Skip to content
David Palmer Oelman
David Palmer Oelman
Partner — Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions
Partner — Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions

David Palmer Oelman

David Palmer Oelman
Houston

Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002

start quote symbol[Dave] is very smart, handles deals very well and has a great sense of humor, which is incredibly valuable when the going gets tough [Client Quote, Chambers USA 2023].end quote symbol
David Palmer Oelman

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, 2005–2024, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2005–2024
  • 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), 2003–2023
  • 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
  • “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