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David Palmer Oelman
David Palmer Oelman
Partner — Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions
Partner — Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions

David Palmer Oelman

David Palmer Oelman
Houston

Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002

start quote symbolMy most valuable skill is my ability to connect with people. Whether that means developing a good relationship with a CEO, CFO, General Counsel, or with the SEC, or having constructive relationships with opposing counsel and opposing parties, my ability to relate well to others has been key to my success over the years. end quote symbol
David Palmer Oelman

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
  • “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