People

Overview

Sarah Dodson guides public and private clients through their most challenging and innovative business transactions. Using a practical, people-first approach, her legal solutions bridge the gap between legal complexities and business imperatives.

Energy and tech clients count on Sarah’s collaborative solutions for a wide range of M&A, capital markets, private equity, joint venture and other strategic transactions. In addition to advising clients in their business arrangements, Sarah also helps them navigate general corporate matters. This includes corporate governance practices (particularly around AI, ESG and other emerging issues), as well as SEC and stock exchange reporting and disclosure requirements.

In addition to her practice, Sarah dedicates time to various leadership roles within the firm. She serves on the firm's AI Steering Committee, co-leads both the firm's Technology, Media and Entertainment group and the H2, eFuels and Ammonia group, and leads the Dallas office's Women in Action initiative.

Admission & Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • Dallas Women Lawyers Association
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
  • J.D., The University of Texas School of Law 2013
    with honors
    Executive Editor, Texas International Law Journal
    Energy Forum Liaison, Texas Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law
  • B.A., Political Science, Texas A&M University 2010
    summa cum laude
    Phi Beta Kappa
    Terry Foundation Scholar
    Foundation and University Honors

Experience

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • MariaDB plc in its third-party cash tender and take private transaction.
  • Sammons Enterprises, Inc. in its strategic partnership with Precision Warehouse Design L.L.C.
  • Lapis Energy, LP in the formation of a joint venture with a subsidiary of Denbury, Inc. for the establishment of a carbon capture sequestration facility.
  • Sunnova Energy International, Inc. in its $325 million acquisition of SunStreet, the residential solar platform of Lennar Corporation, and related exclusive strategic partnership arrangement.
  • Coterra Energy Inc. (formerly Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation) in its $17 billion all-stock merger transaction involving Cimarex Energy Co.
  • Crestwood Equity Partners LP in its $1.8 billion acquisition of Oasis Midstream Partners LP.
  • Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. in various dropdown acquisitions and third party asset acquisitions, including its $4 billion asset dropdown and IDR simplification and an $825 million dropdown acquisition.
  • Lime Rock Partners in its sale of GEODynamics, Inc. to Oil States International Inc. for $525 million in cash and stock.
  • Peak 10 Energy Holdings in its acquisition of Strawn Petroleum.
  • Halliburton Company in its proposed $35 billion acquisition of Baker Hughes Incorporated.
  • Halliburton Company in various acquisitions, including the acquisition of Summit ESP Inc.
  • Conflicts Committee of the board of directors of the general partner of Antero Midstream Partners LP in connection with the $1.05 billion drop down of Antero Resources Corporation's integrated water business.
  • Sunnova Energy Corporation in acquisitions of distributed generation residential solar assets.
  • Conflicts Committee of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and Special Committee of Kinder Morgan Management in $70 billion purchase of KMP, KMR and El Paso Pipeline Partners by KinderMorgan, Inc.
  • Chesapeake Energy Corporation in $3.1 billion spin-off of its oilfield services division, Seventy Seven Energy Inc.

Capital Markets Representation

  • Arcosa, Inc. in its private offering of $600 million senior notes.
  • Liberty Media Corporation in its private offering of $425 million convertible senior notes.
  • QVC, Inc. in cash tender offer for $750 million principal amount of its 4.475% senior secured notes.
  • Sunnova Energy International Inc. in its initial public offering, subsequent follow-on common stock offerings and various other financings, including notes offerings, Series A, B and C fundraising rounds and asset and loan-backed securitizations.
  • Shell Oil Company in $1.1 billion initial public offering of Shell Midstream Partners, L.P.
  • Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. in various follow-on common unit offerings, including $680 million public offering of common units with a concurrent $300 million private placement, a $275 million private placement of common units and a $300 million private placement of common units.
  • Summit Midstream Partners, LP in various capital markets offerings, including cash tenders, exchange offers and notes offerings.
  • American Midstream Partners, LP in $300 million private placement of senior unsecured notes.
  • Chesapeake Energy Corporation in $1.5 billion exchange offers of 8.00% senior secured second lien notes due 2022 in exchange for certain outstanding senior unsecured notes.
  • Linn Energy, LLC in privately-negotiated exchanges of $2 billion outstanding senior unsecured notes for $1 billion of newly issued senior secured second lien notes.
  • Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. in $650 million public offering of senior notes and concurrent tender offer/redemption of senior notes.
  • Enable Midstream Partners, LP in $575 million initial public offering.
  • Parker Drilling Company in $360 million private placement of senior notes and concurrent tender offer.
  • Rowan Companies plc $500 million public offering of senior notes and $750 million debt tender offer.
  • Athlon Energy Inc. $570 million public offering of common stock.
  • Athlon Energy Inc. $559 million public offering of common stock.

Public Company Corporate Counsel

  • Corporate counsel representation regarding Exchange Act reporting; NYSE and Nasdaq matters; board matters; corporate governance; Reg FD issues; Section 16 compliance.

Awards and Community

Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer-Rising Star (Thomson Reuters), 2020-2024

Recognized as a "Rising Star" by The Legal 500 U.S., 2019

Recognized as an Acritas Star Lawyer (Thomson Reuters), 2020