)
- “Market Update: Evolution of Midstream IPO Structures,” V&E Houston Office, September 12, 2018 (speaker)
- “MLP Transitions: Understanding the Process and Critically Evaluating the Long-Term Costs and Expected Benefits of Simplifications, Roll-ups and Conversions,” April 19, 2018 (speaker)
- “FERC Tax Orders Webcast & Teleconference, March 23, 2018 (speaker)
- “Tenth SEC Division of Corporation Finance Staff Legal Bulletin on Rule 14a-8 Creates New Paths to Omit Shareholder Proposals,” V&E SEC Update E-communication, November 6, 2017 (co-author)
- “Current Trends in M&A Clauses,” 4th Annual Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures Conference, Institute for Energy Law, May 18-19, 2017 (panelist)
- “Alternative Capital: 144A Equity Offerings and Special Purpose Acquisition Companies,” V&E Houston Office, February 22, 2017 (speaker)
- “Delaware Supreme Court Reverses a $171 Million Judgment in an MLP Unitholder Lawsuit On Standing Grounds,” V&E MLP Litigation Update E-communication, January 9, 2017 (co-author)
- “Preparing for an IPO: Market Update, Process and Timeline,” V&E’s Houston Office, November 9, 2016 (speaker)
- “2015 Corporate Scorecard: 6 Texas Firms Nationally Ranked for Corporate Finance, Capital Markets Work,” Texas Lawyer, June 1, 2016 (quoted)
- “LinnCo and LINN to Permit Partners to Exchange Into Corporate Blocker,” V&E Capital Markets and Tax Update E-Communication, March 24, 2016 (co-author)
- “Thoughts for Officers and Directors of E&P Companies and MLPs in 2016,” V&E website, January 19, 2016 (co-author)
- “Alternative Sources of Capital Raising in a Distressed Market,” V&E Houston’s Office, January 13, 2016 (speaker)
- “Retail Preferred Offerings Expand Outside of the Traditional E&P MLP Space,” V&E MLP Update E-communication, October 12, 2015 (co-author)
- “MLP 201,” Energy Series, November 18, 2014 (presenter)
- “MLP 101,” V&E’s Energy Finance Series, 2014
- “MLP Structural Developments: 2013-2014,” NAPTP’s MLP Annual Investor Conference, 2014
- “MLPs and Securities Litigation,” V&E’s Energy Finance Series, 2013
- “IPO Preparation from a Legal Perspective,” KPMG’s Insights Summit, 2013
- “MLP Evolution: Understanding Evolving Structures and What They Mean to the Investor,” NAPTP’s MLP Annual Investor Conference, 2013
- “PTP Industry and the Legal Environment,” Deloitte’s National PTP Conference, 2013
- “MLP 101,” V&E’s Energy Finance Series, 2013