Biography
Richard Waggoner has spent more than 30 years serving as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, counseling sophisticated investors and issuers on private equity transactions, governance, contracts, and general corporate legal needs. Richard’s sharp legal acumen and sophisticated understanding of complex corporate issues developed over decades of experience have allowed him the opportunity to serve as outside general counsel for a variety of companies, including several private equity-controlled portfolio companies.
Richard is widely recognized as a corporate governance lawyer. He also regularly counsels boards of directors and board committees on matters of corporate governance. Over the years, Richard has advised a number of clients on distressed acquisition opportunities, creation of expansion capital, and strategies to deal with the growing reluctance of banks to fund large and highly-leveraged deals.
Richard is known for his high level of client service and responsiveness. He has earned a reputation of being practical and proactive in closing deals quietly and calmly. Clients find these qualities valuable, in addition to his extensive deal experience.
Education
B.A., with high honors, The University of Texas at Arlington
J.D., cum laude, Texas Tech University School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas, 1982
Private Equity Transactions
- Lead attorney on sale of Dallas-based technology company to PE-backed buyer
- Lead attorney for PE platform company’s purchase of multi-location eye care group in Colorado
- Lead attorney on $60 million sale of Kansas oil and gas interests to PE-backed buyer
- Lead attorney on PE-backed insurance services provider’s purchase of equity of California-based specialized services provider
- Lead attorney on PE-backed energy service company’s sale of assets of its South Texas Division
- Represented North American trucking company in sale to private equity backed portfolio company
- Lead attorney on European PE firm’s portfolio company’s first US acquisition
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Lead attorney for national nutrition company in its $1.65 billion sale to a private equity firm and Canadian teachers’ pension plan
- Lead attorney on sale of assets of bank services provider
- Lead attorney on sale of assets of division by bank equipment and services provider
- Represented oil field services company in sale to a portfolio company
- Represented gas compression company in its sale of gas compression units to a Texas-based oil and gas company
- Lead attorney on purchase of oil and gas interests and management company by U.S. subsidiary of Australian public company
- Lead M&A attorney on sale of specialized lender to prominent US bank
- Lead attorney on sale of US technology company to NYSE company
Corporate Governance
- Represented independent directors of a public company for the proposed sale of the company
- Represented shareholders of a public company–including family members–in preparation and filing of their Schedules 13D and amendments to them and Forms 3, 4, and 5
- Best Lawyer in Dallas, D Magazine, 2019
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.)
- Corporate Law, 2016-2020
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2013-2016
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell