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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

  • Harold G. Hamm in connection with the take private of Continental Resources in Q4 of 2022 with an aggregate market capitalization of $25 billion, have also advised Mr. Hamm in Continental’s IPO in 2007, one of the nation’s first shale players

  • Oasis Petroleum Inc. in a $6 billion merger of equals with Whiting Petroleum Corporation creating Chord Energy in 2022

  • Oasis Petroleum and its affiliate companies in the $1.8 billion merger of Oasis Midstream Partners LP with Crestwood Equity Partners LP

  • 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

  • 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 

  • 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

  • Continental Resources, Inc. in its $443 million initial public offering of common stock

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) 2014–2024
  • 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
  • Texas Lawyer (American Lawyer Media), Texas Trailblazers, 2019
  • The International Who’s Who of Capital Markets Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.), 2007, 2008, and 2010
  • Who’s Who Legal (Law Business Research Ltd.), Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, “Thought Leader (USA),” 2024
  • 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 and 2024
  • Trustee, San Jacinto Museum & Battlefield Association
  • 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