Rick L. Burdick heads Akin Gump’s international corporate transactions practice.
Mr. Burdick has represented a broad range of buyers, sellers, issuers, underwriters and investors in a number of substantial domestic and international transactions, including in the Middle East, Russia, China and India. He led the legal team that completed the largest privatization in Russia’s history and the largest investment ever by a U.S. company in Russia (“ConocoPhillips-Lukoil: One Strange Cocktail,” The Deal, February 7, 2005). He also led a team of lawyers in the representation of a privatized Russian oil company in two international convertible bond offerings. Both transactions were the first securities offerings consummated by a Russian company following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Mr. Burdick has represented both acquirers and targets in a wide variety of public and private merger and acquisition transactions, including asset acquisitions and dispositions, mergers, proxy solicitations and related financings. He also represents both issuers and underwriters in connection with securities offerings of a variety of debt and equity securities and regularly provides counsel to boards of directors and special committees on corporate governance matters.
Mr. Burdick has represented clients in all facets of the energy industry, including power, exploration and production, transportation, refining, service and equipment manufacturing companies. While much of his practice has focused on the energy industry, he has also represented clients in the manufacturing, retailing, media and transportation sectors.
Recent transactions that Mr. Burdick has led include—
Mr. Burdick was awarded “Dealmaker of the Week” by Am Law Daily for his leadership role in the FirstEnergy acquisition of Allegheny Energy. He is also recognized as a “Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer” and is listed as a leading lawyer in corporate/M&A and private equity by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.
He has held a number of positions in firm management, including partner in charge of the Houston and Washington offices of the firm, chair of the business transactions department and chair of the partnership admissions committee. Presently, Mr. Burdick serves as managing partner, international and chair of the international corporate transactions practice.
Mr. Burdick serves as a member of the boards of directors of two public companies, AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE) and CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE).
Mr. Burdick is also active in the community, serving in a number of capacities, including on the board of directors of The Global Fund for Children and on the board of trustees of William & Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law.