David C. Buck

DAVID BUCK has an extensive corporate and securities law practice emphasizing transactional and governance matters. His corporate finance practice includes representing both issuers and investment banks in initial public offerings and other public, private equity, and debt offerings. He also advises companies, special committees, and financial advisers concerning mergers and acquisitions transactions (both public and private), joint ventures, and private equity investments. These corporate finance and M&A transactions include both publicly traded partnerships (MLPs) and special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). In addition, David regularly counsels public clients regarding compliance with periodic reporting, proxy solicitation, corporate governance matters, and other requirements of the federal securities laws, the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Stock Market, and other exchange rules. He also has experience advising on corporate and securities matters in connection with multiple restructurings under Chapter 11.

David has particular industry experience with domestic and international energy (including oil and gas exploration & production (E&P), midstream, offshore drilling, seismic and other energy services, and oilfield equipment manufacturing and supply businesses), retail electric and natural gas, power transmission and distribution, maritime transportation, restaurant, aviation, and death care companies.

David has been acknowledged in numerous industry publications. Chambers Global recognized him for Capital Markets: Debt & Equity: Central United States (2020–2025). David is also ranked by Chambers USA for his work in Corporate/M&A (Texas, 2009–2025) and Capital Markets: Debt & Equity (Texas, 2015–2025), and Capital Markets: Debt & Equity: Central United States Nationwide (2019–2025). In 2017 and 2019, David was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Securities/Capital Markets Law in Best Lawyers. David was recognized for Corporate Law (2007–2018, 2026) and Securities/Capital Markets Law (2016–2019, 2021–2022, 2026) by The Best Lawyers in America. Texas Monthly recognized him as a Texas “Super Lawyer” in Securities and Corporate Finance Law (2007–2019, 2023–2024).

David’s extensive experience in assisting clients, both prior to and after joining Sidley, includes the following representative matters:

• Issuers (including master limited partnerships (MLPs)) and underwriters in more than 20 completed initial public offerings (IPOs) and numerous other public equity financings, 144A debt offerings and 144A equity offerings.
• Parties in more than 10 mergers and acquisition transactions valued in excess of US$1 billion.

M&A

• A private seller of a rotating and reciprocating equipment services company.
• A datacenter operator in negotiation of six hosting agreements with customer.
• A financial advisor to Conflicts Committee of the general partner of Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. in connection with its conversion to a corporation.
• A financial adviser to Conflicts Committee of the general partner of Rattler Midstream LP in connection with its US$575 million merger with Diamondback Energy, Inc.
• Special Transaction Committee of publicly traded infrastructure services company in recapitalization of preferred stock held by affiliate.
• Conflicts Committee of general partner of an MLP in US$9.4 billion public merger with MPLX LP.
• A private equity client in acquisition of private company engaged in a natural gas compression fabrication and service business.
• A seller in an equity sale of PCS Software, Inc., a developer of software for integrated transportation management solutions for the U.S. inland trucking industry, to The CapStreet Group, LLC.
• Sellers in an equity sale of CLM Matrix, a leading provider of contract life cycle management (CLM) software business, to Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions.
• Conflicts Committee of general partner of an MLP in US$1.55 billion acquisition of gathering, storage, terminalling and transportation assets from Andeavor.
• A public land drilling company in US$200 million acquisition of another private land-based contract drilling company.
• A financial adviser to a midstream company in its US$10.5 billion merger with Williams Partners L.P.
• A start-up PE portfolio company in purchase of multiple oil & gas processing and production businesses, currently with over 600 employees.
• A seller of WEDGE Energy Services, LLC.
• An acquirer in US$240 million purchase of Champion Energy Marketing, LLC, a retail electricity provider.
• A seller in US$1.5 billion sale of offshore Gulf of Mexico pipelines and service business to Genesis Energy, L.P.
• A 50% partner in Delaware Basin gas processing plant joint venture.
• An acquirer in US$1.6 billion merger with Oiltanking Partners, L.P.
• An acquirer in US$4.4 billion acquisition of general partner and 66% of limited partner interests in Oiltanking Partners, L.P.
• An acquirer in US$825 million acquisition of Compressor Systems, Inc.
• The controlling partner in US$725 million U.S. onshore oil and gas property joint venture.
• A 50% partner in Eagle Ford crude oil pipeline joint venture
• A midstream LNG partnership in connection with US$1.5 billion financing by private equity firm.
• An acquirer in US$2.5 billion merger with Duncan Energy Partners L.P.
• An acquirer in US$8 billion merger with Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.
• An acquirer in US$5.6 billion merger with TEPPCO Partners, L.P.
• A midstream MLP in connection with US$730 million asset drop-down transaction.
• An acquirer in a US$7.3 billion merger with Grant Prideco Inc.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.1 billion acquisition of the general partner of, and limited partner interests of, TEPPCO Partners, L.P.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.65 billion acquisition of limited partner interests of Energy Transfer Equity L.P. and a 34.9% membership interest in its general partner.
• A well servicing company in US$117 million acquisition of JetStar Energy Services, a pressure pumping service company.
• An acquirer in US$500 million acquisition of Calumet Oil Company and affiliated entities.
• Norwegian buyer in US$100 million acquisition and financing of a floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel and related business.

