John Goodgame Named Partner in Charge of Akin Gump’s Houston Office

(Houston) – Akin Gump announced today that John Goodgame has been named partner in charge of the firm’s Houston office. Mr. Goodgame, a corporate partner who co-leads the firm’s global corporate transactions practice, takes over the role from fellow corporate partner Christine LaFollette, who had led the office since 2008.

Commenting on the move, Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith said, “The Houston office has long been a focus of our work in the energy industry, and Chris has been an exceptional leader there for many years. With his deep experience in—and respect throughout—the industry, coupled with his leadership roles within the firm, John is ideally positioned to further the success Chris helped build and sustain.”

In addition to co-leading its global corporate practice, Mr. Goodgame serves on the firm’s management committee and partner compensation committee. He represents clients in strategic and capital-raising transactions, as well as in matters of corporate governance. He advises public and private companies and private equity funds in public and private equity and debt offerings, including initial public equity offerings, and complex joint ventures. Additionally, Mr. Goodgame counsels public companies, their boards of directors and board committees in strategic matters, including mergers, sales of control and conflict situations, as well as Securities and Exchange Commission compliance.

Ms. LaFollette continues as a partner with Akin Gump, focusing on her energy practice representing public companies in transactions, reporting and compliance, and board of directors-related matters. During her tenure as head of the office, Akin Gump Houston saw growth, garnered accolades for its exceptional workplace culture and served as the nexus for the firm’s work across the global energy space, with its lawyers regularly shepherding some of the industry’s largest deals.

Ms. LaFollette has been recognized as an industry trailblazer by Texas Lawyer and The National Law Journal, was named among the “Most Influential Women in Energy” by Law360 and has been named the number one Texas dealmaker by The Texas Lawbook. A vocal advocate for the role of women in the greater energy and legal industries, she is a founder of The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Women in Law and was recently inducted into the “Most Influential Women” Hall of Fame by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce, which honors women who have “contributed significantly” to advancing women and improved the quality of life for future Houstonians.

About Akin Gump’s Houston Office

Akin Gump opened its Houston office in 1988 and advises clients in the energy and technology industries across an array of practices, including energy and global transactions, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, international arbitration and tax. Lawyers in the office are involved in a broad range of sophisticated, multijurisdictional transactions and cases that are often on the leading edge of legal, technological and business developments within the energy, manufacturing, biotechnology, chemical, information technology, health care, aerospace and telecommunications industries.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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