Brenda Lenahan
The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
Brenda Lenahan’s practice focuses on advising on all forms of capital-raising transactions, including IPOs as well as other public offerings and private placements involving both equity and debt, and on securities disclosure, corporate governance and compliance matters, including with respect to M&A transactions and other complex corporate transactions such as SPAC business combinations. Brenda has represented a variety of clients, including public and private companies, management teams, boards of directors, investment banks and private equity firms, across a wide array of industries that include energy transition, traditional energy, finance, aviation and life sciences. Her work has been recognized by Chambers USA, Legal 500 U.S., Lawdragon500 and IFLR1000.
Experience Highlights
Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. in its $400 million private offering of senior notes
A developer, owner and operator of energy storage and renewables generation assets, in its initial public offering of common stock (withdrawn)
Focus Financial Partners, a leading partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms, in its $7 billion acquisition by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
Southwest Airlines Co. in multiple equity and debt offerings and in its funding from the United States Department of Treasury of $4.93 billion under the Payroll Support Program of the CARES Act, including subsequent program extensions, and in its negotiation of the related loans, warrants and other agreements
Routinely advises publicly traded companies on 1933 Act and 1934 Act compliance, listing exchange requirements, and ESG matters (including corporate governance and board of directors matters)
Focus Financial Partners Inc., an international partnership of wealth management firms, in its $615 million initial public offering of common stock
A developer, owner and operator of energy storage and renewables generation assets, in its initial public offering of common stock (withdrawn)
Hygo Energy Transition Ltd., a liquefied natural gas solutions and power company, in its initial public offering of common stock (converted to M&A transaction)
Southwest Airlines Co. in multiple equity and debt offerings and in its funding from the United States Department of Treasury of $4.93 billion under the Payroll Support Program of the CARES Act, including subsequent program extensions, and in its negotiation of the related loans, warrants and other agreements
Underwriters to Pattern Energy Group Inc., an owner and operator of wind and solar projects, in its $352 million initial public offering of common stock and subsequent follow-on offerings
Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, in a $505 million public offering of common stock
Various special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in their IPOs, including:
- Tortoise Acquisition Corp., Tortoise Acquisition Corp. II and TortoiseEcofin Acquisition Corp. III
- Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp. and Spartan Acquisition Corp. II
- Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation, Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation II, Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation III and Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation IV
Various master limited partnerships (MLPs) and underwriters in IPOs and subsequent equity and debt offerings, including:
- Global Partners, LP, an energy supply MLP
- Black Stone Minerals, L.P., a mineral interest MLP
- Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a diversified energy MLP
- Viper Energy Partners LP, a mineral interest, variable MLP
- ARC Logistics Partners LP, an MLP with oil and refined products terminaling assets
- Underwriters to CrossAmerica Partners LP (fka Lehigh Gas Partners L.P.), an MLP engaged in the wholesale distribution of motor fuels
Financial advisors in the business combination of Net Power, LLC, a clean energy technology company
Focus Financial Partners, a leading partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms, in its $7 billion acquisition by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
EVgo, a developer and operator of an EV fast-charging network, in its $2.6 billion business combination with Climate Change Crisis Real Impact I Acquisition Corporation
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
Tortoise Acquisition Corp. II in its $1.4 billion business combination with Volta Industries, an industry leader in commerce-centric electric vehicle charging networks
Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp. in its $1.75 billion business combination with Fisker Inc., a developer of eco-friendly electric vehicles
Queen’s Gambit Growth Capital in its $1.1 billion business combination with Swvl, a Dubai-based provider of transformative mass transit and shared mobility solutions
Arc Logistics Partners and Lightfoot Capital Partners in the $422 million sale of the general partner of, and all of the outstanding common units in, Arc Logistics to Zenith Energy Management
Buckeye Partners in the $1.7 billion acquisition of Bahamas Oil Refining Company, owner of the largest storage terminal facility in the Caribbean, from First Reserve and Vopak
Credentials
- University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with honors, 2000 (Texas Law Review; Chancellor-at-Large; Order of the Coif)
- University of Texas, B.B.A. with highest honors, 1994; Masters in Professional Accounting in Taxation, 1994
- Chambers Global, SPACs (USA), 2024
- Chambers USA, SPACs (Nationwide), 2023
- Legal 500 U.S., Finance: Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, 2019, 2022, and 2023
- IFLR1000, 2020–2023
- Selected to the 500 Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2023 and 2024
- Member: American Bar Association; New York State Bar Association; Business Law Section, State Bar of Texas
- Texas
- New York
- Deals & CasesMay 31, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 15, 2024
- InsightJanuary 25, 2024
V&E SEC Update
- Rankings & AwardsJuly 14, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Deals & CasesJune 8, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Deals & CasesMay 19, 2023
- InsightMay 8, 2023
V&E SEC Update
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 17, 2023
- Deals & CasesSeptember 21, 2022
- IFLR1000 2022 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 21 Practice Categories, Recommends 49 Individual LawyersRankings & AwardsAugust 25, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 16, 2022
- InsightJune 14, 2022
V&E SEC Update
- InsightMay 31, 2022
V&E SPAC Update
- InsightMay 6, 2022
V&E SEC Update
- InsightMarch 30, 2022
V&E SPAC Update
- Deals & CasesJuly 28, 2021
- Deals & CasesJanuary 22, 2021
- “The Upcoming Proxy Season,” Women’s Corporate Directors Washington DC Chapter, January 17, 2023 (panelist)
- “Valuation Creation and Strategic Exit Readiness,” Independent Petroleum Association of Americas IPAA Oil Gas Investment Symposium, April 8, 2019 (panelist)