Capital Markets

• A compression services company in US$200 million high-yield senior notes offering.
• A compression services company in US$1.2 billion high-yield senior notes offering.
• A production solutions and natural gas technologies company in a US$491 million initial public offering.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.75 billion senior notes offering.
• Initial purchasers in US$500 million 144A high yield debt offering by TapRock Resources, LLC.
• Land drilling company in US$7.5 million at-the-market (ATM) equity distribution program.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.0 billion senior notes offering.
• Initial purchasers in US$200 million 144A high-yield debt offering by Harvest Midstream I LP.
• A midstream MLP in US$2.5 billion ATM equity distribution program.
• Initial purchasers in US$600 million 144A high-yield debt offering by Harvest Midstream I LP.
• Placement agent in US$625 million private placement of Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units by Altus Midstream LP.
• A midstream MLP in US$3.0 billion senior notes offering.
• Retail electric and natural gas company in US$50 million public offering of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.
• A midstream MLP in US$2.0 billion senior notes offering and US$700 million junior subordinated notes offering.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.7 billion junior subordinated notes offering.
• Oilfield service company in commencement of US$50 million ATM equity distribution program.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.75 billion ATM equity distribution program.
• Land drilling company in US$46 million public offering of common stock.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.25 billion senior notes offering.
• Underwriters in US$133 million common stock offering by Oasis Petroleum Inc.
• Underwriters in US$161 million common unit offering by CrossAmerica Partners LP.
• A midstream MLP in US$2.5 billion senior notes offering.
• Underwriters in US$460 million common stock offering by Oasis Petroleum Inc.
• A midstream MLP in US$2.75 billion senior notes offering.
• Underwriters in US$141 million common unit offering by Lehigh Gas Partners LP.
• Land drilling company in US$110 million initial public offering of common stock.
• Underwriters in US$54 million initial public offering of common stock by Spark Energy, Inc.
• Oilfield service company in US$157 million secondary offering of common stock.
• A midstream MLP in US$2.0 billion senior notes offering.
• Underwriters in US$83 million common unit offering by Lehigh Gas Partners LP.
• A midstream MLP in US$592 million common unit offering.
• Underwriters in US$137 million initial public offering of common units by Marlin Midstream Partners, L.P.
• Underwriters in US$434 million initial public offering of common units by Phillips 66 Partners LP.
• A midstream MLP in US$487 million common unit offering.
• A midstream MLP in US$2.25 billion registered senior notes offering.
• Oilfield services company in US$300 million 144A high-yield senior notes offering.
• E&P company in 3(a)(9) exchange offers of second-priority lien notes for convertible notes.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.75 billion registered senior notes offering.
• Underwriters in US$400 million high-yield senior notes offering by Oasis Petroleum Inc.
• A midstream MLP in US$750 million registered senior notes offering.
• E&P company in private placement and exchange offers for US$283 million of high-yield senior secured notes.
• A midstream MLP in US$400 million common unit offering.
• A seller in US$168 million private sale of Energy Transfer Equity L.P. common units.
• Oilfield service company in US$275 million 144A high-yield senior notes offering and US$200 million 144A high-yield senior notes offering.
• E&P company in US$100 million public offering of common stock.
• E&P company in US$200 million 144A high-yield senior notes offering.
• A midstream MLP in US$1.5 billion registered senior notes offering.
• Underwriters in US$676 million initial public offering by Oasis Petroleum Inc.
• A midstream MLP in US$2.0 billion registered senior notes offering.
• A midstream MLP in US$354 million common unit offering.
• Underwriter in US$102 million common stock offering by Encore Acquisition Company.
• Underwriters in US$56 million common unit offering by K-Sea Transportation Partners L.P.
• Oilfield service company in US$225 million 144A high-yield senior secured notes offering.
• Underwriters in US$154 million of common unit offerings by Encore Energy Partners L.P.
• A midstream MLP in US$213 million common unit offering and in US$500 million senior notes offering.
• A midstream MLP in US$700 million registered senior notes offering.
• Underwriters in US$138 million and US$50 million public offerings of common units by K-Sea Transportation Partners L.P.
• Underwriters in US$189 million initial public offering of common units by Encore Energy Partners L.P.
• A midstream MLP in US$750 million PIPE offering.
• A midstream MLP in connection with US$413 million secondary offering.
• A midstream MLP in US$273 million initial public offering.
• A coalbed methane E&P company in US$130 million 144A equity private placement (2006) and follow-on IPO.
• General partners and investors in forming and structuring partnerships and private equity investments in start-up companies.
• General partner in financing and formation of oil and gas limited partnerships.
• A well servicing company in private equity financings and acquisitions.
• Trustees of four publicly traded royalty trusts on periodic reporting and related matters.

Private Equity

• Numerous management teams in PE start-ups and related employment matters, including E&P and energy service businesses.
• PE firms in formation and initial capital contributions for multiple E&P and energy service portfolio companies.
• A PE firm in US$10 million investment in SaaS supply chain and logistics company.
• A PE firm in sale of US$700 million interest in portfolio company to public company for cash and equity.
• An investment group in debt and private equity financing to frac sand logistics company.

• Houston Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas
• Director, SpringSpirit, Inc.