David Palmer Oelman
Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
David is one 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 accompanying the shale revolution in the late 2000s combined to make David one of the most successful public company lawyers practicing in the US today. This experience has lead to more recent 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, a Chambers interviewee noted that David “is a very valuable resource with great experience and a breadth of knowledge” while another client praised him saying he is “consistently outstanding” (2024).
David serves as a member of the firm’s Management Committee and Diversity Executive Committee as well as Lead Talent Partner.
Experience Highlights
Chord Energy in its $11 billion combination with Enerplus Corporation
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, 2013–2024; Finance: Capital Markets: Debt Offerings, 2013–2024; 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, 2005–2025, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2005–2025
- 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, 2021–2024; Corporate/M&A (Texas), 2005–2015; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Central United States)(Nationwide), 2019–2024
- 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), 2003–2024
- 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
- Deals & CasesNovember 21, 2024
- Deals & CasesOctober 3, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 19, 2024
- Deals & CasesJune 28, 2024
- Deals & CasesJune 28, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- Deals & CasesMay 31, 2024
- InsightMarch 14, 2024
V&E ESG Update
- Deals & CasesMarch 13, 2024
- Deals & CasesMarch 8, 2024
- Deals & CasesFebruary 21, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 15, 2024
- Deals & CasesJanuary 11, 2024
- Deals & CasesDecember 19, 2023
- 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 & CasesOctober 26, 2021
- Deals & CasesJuly 13, 2021
- Deals & CasesApril 20, 2021
- Deals & CasesFebruary 17, 2021
- Deals & CasesJanuary 13, 2021
- InsightAugust 4, 2020
V&E SEC Update
- “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