Overview

Described as “commercial and brilliant from a technical perspective,” Doug is a nationally recognized attorney with an extensive corporate practice, advising on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and other strategic transactions. Doug’s clients classify him as “one of the preeminent energy lawyers across capital markets” having “…seen every type of transaction.” (Chambers USA, 2023) He is one of a few attorneys in the country to be recognized by Chambers USA for both capital markets and corporate M&A.

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Experience

  • Sitio Royalties Corp. in its $4.1 billion merger with Viper Energy

  • Waste Management, Inc. in its $7.2 billion acquisition of Stericycle

  • Crescent Energy in its $2.1 billion acquisition of SilverBow Resources

  • Endeavor Energy Resources in its $26 billion merger with Diamondback Energy

  • Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure, Inc. in its $200 million acquisition of Mobile Energy Rentals LLC

  • Earthstone Energy in the $4.5 billion merger with Permian Resources

  • Denbury Inc. in its $4.9 billion sale to ExxonMobil

  • DoublePoint Energy in its $6.4 billion sale to Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE: PXD) (2022 Finalist in D CEO’s $1 Billion + Deal of the Year Awards)

  • Brigham Minerals in its $4.8 billion business combination with Sitio Royalties

  • Parsley Energy in its $4.5 billion sale to Pioneer Natural Resources Company

  • WildHorse Resource Development in its $4 billion sale to Chesapeake Energy

  • Noble Energy in its $13 billion sale to Chevron

  • MN8 Energy, Inc. in its initial public offering of common stock (registration withdrawn)

  • Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. in its $324 million initial public offering of Class A common stock

  • Brigham Minerals, Inc. in its $261 million initial public offering of Class A common stock 

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Credentials

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D. magna cum laude, 1995
  • University of Texas, B.B.A., Finance with highest honors, 1992

Admissions

  • Texas

Recognitions

  • Legal 500 U.S., Energy Transactions, 2017; Finance: Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, 2012−2015, 2018, and 2023–2025; Finance: Capital Markets: Debt Offerings, 2013, 2014, 2019, and 2023–2026; US Taxes: Non-Contentious, 2019; Finance: Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt Offerings, 2022–2024; M&A/Corporate & Commercial: M&A: Large Deals ($1 Billion-Plus), 2023 and 2024; M&A/Corporate & Commerical: Private Equity Buyouts, 2024
  • Chambers USA, Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Texas), 2015−2019, 2021–2026; “Up and Coming” in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Texas), 2014; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Central United States)(Nationwide), 2019−2026; Corporate/M&A (Texas), 2021–2026; Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt (Texas), 2023–2025
  • Chambers Global, Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Central United States) (USA), 2021–2026
  • Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2004, 2007–2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), (Houston), Corporate Law  2007–2015, 2017–2027; Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2025–2027; Securities / Capital Markets Law, 2025–2027
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Lawyer of the Year,” Corporate Law (Houston), 2020
  • Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2004
  • H Texas Magazine, one of the “Lawyers on the Fast Track,” 2004
  • IFLR1000, 2020–2023
  • Selected to the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, Lawdragon, 2026
  • Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023–2026
News & Achievements

Deals & Cases

Vinson & Elkins Advises Blackbeard Holdings in $2.2 Billion Combination

Vinson & Elkins advised Blackbeard Holdings, LLC (“Blackbeard”), a portfolio company of NGP Energy Capital Management, in its entry into …

July 29, 2026

July 29, 2026 • 2-minute read

Awards & Rankings

The Legal 500 US 2026 (Legalease Ltd.) Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 47 Practice Categories, 146 Lawyers Recommended

The Legal 500 US 2026 recommended Vinson & Elkins as a leading law firm in 47 practice categories. In total, …

June 10, 2026

June 10, 2026 • 3-minute read

Deals & Cases

Vinson & Elkins Represents Underwriters in WhiteHawk Income Corporation’s Initial Public Offering

Vinson & Elkins represented Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, as representatives of the underwriters …

June 9, 2026

June 9, 2026 • 1-minute read

Awards & Rankings

Chambers USA 2026 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 66 Practice Categories, 170 Individual Lawyer Rankings

Vinson & Elkins announced today that it achieved 20 Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA 2026: Nationwide: Energy Transition; Energy: …

June 4, 2026

June 4, 2026 • 3-minute read

Deals & Cases

Vinson & Elkins Advises Kraken Oil & Gas Partners LLC on $400 Million Senior Notes Offering

Vinson & Elkins advised Kraken Oil & Gas Partners LLC in connection with its offering of $400 million aggregate principal …

May 12, 2026

May 12, 2026 • 1-minute read