Monica Pace Messick
Practice Areas
Experience
- Commodities & Derivatives
- Energy Finance
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
Biography
Monica Pace Messick is a Dallas corporate and finance lawyer and focuses her practice on energy lending transactions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business entity formation and governance, contract negotiations and general corporate work. In her finance practice, she advises regional and national banks, private equity companies and oil and gas companies on oil and gas-secured credit facilities, of both the single-lender and agented variety. As part of this practice, Monica has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating credit agreements, intercreditor agreements (both in the first lien/second lien lender context and to facilitate sharing of pari passu liens with outside hedge providers), subordination agreements, guaranties, mortgages, and other security documents, and in advising clients with respect to perfection, hedging and usury matters. She has also guided lenders through workouts and the complex considerations faced with distressed loans.
Monica’s corporate practice includes a broad variety of transactions, extending from mergers, acquisitions and private placements to entity formation, governance issues and general contracting needs. This diversity of experience enables her to issue-spot and guide clients through the myriad issues faced by small and mid-sized companies in their formation and growth stages, financing needs, and day-to-day operations.
Education
B.B.A., summa cum laude, Stetson University
J.D., Vanderbilt Law School
- Articles Editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment Law and Practice
Bar Admissions
Texas
Energy Lending
- Orchestrated and managed a $400 million agented oil and gas-secured credit facility involving second lien and hedge intercreditor agreements
- Managed workout of a $20 million oil and gas-secured credit facility resulting in client’s receipt of repayment in full of all principal, interest, fees and expenses
- Coordinated $65 million senior secured debt financing for a private investment fund in conjunction with joint development arrangements with an E&P operator
- Orchestrated and managed dozens of secured and unsecured credit facilities involving E&P borrowers ranging in value from $250,000 to over $400 million
- Advise participant banks on syndicated loan terms
- Advise private equity clients on investment in publicly traded debt instruments
Corporate
- Serve as “outside general counsel” to small and mid-sized companies to service their broad variety of day-to-day needs
- Represented Canadian manufacturer in its acquisition of a Texas-based facility
- Represented film production company in financing a motion picture
- Represented seller of a Texas-based manufacturing and distribution
- Formed and drafted and negotiated governing documents for over 50 new entities, including corporations, partnerships, and LLCs
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Banking & Finance – Texas, 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Energy Law, 2024-2025
- “Energy Transition” panel speaker, Women’s Energy Network – North Texas 11th Annual Leadership Conference, Dallas, TX, October 21, 2021
- “Mentor and Sponsorship: Creating Growth in Your Organization,” panel speaker, The Women in Law & Leadership Summit, Dallas, October 16, 2019
- “Ring in the New Year with WEN,” Women’s Energy Network Dallas luncheon, January 22, 2019
- “Recent Trends and Issues in Energy Lending,” 2017 Whitley Penn Fort Worth Energy Conference, September 28, 2017
- “Thrill of the Practice: Corporate Law,” panel speaker, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, February 21, 2008
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Women’s Energy Network Advisory Board Member and Past President
- Attorneys Serving the Community
June 5, 2025
Spotlight
Finance & Banking Practice Ranked in 2025 Chambers USA Guide
Jackson Walker proudly announces the ranking of the Finance & Banking practice in the prestigious Chambers USA Guide, along with partners Andrew Ingrum, Monica Pace Messick, and Kathryn Nordick.
June 5, 2025
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2025 USA Guide Featuring 79 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 28 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 79 attorneys and 28 departments for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 29 departments, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 9 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 12 recognized for the first time.
December 16, 2024
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter – December 2024
View Jackson Walker’s December 2024 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
August 24, 2023
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2023
View Jackson Walker’s August 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
April 24, 2023
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2023
View Jackson Walker’s April 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
April 21, 2022
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2022
View Jackson Walker’s April 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
February 3, 2022
Spotlight
In Memoriam: A Tribute to Amanda Shaw-Castro
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our friend and partner Amanda Shaw-Castro. Amanda was a rising star and leader who left behind a legacy of loyalty and kindness.
October 4, 2019
Speaking Engagements
Women in Law & Leadership Summit to Feature Monica Messick as a Leading Voice for Mentorship in the Law
At The Women in Law & Leadership Summit on October 16, Monica Messick will share firsthand experience as a mentor within Jackson Walker and as the former coordinator of the mentoring program of the Women’s Energy Network North Texas Chapter.
Practice Experience
Energy Lending
- Orchestrated and managed a $400 million agented oil and gas-secured credit facility involving second lien and hedge intercreditor agreements
- Managed workout of a $20 million oil and gas-secured credit facility resulting in client’s receipt of repayment in full of all principal, interest, fees and expenses
- Coordinated $65 million senior secured debt financing for a private investment fund in conjunction with joint development arrangements with an E&P operator
- Orchestrated and managed dozens of secured and unsecured credit facilities involving E&P borrowers ranging in value from $250,000 to over $400 million
- Advise participant banks on syndicated loan terms
- Advise private equity clients on investment in publicly traded debt instruments
Corporate
- Serve as “outside general counsel” to small and mid-sized companies to service their broad variety of day-to-day needs
- Represented Canadian manufacturer in its acquisition of a Texas-based facility
- Represented film production company in financing a motion picture
- Represented seller of a Texas-based manufacturing and distribution
- Formed and drafted and negotiated governing documents for over 50 new entities, including corporations, partnerships, and LLCs
Recognition & Accolades
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Banking & Finance – Texas, 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Energy Law, 2024-2025
Publications & Speeches
- “Energy Transition” panel speaker, Women’s Energy Network – North Texas 11th Annual Leadership Conference, Dallas, TX, October 21, 2021
- “Mentor and Sponsorship: Creating Growth in Your Organization,” panel speaker, The Women in Law & Leadership Summit, Dallas, October 16, 2019
- “Ring in the New Year with WEN,” Women’s Energy Network Dallas luncheon, January 22, 2019
- “Recent Trends and Issues in Energy Lending,” 2017 Whitley Penn Fort Worth Energy Conference, September 28, 2017
- “Thrill of the Practice: Corporate Law,” panel speaker, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, February 21, 2008
Community Involvement
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Women’s Energy Network Advisory Board Member and Past President
- Attorneys Serving the Community