Overview

Missy’s practice focuses on executive compensation, employee benefits, public company compensation and securities law disclosures required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and compensation or benefits issues related to mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and other corporate transactions. She advises a wide variety of public and private companies on various aspects of executive compensation and employee benefits. A significant portion of her practice involves advising clients on the design, implementation, and administration of deferred compensation plans and arrangements, stock option plans, other equity or cash-based incentive plans, tax-qualified plans, non-qualified plans, executive employment agreements, and consulting agreements.

Experience

  • Focus Financial Partners Inc. in its $615 million initial public offering of common stock utilizing an Up-C structure

  • Tortoise Acquisition Corp. II in its $1.4 billion business combination with Volta Industries, an industry leader in commerce-centric electric vehicle charging networks

  • Tortoise Acquisition Corp. in the $1 billion business combination with Hyliion Inc., a developer and manufacturer of electrified powertrain solutions for Class 8 commercial vehicles that significantly reduce emissions

  • Liberty Oilfield Services in its acquisition of Schlumberger’s onshore hydraulic fracturing business

  • Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, a SPAC, in its $230 million initial public offering

  • Assisting clients in restructuring the long term incentive awards for their highest level executives to provide a greater link between pay and performance

  • Cloud Peak, a coal mine operator, in bankruptcy restructuring matters and resulting changes to executive compensation arrangements

  • Various clients in day to day securities work and SEC filings with respect to executive compensation matters and employee benefits, including Key Energy Services, Targa Resources, Pioneer Natural Resources, and Huntsman Corporation

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Credentials

Education

  • Southern Methodist University, LL.M., Tax, 2006
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock, J.D. with honors, 2005
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock, M.P.A., 2005
  • Hendrix College, B.A. cum laude, 2001

Admissions

  • Arkansas
  • Texas
  • Colorado

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Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Ones to Watch,” (Dallas): Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2023–2027; Labor and Employment Law–Management, 2024–2027
Insights

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September 15, 2026

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Third Annual Navigating the Annual Meeting and Reporting Season Program

In this program, we focused on SEC developments affecting, and practical aspects of preparing for, public companies’ annual meetings and annual reports.

November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023 • 1-minute read

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News & Achievements