Stephen M. Jacobson, P.C.
Overview
Stephen Jacobson is an executive compensation partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He advises public and private companies, private equity firms and their portfolio companies on a wide range of employment, executive compensation and employee benefit matters, including in connection with complex business transactions.
Stephen regularly advises clients on structuring and implementing equity and cash-based incentive plans as well as the applicable tax, securities law, corporate governance and disclosure implications of those arrangements.
Known for providing practical advice, Stephen also represents management teams and executives in negotiating employment, separation and incentive agreements.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland, Stephen has been involved in the following matters:
- Tailwater Capital in its acquisition of NorTex Midstream, a leading natural gas storage and transmission company serving North Texas
- Peridot Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: PDAC) on its pending $1.67 billion combination agreement with Li-Cycle Corp.
- Trilantic North America as lead investor on an agreement to acquire a controlling interest and significant equity funding for Powin Energy, a global leader in the design and manufacture of safe and scalable battery energy storage solutions
- ArcLight Clean Transition Corp. (Nasdaq: ACTCU, ACTC and ACTW), a special purpose acquisition company, on its $1.6 billion business combination with Proterra Inc., an innovator in commercial vehicle electrification technology
- The Rise Fund, a TPG-managed global impact fund, in its acquisition of Element Markets, the leading independent marketer of renewable natural gas and environmental commodities in North America
- Pike Corporation, one of the largest providers of infrastructure solutions to utilities in the United States, in connection with a majority investment by Lindsay Goldberg
- Star Peak Energy Transition Corp. (NYSE: STPK), a special purpose acquisition company, on its $1.35 billion business combination with Stem, Inc., a global leader in clean energy storage systems
- Blackstone Energy Partners in its acquisitions of Therma Holdings LLC, a leading specialty mechanical, electrical and controls services company, and RE Tech Advisors, Inc., a leading energy and sustainability consulting firm, to form a single combined company that will offer customers a comprehensive suite of sustainability, carbon reduction, and energy management services
- Penn Virginia Corporation (NASDAQ:PVAC) in Juniper Capital Advisors, L.P.’s $188 million strategic investment in the company, including $150 million of cash and certain oil and gas assets, in exchange for 59 percent of Penn Virginia’s equity
- LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) on definitive agreements with Sasol to form a 50/50 polyethylene joint venture through which LyondellBasell acquired 50 percent of select assets in Louisiana for a total consideration of $2 billion
- ChampionX Corporation (NYSE: CHX) in the executive compensation and employee benefit aspects of the merger of its subsidiary with the upstream energy business of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) in a transaction valued at $4.4 billion
- GTCR and its portfolio company, Paya Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYA), in the combination of Paya with a special purpose acquisition company in a transaction valued at $1.3 billion
- Trive Capital Partners in the formation of NuBridge Commercial Lending, a real estate platform focused on making first-lien, short-term bridge loans for commercial and multifamily properties across the United States
- Salt Creek Midstream in the negotiation of employment and incentive arrangements in connection with a comprehensive recapitalization, which included additional investments from its existing lender groups and funds managed by Ares Management
- Various restructuring clients, including Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK), Denbury Resources Inc. (NYSE: DEN), Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ: XOG) and BJ Services, LLC, in the executive compensation aspects of their Chapter 11 filings
- Shoals Technologies (NASDAQ: SHLS), Maravai Life Sciences (NASDAQ: MRVI), Array Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY), Oak Street Health (NYSE: OSH), Datto Holding Corp. (NYSE: MSP) and JAMF Software (NASDAQ: JAMF) in the executive compensation aspects of their initial public offerings
- Pike Corporation, a leading, integrated provider of construction, repair and engineering services for distribution and transmission power lines and substations, in connection with its Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.500% senior notes due 2028
- Vortus Investments on its partnership with Alchemist Energy, LLC to provide structured capital solutions to the energy market
Prior to joining Kirkland, Stephen was involved in the following matters:
M&A Transactions
- Blackstone Infrastructure Partners in its $3.3 billion acquisition of a controlling interest in Tallgrass Energy
- Quantum Energy Partners and Post Oak Energy Capital in the $3.6 billion sale of Oryx Midstream to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
- Roan Resources in its sale to Citizen Energy, a Waburg Pincus portfolio company, for $1 billion
- Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners in its $1.03 billion sale of Eureka Midstream Holdings and Hornet Midstream Holdings to EQM Midstream Partners
- Osaka Gas in its $610 million acquisition of Sabine Oil & Gas Corp.
