Gemma L. Descoteaux's practice encompasses all aspects of corporate and securities law. Ms. Descoteaux has represented participants in complex international joint ventures and partnerships; buyers and sellers in public and private mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; and issuers and underwriters in public securities offerings, in a wide range of industries, including health care, steel manufacturing, business process outsourcing, pharmaceuticals, technology, entertainment, transportation and energy.

Ms. Descoteaux is currently the chair of the Dallas office corporate section, a member of the Dallas office practice committee, a member of the Dallas office recruiting committee and a member of the Dallas office diversity committee.

Ms. Descoteaux has been involved in the following representative transactions—

• counsel to a French public company in the negotiation of international joint venture arrangements with Japanese companies and multiple acquisitions, including the acquisition and subsequent operation of steel manufacturing facilities in Houston and Youngstown, the acquisition of a steel drill pipe manufacturing facility in Houston from a Canadian corporation and general corporate matters
• counsel to a U.S. public business process outsourcer and integrated information-based loyalty and marketing solutions corporation in connection with numerous private acquisitions and the negotiation of outsourcing service contracts
• counsel to a U.S. public business process outsourcing and information technology services provider in connection with multiple private acquisitions and securities matters
• representation of the owner and operator of surgery centers and private surgical hospitals in a public offering of equity securities and a tender offer for outstanding debt securities
• representation of the underwriters in a number of underwritten public offerings of equity securities and Rule 144A debt offerings in the energy, transportation and health care sectors
• counsel to a leading independent pharmaceutical company in multiple public offerings, acquisitions and divestitures exceeding $1 billion in the aggregate, including the acquisition of a public pediatric pharmaceutical corporation; long-term licensing of pharmaceutical products and technologies; pharmaceutical development projects; the acquisition of various pharmaceutical products; and international transactions involving the acquisition of the North American rights to the dominant natural, cosmetic wrinkle filler
• counsel to a leading provider of membership services, credit card loyalty programs, direct market insurance and value-added checking programs in multiple Rule 144A debt offerings.

During 2000, Ms. Descoteaux served as associate general counsel for EXE Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of warehouse management and e-commerce order fulfillment software. While at EXE, she was involved with the company's initial public offering, as well as the negotiation of strategic alliance, reseller, licensing and professional services agreements.

Prior to commencing her legal career, Ms. Descoteaux was a contract negotiator with Texas Instruments, Inc., where she was responsible for the negotiation, drafting and administration of advanced development military defense contracts involving state-of-the-art technology for governmental and nongovernmental clientele.

Ms. Descoteaux’s work on behalf of clients has been recognized by a variety of media and ranking organizations.  Among others, she was—

• selected by D Magazine as one of the Best Women Lawyers in Dallas in the area of Corporate Finance/Mergers in 2010.
• recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as “Up and Coming” in the area of Corporate/M&A in 2008.
• selected as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Ms. Descoteaux is involved in numerous community, civic and charitable activities, including—

• member of the Philanthropy Committee for the Dallas Women’s Foundation.
• member of the host committee for Consumer Credit Counseling Service Purses with a Purpose annual charity fundraiser.
• board of trustees of Wednesday’s Child Benefit Corporation from 2005 to 2007.
• member of Leadership Dallas 2009.
• member of Leadership Texas 2000.

Ms. Descoteaux speaks frequently on “Mergers and Acquisitions Basics,” “Avoiding Boilerplate Blunders in Commercial Contracting” and “Avoiding Boilerplate Blunders in Mergers & Acquisitions,” including in-house CLE presentations at corporate headquarters around the country.

Ms. Descoteaux received her J.D. magna cum laude in 1998 from the Southern Methodist University School of Law, where she was a member of Order of the Coif, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Air Law and Commerce and a staff member of the Southern Methodist University Law Review Association. She received her B.A. in economics in 1986 from Grove City College.

She is a member of the State Bar of Texas.