Overview

As special counsel in the firm's Houston office, John represents financial institutions, municipal utilities and commodities and energy companies in structured energy transactions and related energy trading agreements, project and infrastructure development and finance, and other corporate transactions. John has experience drafting and negotiating customized agreements, as well as standardized commodity master agreements, including the ISDA and NAESB.

Experience

Experience

Selected Client Representations: 

  • J. Aron & Company LLC (a subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.) in its role as gas supplier, receivables purchaser and investment contract provider in prepaid commodities transactions financed with approximately (1) $523 million in municipal bonds issued by The Black Belt Energy Gas District (“Black Belt”) in March 2022, (2) $493 million in municipal bonds issued by Black Belt in February 2022, (3) 1 billion in municipal bonds issued by Black Belt in December 2021, (4) $603 million in municipal bonds issued by California Community Choice Financing Authority in November 2021, (5) $723 million in municipal bonds issued by Black Belt in September 2021, (6) $466 million in municipal bonds issued by The Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corporation ("TEAC") in June 2021, (7) $420 million in municipal bonds issued by Southeast Energy Authority in April 2021, (8) $634 million in municipal bonds issued by The Lower Alabama Gas District in January 2020, (9) $614 million in municipal bonds issued by PEFA, Inc. in May 2019, (10) $540 million in municipal bonds issued by Northern California Energy Authority in December 2018, (11) $535 million in municipal bonds issued by Central Plans Energy Project in November 2018, (12) $517 million in municipal bonds issued by TEAC in August 2018, (13) $721 million in municipal bonds issued by The Southeast Alabama Gas Supply District in May 2018, (14) $686 million in municipal bonds issued by the Black Belt Energy Gas District in March 2018, and (15) $678 million in municipal bonds issued by TEAC in November 2017.
  • Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley Energy Structuring, L.L.C. (both subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley) in their roles as commodity suppliers and receivables purchasers in a prepaid commodities transactions financed with approximately (1) $686 million in municipal bonds issued by Public Energy Authority of Kentucky (“PEAK”) in March 2022, (2) $1.23 billion in municipal bonds issued by California Community Choice Financing Authority in September 2021, (3) $660 million in municipal bonds issued by Southeast Energy Authority in June 2021, (4) $602 million in municipal bonds issued by Tennergy Corporation in April 2021, (5) $294 million in municipal bonds issued by The Black Belt Energy Gas District (“Black Belt”) in February 2020, (6) $556 million in municipal bonds issued by Public Energy Authority of Kentucky (“PEAK”) in December 2019, (7) $747 million in municipal bonds issued by Black Belt in May 2019, (8) $384 in municipal bonds issued by PEAK in February 2019, (9) $902 million in municipal bonds issued by PEAK in December 2018, (10) $970 million in municipal bonds issued by The Southeast Alabama Gas Supply District in June 2018 and (11) $833 million in municipal bonds issued by Public Energy Authority of Kentucky in February 2018
  • Investments banks in their roles as hedge providers in connection with the financing and construction of large wind and solar farms.
  • An independent fuel marketer and distributor in Canada in connection with its acquisition of Chevron Canada R & M ULC’s refinery in British Columbia as well as its downstream assets (including more than 150 gas stations). The financing for this transaction included bespoke supply intermediation in pipelines, barges, terminals and rail tanks, as well as more traditional receivables financing related to product offtake.
  • A global power company in its $1.2 billion sale of interests in two coal-fired power plants in The Philippines to Aboitiz Power Corp.
  • A global power company in connection with the sale of its interest in the Bujagali hydropower project in Uganda.
  • A Canadian investment fund in its commitment to fund, along with a syndicate of financial sponsors, Howard Midstream Energy Partners LLC’s strategic partnership with WPX Energy (NYSE:WPX) to develop crude oil and natural gas gathering and processing infrastructure in the Delaware Basin.
  • A privately held exploration and production company in connection with a recapitalization transaction that included an equity capital raise of approximately $750 million, an optional equity purchase amount of approximately $350 million, a debt for equity exchange of approximately $325 million of secured and unsecured indebtedness and a debt for equity exchange of approximately $250 million of junior subordinated notes.
  • A privately held exploration and production company in connection with a recapitalization transaction that included an equity capital raise of approximately $750 million, an optional equity purchase amount of approximately $350 million, a debt for equity exchange of approximately $325 million of secured and unsecured indebtedness and a debt for equity exchange of approximately $250 million of junior subordinated notes.

* Some of these representations were handled prior to joining the firm.

Honors

Honors

"Ones to Watch," Best Lawyers, 2024-2025

Education

J.D., Tulane University Law School, 2016, summa cum laude, Tulane Law Review, Managing Editor, CALI Awards for the highest score in 11 classes

M.B.A., University of Mississippi, 2013, Outstanding MBA Student Award, MBA Graduate Achievement Award

B.A., University of Mississippi, 2012, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Taylor Medal

Clerkships

  • Judicial Extern to the Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 2015-2016

Admissions

  • Texas
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