Akin Gump today announced the addition of a pair of top energy transactional lawyers, with Wesley P. Williams and Jessica Hammons joining the firm as partners in its Dallas and Fort Worth offices. Ms. Hammons and Mr. Williams come to Akin Gump from Thompson & Knight, where Mr. Williams served as firmwide leader of the corporate and securities practice.
“Jessica and Wes are true leaders in their field who bring impressive backgrounds that will resonate strongly with our clients, particularly those within the energy sector,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “They’ll strengthen our top-tier energy practice and further the strong momentum we’ve seen with our transactional team in Texas following the additions last year of partners Ryan Cox, Eric Williams and Chad Nichols. I am very happy to welcome them to Akin Gump.”
Mr. Williams, who will serve as co-head of Akin Gump’s energy team, and Ms. Hammons both represent a variety of public and private energy companies, as well as private equity funds and other private capital providers.
Ms. Hammons advises clients on corporate and securities transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures, with a particular focus on the upstream and midstream energy sectors. Her work includes public and private securities offerings; SEC reporting and general securities compliance; and general corporate, partnership, limited liability company and contract matters.
Mr. Williams’ practice focuses on representing oil and gas clients in M&A transactions, joint ventures, equity and debt financings, and other corporate and partnership matters, in addition to SEC compliance. He also advises on structuring and forming private equity investment funds and oil and gas resource and minerals funds.
“Wes and Jessica are fantastic additions to our Texas corporate team. They bring deep experience and long relationships in the oilfield services, E&P and midstream industries,” said John Goodgame, co-head of Akin Gump’s firmwide corporate practice. “Having worked opposite Wes on significant M&A transactions in recent years, and with the strong reputations that he and Jessica both enjoy, I know their practices and client relationships will align perfectly with our existing strengths. I am really looking forward to working together with them as partners.”
Scott Barnard, partner in charge of Akin Gump’s Dallas office, commented, “Jessica and Wes’s strong ties to the North Texas business community will be tremendous assets to us and our clients. The two of them will also be strong additions to our corporate practice here in North Texas, and it is great to have them with us.”
Added Ms. Hammons, “Akin Gump’s deep Texas roots and top global energy practice will serve as an ideal platform for our practices, and I am excited to join this exceptional team.”
“We are equally enthusiastic about contributing to the firm’s success in Texas,” added Mr. Williams. “This move will present a number of opportunities and benefits for our clients, and we are thrilled to be working with our new Akin Gump colleagues.”
Mr. Williams spent more than two decades at Thompson & Knight, leading its corporate and securities practice for the last seven years. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law and his B.S. from Texas A&M University.
Ms. Hammons had been at Thompson & Knight since 2003, serving most recently as its firmwide hiring partner. She was also a member of its Women’s Initiative Steering Committee and its Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She received her J.D. from Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif, and her B.S., summa cum laude, from Louisiana Tech University.
About Akin Gump’s Energy Industry Experience
Akin Gump is deeply rooted in all aspects of the energy industry in the United States and worldwide, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, liquefied natural gas, coal, utilities and renewables. The firm’s lawyers represent public and private companies, sponsors and portfolio companies, management teams and investors throughout the energy value chain in transactions, including securities, capital markets, M&A, investments, projects, finance and restructuring.
About Akin Gump’s Dallas and Fort Worth Offices
With more than 80 lawyers and advisors, Akin Gump’s Dallas and Fort Worth offices are home to many of the firm’s key practices, with teams that collaborate closely with lawyers in offices throughout the United States and globally. Core areas of strengths of the offices include corporate, including finance and M&A; investment funds; tax; litigation; financial restructuring; and real estate.
Akin Gump was recently honored in the Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion Organization category of the Dallas Business Journal’s 2021 Leaders in Diversity Awards. Last year, the firm was named to the publication’s list of Best Places to Work in North Texas, and it was also rated among the top 10 firms in Dallas for associate recruitment and retention in The American Lawyer’s 2020 Midlevel Associates Survey.
Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Source: www.akingump.com
