Leads M&A, securities and other corporate transactions.
Works with clients across the oilfield services, exploration and production (E&P) and midstream oil and gas segments of the energy industry.
Represents clients in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and securities transactions.

Jessica advises clients on corporate and securities transactions. Her practice focuses on mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and securities matters, with particular focus in the upstream and midstream energy sectors. Jessica’s experience encompasses public and private mergers and acquisitions, including numerous transaction types (mergers, stock acquisitions, asset acquisitions, joint ventures, recapitalizations, auctions and divestitures); public and private securities offerings; Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting and general securities compliance; and general corporate, partnership, limited liability company and contract matters.

Jessica was previously a partner at a major global law firm.

Representative Work

Mergers, Acquisitions, Joint Ventures and Divestitures

Advised Approach Resources Inc. in its Chapter 11 restructuring, including in the sale of substantially all of its assets to Zarvona Energy, LLC.*
Represented private midstream company in connection with its joint venture to fund midstream system in Oklahoma’s SCOOP, STACK and Merge plays ($1 billion).*
Represented private equity fund in connection with its joint venture to fund purchase of assets in the Powder River Basin ($600 million).*
Represented private midstream company in connection with its joint venture to fund midstream system in Delaware Basin ($150 million).*
Represented private oil and gas company in combination with public oil and gas company ($2.5 billion).*

Represented private oil and gas company in tax-free spin-off of midstream oil and gas company.*
Represented NYSE-listed building products manufacturer in divestiture of operating division.*
Represented operator of international chain of retail stores in connection with its acquisition of retail stores and wholesale distribution business ($280 million).*
Represented operator of international chain of retail stores in connection with its acquisition of retail stores and wholesale distribution business ($100 million).*
Represented pet food company in sale of domestic brands.*
Represented public oil and gas company in sale to another public company of joint venture that operates two cryogenic gas processing plants ($512 million).*
Represented oil and gas company in sale of midstream assets to public oil and gas company ($1 billion).*
Represented operator of international chain of retail stores in connection with its acquisition of a distribution business ($160 million).*
Represented purchaser in acquisition of a manufacturing business ($22 million).*
Represented privately held company in multiple transactions with U.S. subsidiary of foreign-owned holding company (approximate aggregate value of $336 million).*
Represented private exploration and production company in merger with public company ($3 billion market capitalization).*
Represented private exploration and production company in business combination ($1 billion enterprise value).*
Represented sellers in sale of oilfield services assets ($40 million).*
Represented public exploration and production company in merger with another public company ($2.1 billion enterprise value).*
Represented telecommunications company in sale of majority interest to a strategic investor ($43 million).*
Represented sole shareholder in the sale of publications business ($30 million).*
Represented restaurant franchisee in sale of assets ($67 million).*

Securities and Capital Markets

Represented issuer in private offering of fixed-rate cumulative preferred shares ($227 million).
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield secured debt securities ($300 million).*
Represented issuer in unregistered exchange of high-yield unsecured debt securities for high-yield second lien debt securities ($633 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($220 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($325 million).*

Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($300 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($250 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A add-on offering of high-yield debt securities ($100 million).*
Represented issuer in public offering of high-yield debt securities ($250 million).*
Represented issuer in public offering of preferred stock ($161 million).*
Represented issuer in follow-on public offering of common stock ($162 million).*
Represented issuer in follow-on public offering of common stock ($129 million).*
Represented issuer in follow-on public offering of common stock ($110 million).*
Represented issuer in follow-on public offering of common stock ($65 million).*
Represented issuer in initial public offering of common stock ($106 million).*
Represented issuer in initial public offering, terminated in registration by sale ($172.5 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($220 million).*
Represented issuer with $500 million enterprise value in initial public offering of common stock, terminated in registration by merger.*
Represented issuer in initial public offering of common stock ($240 million).*
Represented private exploration and production company in Rule 144A private offering ($173 million).*
Representation of various publicly traded issuers in connection with Form S-3 and Form S-8 registration statement filings and exchange offerings.*
Continued representation of various public issuers in conjunction with securities (including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and proxy statements), corporate governance and general corporate matters.*

* List includes matters completed prior to Akin.

