Akin Gump Welcomes Corporate Transactions Partners Jesse Betts and Cole Bredthauer in Dallas-Fort Worth
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Following on the arrival of Jessica Hammons and Wesley Williams, the duo brings additional talent in energy transactional work to Texas corporate team
(Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas) – Akin Gump today announced the further growth of its corporate transactional practice in Texas, with Jesse E. Betts and Cole Bredthauer joining the firm as partners in Dallas and Fort Worth, respectively. Messrs. Betts and Bredthauer both come to Akin Gump from Thompson & Knight, where they had been partners. This follows the addition of partners Wesley Williams and Jessica Hammons, who also recently joined from Thompson & Knight.
“Jesse and Cole will further solidify our top-tier corporate team in Texas, and I am thrilled to welcome another terrific pair of lawyers to the firm,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “Building on the recent arrival of Jessica and Wes, Jesse and Cole also bring a wealth of experience to our market-leading energy practice. I know these tremendous additions will resonate strongly with our clients.”
Mr. Betts represents public and private companies, as well as private equity funds and their portfolio companies, and private equity-backed management teams in a wide range of corporate and securities matters. While a majority of his practice is in energy-related work, including upstream, midstream and related water logistics businesses, he also has significant M&A experience in non-energy fields, such as manufacturing and medical devices.
Mr. Bredthauer’s practice focuses on oil and gas transactions, with an emphasis on acquisitions and dispositions of E&P and midstream assets and companies. His clients include a variety of public and private companies, along with private equity funds and other private capital providers.
John Goodgame, co-head of Akin Gump’s firmwide corporate practice, stated, “As we look ahead to what could be a period of significant consolidation in the oil and gas sector, Jesse and Cole possess the skills that our clients will truly appreciate. They are another strong addition to our transactional team in Texas, and it is great to have them with us.”
“This move is a tremendous opportunity to join a firm with such a large global platform at this important moment for the energy industry,” said Mr. Betts. “At the same time, we have been very impressed with Akin Gump’s longstanding commitment to Texas and are delighted to be at a firm that is well positioned to assist clients in this growing market.”
Added Mr. Bredthauer, “We are excited to be reunited with our former colleagues Jessica and Wes and look forward to collaborating with them and our many new colleagues on behalf of clients.”
Mr. Betts received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and his B.S. from Kansas State University.
Mr. Bredthauer most recently served as leader of Thompson & Knight’s Fort Worth office. He received his J.D., cum laude, from SMU Dedman School of Law and his B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Mr. Betts and Mr. Bredthauer represent the most recent additions of talent to Akin Gump’s Texas offices. Beyond Ms. Hammons and Mr. Williams, the firm last year welcomed two other partners in Dallas—Ryan Cox and Eric Williams, who focus on M&A and private equity transactions. Debt finance partner Chad Nichols joined Akin Gump in Houston in the past year.
About Akin Gump’s Energy Industry Experience
Akin Gump is deeply rooted in all aspects of the energy industry in the United States and worldwide, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, liquefied natural gas, coal, utilities and renewables. The firm’s lawyers represent public and private companies, sponsors and portfolio companies, management teams and investors throughout the energy value chain in transactions, including securities, capital markets, M&A, investments, projects, finance and restructuring.
About Akin Gump’s Dallas and Fort Worth Offices
With more than 90 lawyers and advisors, Akin Gump’s Dallas and Fort Worth offices are home to many of the firm’s key practices, with teams that collaborate closely with lawyers in offices throughout the United States and globally. Core areas of strengths of the offices include corporate, including finance and M&A; investment funds; tax; litigation; financial restructuring; and real estate.
Under the leadership of Dallas partner in charge Scott Barnard, Akin Gump was recently honored in the Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion Organization category of the Dallas Business Journal’s 2021 Leaders in Diversity Awards. Last year, the firm was named to the publication’s list of Best Places to Work in North Texas, and it was also rated among the top 10 firms in Dallas for associate recruitment and retention in The American Lawyer’s 2020 Midlevel Associates Survey.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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