- Double Eagle Energy Permian, a portfolio company of Apollo Natural Resources Partners, in its $2.8 billion sale to Parsley Energy
- Talos Energy in its $2.5 billion combination with Stone Energy
- Deep Gulf Energy, a portfolio company of First Reserve, in its $1.225 billion sale to Kosmos Energy
- Lucid Energy Group II, an EnCap Flatrock Midstream portfolio company, in the $1.6 billion sale of the company
- Flywheel Energy in its $1.86 billion acquisition of upstream and midstream assets from Southwestern Energy Company
- Outrigger Energy in its sale to Targa Resources Partners for $1.5 billion
- EnCap Investments in the $1.4 billion merger between Eclipse Resources Corporation and Blue Ridge Mountain Resources
- Select Energy Services in its $1.3 billion merger with Rockwater Energy Solutions
- Vantage Energy in its $2.7 billion sale to Rice Energy
- Riverstone Holdings in its $5.2 billion take-private of Talen Energy Corporation
- KLR Energy Acquisition Corp. in the $445 million combination with Tema Oil and Gas Company to form Rosehill Resources
Private Equity Investment Transactions
- Apollo Global Management in its line of equity commitments to domestic and international energy companies (Double Eagle Energy, Chisholm Oil and Gas, Northwoods Energy, Apex Energy, Caelus Energy, Momentum Minerals, Roundtable Energy, Tumbleweed Royalty, American Petroleum Partners, CSV Midstream, Jupiter Resources, Pegasus Optimization Partners and Resource Energy)
- Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board in its $1 billion equity commitment to Encino Acquisition Partners, a company focused on U.S. oil and gas acquisition opportunities
- Crestview Partners as lead investor in the $588 million merger of Matlin & Partners Acquisition Corporation and U.S. Well Services
- EnCap Investments in its line of equity commitments to companies focused on the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties (Flat Creek Holdings, Forge Energy, Black Swan Oil & Gas, Grayson Mill Energy and XCL Resources)
- KKR in its equity commitment to Western Natural Resources, a company focused on oil and gas exploration and production in the Williston Basin
- Morgan Stanley Energy Partners in its acquisition of Specialized Desanders, a provider of sand management solutions to the oil and gas industry
- Oaktree Capital Management in the $600 million line of equity commitment to Charger Shale Oil Company, an oil and gas company focused in the Permian Basin
- Riverstone Holdings in its line of equity commitments to domestic and international energy companies (Canadian Non-Operated Resources, Carrier Energy Partners, Eagle Energy, Salt Fork Resources, Sierra Oil and Gas, Teton Range, Aleph Midstream, Meritage Midstream, Avant Energy, Sage Midstream, Abaco Energy Technologies and Ridgebury Tankers)
- SCF Partners and several of its portfolio companies in more than 25 investments in energy services and equipment providers
- TPG Growth and The Rise Fund in the acquisition of CLEAResult, a leading provider of efficiency solutions for utility companies, from General Atlantic
Initial Public Offerings
- New Fortress Energy LLC in its $291 million initial public offering of Class A shares
- Berry Petroleum Corporation in its $183 million initial public offering of common stock
- Nine Energy Service, Inc. in its $185 million initial public offering of common stock
- Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc. in its $249 million initial public offering of common stock
- Select Energy Services, Inc. in its $122 million initial public offering of common stock
- Antero Midstream Partners LP in its $1.15 billion initial public offering of common units
- Black Stone Minerals, LP in its $428 million initial public offering of common units
- Enviva Partners, LP in its $230 million initial public offering of common units
- Westlake Chemical Partners LP in its $311 million initial public offering of common units
- Ramaco Resources, Inc. in its $81 million initial public offering of common stock
- Tortoise Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, in its $233 million initial public offering of units
- Vantage Energy Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, in its $552 million initial public offering of units
- Antero Resources Corporation in its $1.6 billion initial public offering of common stock
- Quintana Energy Services Inc. in its $96 million initial public offering of common stock
- Foresight Energy LP in its $350 million initial public offering of common units
Prior Experience
More
Recognition
Law360, Rising Star, 2019
The Legal 500 U.S., Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans (Transactional), 2016, 2018–2020
Certified Public Accountant, State of Texas
Memberships & Affiliations
Member, Houston Bar Association
Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Board of Directors, The Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc.
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- Texas
Education
- Tulane University Law SchoolJ.D.cum laude2007
- Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of BusinessB.S., Accountingsumma cum laude2004