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 named a leading M&A lawyer in the U.S. edition of The Legal 500 (2019), Legalease. 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 and Partners, 2016).

Bar Admissions
Texas

Education
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1994, Executive Editor, Harvard International Law Journal
B.A., Rice University, 1990

Significant Accomplishments
Energy and Natural Resources

Represented equity owners of Corporación POK, a Mexican industrial and oilfield services precision casting foundry, with respect to the sale of stock to Nucor Corporation, a significant steel and steel products manufacturer entering the Mexican market. This transaction was named by The M&A Advisor as the “2018 Materials Deal of the Year.”

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 one of the largest plastics companies in Venezuela with respected to its negotiation to purchase a significant plastics warehouse and industrial commercial space in the Baytown area and related corporate matters.

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 global energy infrastructure company with respect to its operations in Mexico, including
corporate governance issues.

Represented a Mexican oilfield services company with respect to its negotiation with a U.S. supplier.

Represented a Fortune 50 oil and gas multinational in several retail asset sale transactions throughout the U.S.

Represented a retail electricity provider in connection with acquisition of assets of a competing business.

Represented a retail electricity provider in connection with the sale of equity to a competing business.

Represented a natural gas pipeline and trading company in connection with a significant equity investment by a private equity group.

Represented a Panamanian oil and gas consultancy with offices in Ecuador in an arbitration regarding the transfer of offshore platforms.

Represented a global energy infrastructure company with respect to its operations in Brazil, including corporate governance issues and issues with its joint venture partner.

Represented National Energy & Trade Holdings LLC in connection with its tax reorganization and new credit facility.

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 significant refining company in connection with Latin American and other business operations.

Represented the purchasing agent subsidiary of a major South American integrated, international oil and gas company in connection with its purchasing contracts and restructuring.

Represented Kinder Morgan in connection with its cross-border natural gas pipeline and ownership of related assets.

Represented a Fortune 500 refining company in connection with the structuring of a cross-border pipeline and storage facility in Mexico for LPG.

Represented a major international drilling services company based in Houston in connection with a request for proposals from British Gas for drilling services in Bolivia.

Represented a major energy company based in Canada in connection with its enabling agreements and public request for bids for the provision of energy with and before the Mexican Comisión Federal de Electricidad.

Represented a major pipeline company based in Boston in connection with its formation of a Mexican subsidiary.

Represented a major energy company based in California in public requests for bids before the Mexican Comisión Federal de Electricidad for the construction of independent power plants in Rio Bravo and Tuxpan.

Represented Norex Group AS, a Norwegian seismic and oil and gas services company, in connection with the formation of an international data visualization company for the seismic industry with visualization theaters in Houston, London and Australia, and the acquisition of the stock of a Houston-based seismic company.

Represented AES Gener in the purchase of a Bermuda company with rights to oil and gas concessions in Chile and Argentina.

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.

Infrastructure and Manufacturing

Represented a multinational Spanish conglomerate in the construction of a transportation and water extraction system to serve the ongoing potable water requirements of the citizens of San Antonio, involving the negotiation and execution of a $3.4 billion 30-year water purchase agreement with the San Antonio water authority.

Represented one of the largest suppliers in the mining industry with respect to its Mexican operation, including obtaining import/export permits for hazardous substances into Mexico, modifications to the leadership of its Mexican subsidiary and negotiations with its Mexican partners.

Represented a multinational conglomerate with respect to their bidding for a $350 million bioenergy and recycling project for the City of Houston.

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.

Represented a manufacturing conglomerate based in the Northeast in connection with its maquiladora operation in Mexico and associated tax-incentivized arrangements.

Represented Azurix, a water services company, in connection with the acquisition and construction of water treatment plants in Toluca and León, Mexico.

Represented a Houston-based real estate and health care conglomerate in connection with a joint venture with a Mexican real estate company in the low-income housing industry in Mexico.

Represented Eaton Corporation in its acquisition of assets consisting of heavy duty truck parts including clutches from Corporativo DESC in Mexico.

Represented a Monterrey-based steel company in its acquisition of real estate and flat rolling assets in Texas.

Food and Beverage

Represented Grupo Modelo with respect to its marketing, distribution and promotion of consumer products in the U.S. and other corporate projects.

Represented the U.S. expansion of the Rincon Argentino restaurant chain.

Represented a major international food company with the drafting and negotiation of marketing and distribution agreements in Mexico.

Represented Maximus Coffee Group in connection with the acquisition of the assets of the Harrisburg coffee processing plant and warehouse complex from Kraft Foods Global.

Represented Progreso LLC, the special purpose entity formed by the family owners of the La Michoacana restaurants in connection with the roll up of specialty grocery stores.

Represented Blencor in connection with commercial contracts, executive employment arrangements and immigration issues.

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 Barri Remittance Corporation in connection with an equity investment and restructuring.

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.

Technology

Represented a Mexican real estate and technology company with respect to U.S. labor and employment litigation.

Represented a major Internet reseller of consumer goods in connection with its formation and structuring of an entity and business structure for Mexico.

Represented a predecessor to the Hewlett-Packard Company in connection with contractual arrangements with distributors in Latin America.

Represented a television set-top box Internet services company in its joint venture arrangement with a Guatemalan entity and related licenses and venture capital documentation, including registration rights, issuance of warrants and corporate control governance agreement for the provision of Internet services in the Latin American market, beginning in Central America.

Represented a major oil and gas energy company in a joint participation agreement with an Internet company in Colombia in the television set-top box Internet services industry.

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 American Residential Services in numerous merger and acquisition transactions in the air conditioning industry.

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 USA Waste in a stock contribution agreement forming a joint venture waste hauling and collection entity with Promotora Ambiental in Mexico.

Represented Sanifill in the acquisition of the stock of several waste collection companies in Puerto Rico.

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.

• U.S. Releases its Summary of Objectives for the NAFTA Renegotiations

  By George Gonzalez |July 2017