Donald R. Looper

Donald Looper’s practice focuses on project finance and the tax aspects related to partnership, corporate, and international transactions. His skills for structuring and managing international business transactions have resulted in Mr. Looper being selected by clients to manage international projects negotiated in 33 foreign countries and across the United States. Among his areas of expertise are U.S. and U.N. regulatory sanctions against foreign jurisdictions and designated nationals. The 1994 case of Looper v. Morgan, upholding his measures to protect the client’s privileged work product and communications, stemmed from Mr. Looper’s legal role managing an international refinery and marketing acquisition while complying with international sanctions against Libya.

Mr. Looper represents companies, both public and privately held, as well as private equity funds, in a variety of industries. U.S. clients utilize his project management skills to navigate treaty issues and manage acquisitions in foreign countries, including supervision of local lawyers and accountants, tax reporting, and contracting. In addition to the upstream and midstream energy companies, client projects include seismic, biodiesel production, refineries, exploiting new technologies for oil field service companies, oil and gas trading and logistics, rail and pipeline throughput projects, asset securitized lending transactions, agriculture contracts, pesticide and herbicide contracts, and new technology businesses. Clients include DOT contractors and foreign companies investing in U.S. assets, all looking for large firm legal competence with a lower cost approach.

Admitted Colorado 1979 (inactive)

Admitted Texas 1981

Tax Court; 5th Circuit

University of Texas with honors 1974, BBA accounting

University of Texas Master of Professional Accounting, Tax 1976

University of Houston with Honors, JD 1979

Looper Goodwine, P.C., 2014 to present

Looper Reed & McGraw, P.C., 1885 – 2013

Reynolds Allen & Cook, P.C., 1981-1985

International Graduate of the Year 1979 Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity

Super Lawyers designation in Texas

Lexwork

• “Don Looper Drills into the Thick of Major Global Energy Deals,” Houston Business Journal (July 10, 2009)
• “Energy Alternatives, Solutions Remain Work in Progress,” Houston Business Journal (November 14, 2008)

Representative Experience

• Represents ASX companies investing to develop oil and gas reserves in the United States.
• Negotiated offshore exploration licenses in Bahamas and operating agreements between BPC, Ltd, an AIM company, and Statoil.
• Represents lenders and borrowers seeking oil and gas reserve-based financing.
• Negotiated in 2013 first-of-kind Bermuda based insurance policy to cover US oil exploration loan losses.
• Structured oil exploration company Energy XXI, Limited, a public Bermuda company, publicly traded in London and NASDAQ.
• Negotiated foreign and domestic project finance transactions, including crude loading terminals in Wyoming and North Dakota.
• Structured joint venture from inception for development of container sized biodiesel production units in Brazil, 2003-2007.
• Structured Katana Energy International, private Bermuda company owning U.S. and foreign oil interests; Kuwait investment fund and U.S. shareholders.
• Structured 2009 joint venture between U.S. client and CNPC to pursue coil tubing project.
• Acquisition of Hamburg refinery from Esso; included acquisition of 85 km pipeline, interest in deep water terminal, and joint sharing for rail, pipes and docks with lube operations.
• Structured acquisition of Gdansk refinery from Polish government.
• Negotiated barter contracts including gas trading by modifying NAESB form.
• Negotiated contracts for airport cargo infrastructure projects in Russia and South America.
• Transaction with Ministry of Public Health in China to use imaging technology.
• Investigated and negotiated breach of construction contract in Uganda.
• Organized international petroleum product marketing company in Cyprus, represented company in Cyprus 14 years, negotiated sale in Egypt.
• Mergers and corporate divisions, including CPC Mexico pipe manufacturing.
• Formed offshore companies for international operations in BVI, Mauritius, Panama, Cayman Islands, Trinidad, Bermuda, Isle of Man, and Bahamas.
• Negotiated international work outs, including hijacked vessel in Ecuador.

• “Profit & Peril: The Secrets to Global Expansion,” PKF panel discussion (September 2015)
• “Project Finance Trends for Oil Exploration Projects,” Lexwork Corporate Business Meeting (October 2013)
• “Project Finance Trends for Oil Exploration Projects,” First Law International NET Partners Conference (May 2013)
• “Recent Iranian Sanctions and its Effect on the Petroleum Industry and Your Company,” Looper Reed Brown Bag Webinar Series (October 2010)
• “Dealing with the Ever-Changing International Marketplace,” Entrepreneurship Institute in Houston (October 2008)

• “Profit & Peril: The Secrets to Global Expansion,” PKF panel discussion (September 2015)
• “Project Finance Trends for Oil Exploration Projects,” Lexwork Corporate Business Meeting (October 2013)
• “Project Finance Trends for Oil Exploration Projects,” First Law International NET Partners Conference (May 2013)
• “Recent Iranian Sanctions and its Effect on the Petroleum Industry and Your Company,” Looper Reed Brown Bag Webinar Series (October 2010)
• “Dealing with the Ever-Changing International Marketplace,” Entrepreneurship Institute in Houston (October 2008)