George Gonzalez

George Y. Gonzalez is a trusted advisor to clients in the energy, oil and gas, midstream, upstream, downstream, power, water, food and beverage, construction, infrastructure, real estate, healthcare and technology industries.

A partner in the Energy, Mergers and Acquisitions and International Practice Groups in the Houston office of Haynes and Boone, he counsels U.S. and international businesses in general corporate law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate control matters, securities, privately held companies and international legal issues.

George counsels public and private corporations and other businesses on their corporate, partnership or other limited liability structure; provides guidance on day-to-day operating and transactions strategies; and negotiates combination, service agreements, public private partnerships (P3), and other transactions.

George has negotiated on behalf of clients in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela, among other countries. Additionally, he has participated in panel discussions regarding business developments in Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Canada, Venezuela, Chile and the Andean regions. George studied for a year as a Rotary Graduate Scholar in 1991 at the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile.

George was nationally recognized as One of the Top 100 Influential Hispanics in the U.S. in Hispanic Business magazine’s October 2010 issue. He was honored by Chambers Latin America (2015-2018) and Chambers Global(2015 and 2017-2018), Chambers and Partners, in the Latin America Corporate M&A category.

He was also recognized as a Standout Lawyer, Acritas Stars, Acritas, 2018-2019. In 2016, Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, honored George for Latin American Investment in Texas. He was also recognized in Latin Lawyer 250 (2016), Law Business Research Ltd., for his leading legal work in the energy industry.

Specifically, clients describe George as a “lawyer who works at a high level, with understanding of both business and legal issues, giving practical and pragmatic advice” (Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners, 2016).

Representative Transactions :

• Energy and Natural Resources
  • Represented NET Midstream in connection with the $2.1 billion sale of all of its membership interests and corresponding business consisting of seven natural gas pipelines in Texas to NextEra Energy Partners, LP.
  • Represented an integrated natural gas pipeline and gas marketing company in connection with a joint venture with an affiliate of PEMEX formed to construct the Agua Dulce pipeline and a natural gas supply project, spanning from Central Texas to the Texas-Mexico border.
  • Represented a Canadian fleet management and a GPS systems logistics company in employment, immigration, intellectual property, contract and general corporate issues with respect to its U.S. subsidiary and business.
  • Represented a Fortune 50 oil and gas multinational in several retail asset sale transactions throughout the U.S.
  • Represented a natural gas pipeline and trading company in connection with a significant equity investment by a private equity group.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 U.S. energy company in an international joint venture in connection with the development, construction and operation of a 525-MW power plant in Mexico for the Comisión Federal de Electricidad.
  • Represented a major oil and gas energy company in the acquisition of a preferred stock position in a California company engaged in the regional natural gas transmission and distribution business.
• Finance
  • Represented a Mexican construction and engineering company on the financing and preparation of New York and Mexican legal opinion in connection with the financing of three marine pipelines in Ku Maloob Zaap, Mexico.
  • Represented a subsidiary of a Venezuelan bank holding company on general corporate and finance matters both domestically and internationally, ranging from loan transactions throughout Texas, renegotiating open lines of credit to global commodities enterprises, lease and branch opening transactions and advice with respect to doing business in Mexico.
  • Represented a large international bank in connection with several loan transactions throughout Texas.
  • Represented SH 130 Concession Company, established by Cintra Infraestructuras, S.A. and Zachry/Hastings, in connection with the joint venture agreement with respect to a $1.36 billion funding package for construction and operation of SH 130 toll road between Austin and Seguin.
• Healthcare
  • Represented a Texas lab testing facility company in connection with a potential joint venture with one of the most significant health care enterprises in Mexico.
  • Represented a Woodlands-based gene therapy company in its merger into a Seattle-based genetics company.
  • Represented Apple Orthodontix in numerous merger and acquisition transactions in the dental health care industry.
• Additional
  • Represented a national printing holding company based in Houston in its acquisition of the assets of four graphics printing companies in Florida, Tennessee and Texas, out of bankruptcy in the State of Delaware.
  • Represented Editorial Trillas S.A. de C.V., the third largest publishing house in Mexico, in its formation of a U.S. subsidiary and various distribution and independent contractor arrangements in the U.S.
  • Represented Sanifill and USA Waste/Waste Management in numerous merger and acquisition transactions involving consideration from $200,000 to $200 million, including stock and asset purchases, mergers and divestitures of waste collection, waste hauling and landfill companies.

EDUCATION :

• J.D., Harvard Law School, 1994, Executive Editor, Harvard International Law Journal
• B.A., Rice University, 1990
• Postgraduate Degree, Rotary Scholarship, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, 1991

ADMISSIONS : Texas