T. Mark Kelly
Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
After serving as the firm’s Chairman from 2012 to 2021, Mark maintains an active practice concentrated on mergers and acquisitions for public and private companies, capital markets, and corporate governance.
In 2014, Mark was named “Lawyer of the Year” Corporate Law–Houston by Best Lawyers, (The Best Lawyers in America, 2014). Clients interviewed for Chambers USA say “Mark’s understanding of the legal landscape and the players in it is a vital asset to our company” and note “[he’s] an excellent lawyer who is great with client relationships” (Chambers USA, 2024). Mark has also been named to the NACD Directorship 100: Governance Professionals, a list of the most influential people in the boardroom community (2015–2019).
Mark has extensive experience in public offerings of equity securities, as well as public and private debt securities. His clients include numerous public and private companies, major investment banks, and venture capital firms in a diverse range of industries, including energy and oilfield services, gas marketing, manufacturing, insurance, medical technology, and shipping. Mark also has experience advising boards of directors at Fortune 100 companies. Mark has represented clients in over 150 domestic and cross-border debt and equity offerings since 2008.
Mark is past director of the State Bar of Texas, past president of the Houston Bar Association, and past chair of the Houston Bar Foundation. He is active Chair of the Executive Committee of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a member of the Board of Visitors of MD Anderson Cancer Center, a director of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and serves on the Board of the Greater Houston Partnership.
Experience Highlights
Frank’s International in its merger with Expro Group
Energy XXI in its $2.3 billion acquisition of EPL Oil & Gas Inc., creating the largest publicly traded independent oil and gas producer on the Gulf of Mexico Shelf
Nuevo Midstream in the $1.5 billion sale of the company to Western Gas Partners
Underwriters to 8point3 Energy Partners LP in its $420 million initial public offering of common units
Underwriters to Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC in its $720 million initial public offering of common units
Concho Resources in its $1.65 billion acquisition of the oil and gas assets of Marbob Energy Corporation and affiliated entities
Crimson Exploration in its $800 million merger with Contango Oil & Gas
FMC Technologies in its $281 million acquisition of a 55% interest in Schilling Robotics
FMC Technologies in the $285 million acquisition of Pure Energy Services, a publicly traded Calgary-based provider of frac flowback services and wireline services
Riata Energy in its $1.5 billion acquisition of NEG Oil & Gas
Concho Resources in its $1 billion acquisition of Three Rivers Operating Company
Permian Mud Service in the $2.3 billion sale of Champion Technologies, a global energy specialty products and services company, to Ecolab
Frank’s International in its acquisition of Timco Services, a private company that provides tubular running services and rental equipment onshore in the southern United States and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico
U.S. counsel to Korean National Oil Corporation in its $4.1 billion acquisition of Harvest Energy Trust, a Canada-based oil and gas company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange
Frank’s International N.V. in its $759 million initial public offering of common stock
Pacific Drilling S.A. in its $57 million initial public offering of common stock
C&J Energy Services, Inc. in its $384 million initial public offering of common stock
Oasis Petroleum Inc. in its $676 million initial public offering of common stock
Underwriters to Crimson Exploration Inc. in its $100 million initial public offering of common stock
SandRidge Energy, Inc. in its $842 million initial public offering of common stock
Concho Resources Inc. in its $276 million initial public offering of common stock
Underwriters to GeoMet, Inc. in its $58 million initial public offering of common stock
Underwriters to Hercules Offshore, Inc. in its $212 million initial public offering of common stock
Republic Companies Group, Inc. in its $84 million initial public offering of common stock
Superior Well Services, Inc. in its $83 million initial public offerings of common stock
Underwriters to Bill Barrett Corporation in its $373 million initial public offering of common stock
Underwriters to Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. in its $80 million initial public offering of common stock
Underwriters to FMC Technologies, Inc. in its $221 million initial public offering of common stock
Golar LNG Partners, LP in its $310 million initial public offering of common units
Western Gas Partners, LP in its combined $1.1 billion public offerings of common units
Underwriters to Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC in its combined $950 million public offerings of common units
Gastar Exploration, Inc. in its $106 million public offering of common stock
Western Gas Equity Partners, LP in its $346 million public offering of common units
Concho Resources, Inc. in its $964 million public offering of common stock
Underwriters to Baytex Energy Corp. in its $1.4 billion public offering of common stock
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC in its $1.4 billion investment grade offering of senior notes
Underwriters to CONSOL Energy Inc. in its combined $900 million offerings of senior notes
Underwriters to Cheniere Energy, Inc. in its $625 million offering of convertible senior notes
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. in its $1 billion investment grade offering of senior notes
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in its $1.25 billion investment grade offering of senior notes
Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc. in its combined $1.15 billion offerings of senior notes
Underwriters to Hercules Offshore, Inc. in its combined $700 offerings of senior notes
Western Gas Partners, LP in its $500 million offering of senior notes
Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc. in its $400 million offering of convertible senior notes
Concho Resources, Inc. in its $850 million sale of senior notes
Gastar Exploration Inc. in its $200 million offering of senior secured notes
Underwriters to Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. in its combined $825 million offerings of senior notes
Underwriters to Swift Energy Company in its $150 million offering of senior notes
Underwriters to Bristow Group Inc. in its $450 million offering of senior notes
FMC Technologies, Inc. in its $800 million offering of senior notes