Represented private oil and gas company in tax-free spin-off of midstream oil and gas company.*
Represented NYSE-listed building products manufacturer in divestiture of operating division.*
Represented operator of international chain of retail stores in connection with its acquisition of retail stores and wholesale distribution business ($280 million).*
Represented operator of international chain of retail stores in connection with its acquisition of retail stores and wholesale distribution business ($100 million).*
Represented pet food company in sale of domestic brands.*
Represented public oil and gas company in sale to another public company of joint venture that operates two cryogenic gas processing plants ($512 million).*
Represented oil and gas company in sale of midstream assets to public oil and gas company ($1 billion).*
Represented operator of international chain of retail stores in connection with its acquisition of a distribution business ($160 million).*
Represented purchaser in acquisition of a manufacturing business ($22 million).*
Represented privately held company in multiple transactions with U.S. subsidiary of foreign-owned holding company (approximate aggregate value of $336 million).*
Represented private exploration and production company in merger with public company ($3 billion market capitalization).*
Represented private exploration and production company in business combination ($1 billion enterprise value).*
Represented sellers in sale of oilfield services assets ($40 million).*
Represented public exploration and production company in merger with another public company ($2.1 billion enterprise value).*
Represented telecommunications company in sale of majority interest to a strategic investor ($43 million).*
Represented sole shareholder in the sale of publications business ($30 million).*
Represented restaurant franchisee in sale of assets ($67 million).*

Securities and Capital Markets

Represented issuer in private offering of fixed-rate cumulative preferred shares ($227 million).
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield secured debt securities ($300 million).*
Represented issuer in unregistered exchange of high-yield unsecured debt securities for high-yield second lien debt securities ($633 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($220 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($325 million).*

Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($300 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($250 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A add-on offering of high-yield debt securities ($100 million).*
Represented issuer in public offering of high-yield debt securities ($250 million).*
Represented issuer in public offering of preferred stock ($161 million).*
Represented issuer in follow-on public offering of common stock ($162 million).*
Represented issuer in follow-on public offering of common stock ($129 million).*
Represented issuer in follow-on public offering of common stock ($110 million).*
Represented issuer in follow-on public offering of common stock ($65 million).*
Represented issuer in initial public offering of common stock ($106 million).*
Represented issuer in initial public offering, terminated in registration by sale ($172.5 million).*
Represented issuer in 144A offering of high-yield debt securities ($220 million).*
Represented issuer with $500 million enterprise value in initial public offering of common stock, terminated in registration by merger.*
Represented issuer in initial public offering of common stock ($240 million).*
Represented private exploration and production company in Rule 144A private offering ($173 million).*
Representation of various publicly traded issuers in connection with Form S-3 and Form S-8 registration statement filings and exchange offerings.*
Continued representation of various public issuers in conjunction with securities (including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and proxy statements), corporate governance and general corporate matters.*

* List includes matters completed prior to Akin.

Education
J.D., Louisiana State University Law Center, with honors, 2003
B.S., Louisiana Tech University, summa cum laude, 2000

Bar Admissions
Texas

Recognitions

The Legal 500 US, M&A: large deals ($1bn+), 2022 and Energy Transactions: oil and gas, 2023.
Best Lawyers in Dallas (Corporate Law: Merger and Acquisitions), D Magazine, 2022-2023.
The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White Inc., 2017-2023.
Texas Super Lawyers (Securities & Corporate Finance), Thomson Reuters, 2013-2023.
Texas Rising Stars (Securities & Corporate Finance), Thomson Reuters, 2010-2013.
Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas, D Magazine, 2017.