Represented public companies in transactions, reporting and compliance, and board of directors-related matters.
For more than three decades, has advised oil and gas companies through volatile markets and changing regulatory climates.
Consistently recognized by leading rankings publications.
Former senior partner of the Houston office.

Chris LaFollette retired from the partnership at the end of 2020. She was a transactional energy lawyer who provided a range of advice to issuers, investors and underwriters in public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities. She also counseled master limited partnerships (MLP) and provided advice regarding federal and state securities laws.

In addition, Chris represented clients in public and private mergers and acquisitions. She understands and respects the energy industry and, alongside her clients, has weathered more than three decades of volatile markets and shifting regulatory demands.

Chris assisted public companies, boards of directors and special committees with corporate governance issues, including:

Periodic reporting
Proxy solicitation
Audit and compensation committee standards
Insider trading requirements of federal securities laws
Compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Private equity investors
Shareholder activists.
Chris continues to serve as an Independent Director for Holly Energy Partners, L.P., which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Representative Work

Advised SRC Energy, Inc. in its $1.7 billion strategic combination with PDC Energy, Inc.
Represented Cimarex Energy Co. in its $1.6 billion acquisition of Resolute Energy Corporation.
Negotiated on behalf of a joint venture partner in a divestiture of an energy asset. The transaction was valued at $1.825 billion and involved several parties and a tight time frame.
In an MLP transaction between a partnership and a sponsor, assisted with an energy-related acquisition valued at $2 billion.
Guided an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico through a public registered offering of senior notes, as well as a tender offer for other senior notes. The financings totaled $15 billion and greatly reduced the cost of the client’s long-term debt.

For a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based energy company, advised on the redemption of senior notes. The transaction required timely structure and execution. The result for the client was a successful redemption of all $500 million senior notes due May 2022.
Served as counsel to many energy companies in their initial public offerings, providing structure and guidance to the clients through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) process.

Education
J.D., Loyola Law School, with honors, 1980
B.S., University of Texas at Austin, with highest honors, 1974

Bar Admissions
Texas

Recognitions

Oil & Gas Investor, Influential Women in Energy, 2021.
Texas Lawyer, Lifetime Achievement, 2020.
Texas Lawyer, Texas Trailblazer, 2019.
The National Law Journal, Capital Markets Trailblazer, 2019.
Law 360, “Influential Women in Energy,” 2018.
Chambers USA, Corporate and M&A, 2004 to 2020; Energy, Oil & Gas, 2010 to 2020.
Chambers Global, Energy: Oil & Gas, Transactional, 2018 to 2020.
The Legal 500 US, Energy: Transactions, 2015; Capital Markets: Debt Offerings, 2018; Energy: Transactions, Oil & Gas, 2016 to 2020; Capital Markets: Debt: Advice to issuers, 2019 to 2020; Corporate Governance, 2019 to 2020; M&A: large deals ($1bn+); and "Leading Lawyer," 2020.
National Law Journal, “Energy Trailblazer,” 2017.
The Texas Lawbook, “Number One Texas Dealmaker,” 2015.
Houston Business Journal, “Women Who Mean Business,” 2016.
Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce, “Most Influential Women Hall of Fame,” 2014.

Affiliations and Public Service

Member, Audit Committee of Board of Directors, and Officer of World Affairs Council of Houston.
Member, Executive Council and co-founder of NACD Texas Tricities Chapter.
Member, Alexis de Toqueville Society, United Way.
Founding member, Center for Women in Law, University of Texas at Austin
Founding member, Houston Advisory Council for Tahirih Justice Center
Board member, Holly Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: HEP)
Member, State Bar of Texas.
Member, American Bar Association.
Sustaining Fellow, Houston Bar Association.
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation.
Board member, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Association.