Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Ryan T.
Purpura, Matthew “Matt” D. Lea, and Ryan A.
Haddad have joined the firm as partners and members of
the Energy industry team. All three partners bring
significant experience in the energy sector, with a focus on oil
and gas and related energy transactions, financings, and
project development. They join Blank Rome from Reed Smith LLP,
where Purpura served as co-chair of the firm's global energy and
natural resources industry group. The trio joins Blank Rome in the
following practice groups and offices:
- Ryan Purpura joins the Corporate, M&A, and
Securities group based in Houston and Pittsburgh,
- Matt Lea joins the Finance, Restructuring, and
Bankruptcy group based in Houston, and
- Ryan Haddad joins the Corporate, M&A, and
Securities group based in Pittsburgh.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ryan, Matt, and Ryan to our firm,"
said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome's Chair and Managing Partner.
"They are outstanding lawyers who have built impressive practices
in the energy and finance fields, and they will enhance our
capabilities to serve our clients in these key areas. Their arrival
also demonstrates our strategic commitment to grow our presence and
offerings in Houston and Pittsburgh, two important markets for our
firm and our clients."
"Ryan, Matt, and Ryan are great additions to our corporate and
finance teams," said Cassandra G. Mott, partner and co-chair
of the Houston office. "They have deep knowledge of the energy
industry and the legal and business issues that affect our clients
in this sector and in the Houston and Pittsburgh markets. Energy
finance transactions for 2024 have been dynamic and reflect an
increase in investment in energy transition, clean technologies,
innovative financing, and mergers and acquisitions. We look forward
to working with this group to further help our clients navigate the
evolving energy industry landscape."
Purpura represents oil and gas companies, private equity and
hedge funds, and other financial institutions in mergers and
acquisitions, project finance and development, and other
transactions related to the energy industry. For example, he
advises clients on joint ventures and other strategic combinations
regarding the development of oil and gas assets, primarily in
domestic shale areas. Purpura also counsels clients on acquisitions
and divestitures of oil and gas assets, midstream and master
limited partnership assets, and oilfield service businesses. He
guides clients through financing transactions, including volumetric
production payments, net profits interests, and mineral royalty
funds.
"Blank Rome has a stellar reputation for providing high-quality
legal services to its clients across a wide range of industries,
practice areas, and markets that complement our practices,” said
Purpura. “I am excited by the firm’s strategic vision, which
includes growing in Houston and Dallas. For example, Cassandra Mott
and Sarah Frazier joined the Houston office three years
ago to help expand the firm’s transactional practice in the region
and have had great success in Texas and beyond. I look forward to
working with my new colleagues to grow our energy finance practices
and to serve our clients with excellence.”
“Ryan, Matt, and Ryan bring a wealth of experience in energy
finance, transactions, development, and operations that will
greatly benefit our clients across the energy sector,”
said Susan L. Bickley, partner and co-chair of the firm's
Houston office and Energy industry team. “As the energy industry
undergoes a significant transformation, we are committed to helping
our clients navigate the changing regulatory, economic, and
environmental landscape with strategic and innovative solutions.
Ryan, Matt, and Ryan will be valuable assets to our team and our
firm as we continue to grow.”
Lea, in collaboration with Purpura, focuses on representing both
lenders and borrowers in various energy financing transactions,
including conventional and mezzanine and related secured
transactions, and alternative structures like production payments
and prepaid swap agreements. His finance practice extends to a
broad range of secured and unsecured commercial finance
transactions. Matt also advises clients on energy commodities and
other hedging transactions, including secured hedging transactions
and structured commodity transactions. Additionally, he has
experience with other types of transactions such as acquisitions,
divestitures, joint ventures, and the preparation and negotiation
of related agreements.
“There are so many opportunities for growth at Blank Rome,” said
Lea. “We look forward to working alongside the firm’s leading
finance group, our colleagues throughout the firm, and contributing
to Blank Rome’s collaborative culture. The three of us have
complementary, supportive practices, so we wanted to join a firm
that would allow us to continue to work together while also
collaborating with teams across practices, industries, and offices,
and we have found that at Blank Rome.”
Haddad counsels established and emerging energy clients on
transactional matters, energy innovation and operations, primarily
in oil and gas and associated sectors. He is a leading practitioner
in the burgeoning carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”)
industry, representing project developers, CO2 emitters, and
landowners in connection with joint ventures, project development,
pore space leasing, carbon offtake, and related matters. Haddad
counsels clients on matters involving mergers, acquisitions,
dispositions, finance, corporate governance, coordination of
estates matters, distressed asset sales, commercial agreements and
other documents associated with natural gas operations, CCS,
waste-to-energy projects, and other energy development.
Haddad added, “Ryan, Matt, and I are invested in each other and
we have worked side by side to deliver exceptional, comprehensive
client service. Our collaborative approach fits seamlessly with the
culture of teamwork at Blank Rome, which will enable to us serve
our clients at the highest levels.”
The team’s arrival follows a period of exciting growth for Blank
Rome’s Corporate, M&A, and Securities group.
Partners Jeffrey A. Fickes and Christoper
DePizzo recently joined the practice as partners in
the New York office. In May, the firm opened its Boston
office, which has grown to over 30 attorneys with leading
corporate, finance, M&A, tax, litigation, cannabis, and
maritime practices.
Purpura is an advisory board member for the Institute for Energy
Law and a trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Energy and
Mineral Law Foundation. Purpura received his J.D. and M.B.A. from
the University of Pittsburgh and his B.S. from Pennsylvania State
University. He has served as an adjunct professor teaching Energy
Law at Duquesne University’s School of Law.
Lea earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law where he was
the editor-in-chief of the South Texas Law Review, and his
B.A. from Vanderbilt University.
Haddad received his J.D. from the American University Washington
College of Law and his B.A., magna cum laude, from the
University of Pittsburgh.
About Blank Rome
Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 16 offices and 750
attorneys and principals who provide comprehensive legal and
advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and
around the world. Our professionals have built a reputation for
their leading knowledge and experience across a spectrum of
industries and are recognized for their commitment to pro bono work
in their communities. Since our inception in 1946, Blank Rome’s
culture has been dedicated to providing top-level service to all of
our clients and has been rooted in the strength of our diversity
and inclusion initiatives. For more information, please visit
blankrome.com.
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- Ryan T. Purpura, Matthew D. Lea, and Ryan A.
Haddad
Abby Moriarty
Blank Rome LLP
3127762597
abby.moriarty@blankrome.com