Underwriters to Southwestern Energy Company in its $1 billion offering of senior notes
Endeavour International Corporation in its $500 million offering of first and second priority notes
Evercore Partners, as financial advisor to Kinder Morgan in the $76 billion buyout of El Paso Corporation
Goldman Sachs, as financial advisor to Apache Corporation in the $2.5 billion merger with Mariner Energy
Greenhill & Co., as financial advisor to BJ Services in connection with the $5.5 billion merger with Baker Hughes
Gastar Exploration in its shareholder activist fight against Global Undervalued Securities Master Fund LP
Goldman Sachs, as financial advisor to Schlumberger in the $11 billion acquisition of Smith International
Miller Energy Resources, Inc. against shareholder activists Lone Star Value Management LLC and Bristol Capital Management
Endeavour International Corporation against shareholder activist Talisman Group Investments
Credentials
- Southern Methodist University School of Law, J.D., 1981 (Editor, SMU Law Review; Phi Delta Phi)
- Texas A&M University, B.B.A. Accounting magna cum laude, 1978 (Beta Alpha Psi; Beta Gamma Sigma; Phi Eta Sigma; President, Sigma Chi; Province Balfour Award recipient)
- Legal Media Group’s (Euromoney’s) Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Energy Lawyers, 2016
- Legal 500 U.S., Finance: Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, 2009−2016, 2019, 2020, and 2024; High-Yield Debt Offerings, 2014, 2016 and 2020; Debt Offerings, 2011−2014, 2017−2020, 2022, and 2023; Technology: Transactions, 2013; M&A: Large Deals (National Firms), 2008; Finance: Capital Markets – Debt, 2018−2021
- Chambers Global, “Senior Statespeople” in Corporate/M&A: International & Cross-border (USA), 2023 and 2024; Corporate/M&A: International & Cross-border (USA), 2002−2003, 2005−2023; “Eminent Practitioner” in Corporate/M&A: International & Cross-Border (USA), 2016 and 2017−2021; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (USA), 2014−2015 and 2017−2019; “Eminent Practitioner” in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (USA), 2016, 2017−2019; “Senior Statespeople” in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Central United States)(USA), 2023 and 2024
- Chambers USA, Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Nationwide), 2011−2019; “Eminent Practitioner” in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Nationwide), 2015−2018; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Texas), 2013−2019, 2021–2024; “Eminent Practitioner” in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Texas), 2015−2019, 2021, and 2022; Corporate/M&A (Texas), 2003−2024; “Eminent Practitioner” in Corporate/M&A (Texas), 2021 and 2022; Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Central United States) (Nationwide), 2019−2024; “Eminent Practitioner” in Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Central United States) (Nationwide), 2019, 2021, and 2022
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Lawyer of the Year,” (Houston): Corporate Law, 2014 and 2020; Mergers & Acquisitions, 2011 and 2020; Corporate Compliance Law, 2019−2021; Corporate Governance Law, 2014 and 2020
- The Best Lawyers in America©(BL Rankings, LLC), (Houston): Corporate Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Compliance Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 1995−2025
- Who’s Who Legal (Law Business Research Ltd.), Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Governance, and Energy, 2007, 2008, and 2016; Capital Markets Law, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2016, and 2017; Energy: Oil & Gas, 2022
- International Who’s Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.), 2009 and 2011
- International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.), Oil & Gas, 2009 and 2010
- International Who’s Who of Capital Markets Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.), 2010
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2003−2024
- “Go-To Lawyer” in Corporate Law, Texas Lawyer, 2002−2011
- “Top 100 Houston Region Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2007
- IFLR1000, 2020–2023
- Selected to the 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, 2021
- Selected to the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, Lawdragon, 2022 and 2024
- Director: State Bar of Texas; Greater Houston Partnership; Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
- Board of Visitors: MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Past President: Houston Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Fellow: Houston Bar Foundation; Texas Bar Foundation
- Member: American, Texas, and Houston Bar Associations; Vice Chairman, Parade Committee, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; Board of Trustees and Executive Committee Member, Houston Museum of Natural Science; City of Houston’s READ Commission; Leadership Houston, Class VIII
- Past Chair: Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program; Houston Bar Foundation, Houston Lawyer Referral Service; Professionalism Committee, Hunger Relief Committee, and Local Affiliates Committee, Texas Young Lawyers Association; Houston Young Lawyers Foundation
- Past Vice Chair: Center for Hearing and Speech
- Past Director: Texas Young Lawyers Association
- Texas
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 21, 2024
- Deals & CasesOctober 4, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 19, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 15, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 26, 2023
- Deals & CasesOctober 2, 2023
- Deals & CasesSeptember 22, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 18, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 21, 2023
- Deals & CasesAugust 18, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 16, 2023
- Deals & CasesOctober 27, 2022
- InsightOctober 6, 2022
- IFLR1000 2022 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 21 Practice Categories, Recommends 49 Individual LawyersRankings & AwardsAugust 25, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 18, 2022
- Deals & CasesAugust 15, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 16, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsMay 10, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 29, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 17, 2022
- Deals & CasesSeptember 15, 2021
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 2, 2021
- “NACD Peer Exchange: How the Board Can Plan for Uncertainty in 2017,” The National Association of Corporate Directors, April 6, 2017 (speaker)
- Speaker, NASDAQ “IPO Readiness Forum,” October 2014
- Panel Member, RR Donnelly “SEC Hot Topics Institute,” October 2014
- Mark Kelly is a frequent speaker at both external and internal events, and has spoken at over one hundred events over the course of his career.