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Image: James Longhofer

James Longhofer

Partner, Corporate Department

Houston

Phone: 1(713) 860-7340
Fax: 1(713) 353-0210

Overview

James Longhofer is a partner in the Global Finance practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm's Houston office. He advises direct credit funds, commercial banks, publicly and privately held corporate borrowers and issuers and  private equity funds on matters such as syndicated bank financings, acquisition financings, mezzanine and structured financings, preferred equity investments and convertible debt.  James has experience in a number of industries, with a focus on energy, including numerous matters involving oil and gas exploration and production; midstream; renewable energy and energy transition business; oilfield services; refining, distribution, storage and transportation; and retail. He represents mezzanine funds, publicly and privately held corporate borrowers and issuers, private equity funds, and commercial banks.

Mr. Longhofer’s energy industry focus includes numerous matters involving oil and gas exploration and production; midstream; oilfield services; refining, distribution, storage and transportation; and retail.

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA, Banking & Finance (Texas), 2022 and 2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings, LLC), Banking and Finance Law (Houston), 2022–2024
  • Legal 500 U.S., Finance: Commercial Lending, 2023

Education

  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with honors, 2011 (Editor-in-Chief, Texas International Law Journal)
  • Southern Methodist University, B.A., Political Science, Economics, and Public Policy magna cum laude and with honors in Liberal Arts, 2008 (Phi Beta Kappa)

Representations

  • HPS Investment Partners in connection with numerous mezzanine loans, secured term loans, and other structured investments to domestic and Canadian oil and gas producers
  • HPS Investment Partners in a $250 million secured holdco delayed draw term loan to a Permian-focused upstream E&P company
  • Sixth Street in a $400 million secured term loan to Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.
  • Sixth Street in a $160 million financing with $65 million in delayed draw commitments to an upstream E&P company
  • EIG Credit Management Company LLC as purchasers of $50 million in second lien notes from an upstream E&P company
  • Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in connection with a $3 billion 5 year revolving credit facility and a $2 billion unsecured 364-day revolving credit facility
  • The Carlyle Group in a $175 million debt and preferred equity investment in a joint venture developing Permian E&P assets
  • Representation of a national bank in a $775 million fully-underwritten credit facility to an energy exploration and production company for the acquisition of certain oil and gas assets
  • Fortis Minerals, an EnCap portfolio company, in a $200 million private note issuance to an alternative lender
  • Goldman Sachs Bank in a $148 million super-priority delayed draw term loan facility to an upstream offshore E&P company
  • Mallard Exploration, LLC in a $150 million secured reserve-based revolving credit facility
  • Nuveen in a $130mm holdco loan to a distributed power generation services company
  • SilverBow Resources, Inc., in a $600 million secured reserve-based revolving credit facility
  • SilverBow Resources, Inc. in a $200 million secured second lien term loan and note purchase agreement
  • Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in a $3 billion secured reserve-based revolving credit facility to Oasis Petroleum North America LLC

Direct Lending/Mezzanine Finance

  • AB Private Credit Investors LLC in a $87 million first lien and $50 million second lien term loan to Kern River Holdings, Inc.
  • Ares Capital Corporation as lender in a $225 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility and as investor in an $82 million convertible preferred investment to an upstream E&P company
  • HPS Investment Partners, as lender, in a $131.7 senior secured multi-draw term loan to a PE-owned midstream company, including the issuance of warrants to the lender
  • Goldman Sachs in its participation in an out-of-court recapitalization of its equity investment and its $90 million secured credit facility in an operator of oil and gas properties in the Uinta Basin
  • Angelo Gordon & Co. in a $140 million senior secured term loan to an upstream E&P company
  • The Carlyle Group, as lender, in the issuance of $85 million senior notes to an upstream E&P company
  • Representation of Goldman Sachs in a second lien term loan to an exploration and production company
  • HPS Investment Partners in a $75 million secured term loan to an upstream E&P company
  • HPS Investment Partners in a $98 million secured term loan to Elk Petroleum Aneth, LLC to finance an acquisition of oil and gas assets
  • HPS Investment Partners in connection with numerous mezzanine loans, secured term loans, and other structured investments to domestic and Canadian oil and gas producers
  • HPS Investment Partners in a $150 million secured term loan to an upstream E&P company
  • HPS Investment Partners  in a $150 million secured holdco delayed draw term loan to an upstream E&P company
  • Riverstone Credit Partners as administrative agent and lender on behalf of a syndicate of lenders under a $410 million term loan facility in the restructuring of MTE Holdings and its subsequent chapter 11 cases and related litigation; engagement evolved to representation in connection with acquisition of debtor’s assets by lender affiliate pursuant to a chapter 11 plan
  • Riverstone in a $50 million term loan credit facility to an upstream E&P company
  • Wells Fargo Strategic Capital in a $40 million holdco term loan agreement

Borrower Representation

  • Representation of Continental Resources in a $1.5 billion investment grade unsecured revolving credit facility and $500 million unsecured term loan
  • Representation of Enable Midstream in a $1.75 billion senior unsecured investment grade revolving credit facility
  • Felix Energy, an EnCap portfolio company, in a $925 million syndicated reserve based credit facility
  • Fortis Minerals, an EnCap portfolio company, in a $200 million private note issuance to an alternative lender
  • H2O Midstream in a $75 million secured revolving credit facility
  • Joy Drive Midland, LLC, in a $200 million secured reserve based credit facility

Syndicated Finance

  • Societe Generale in a $500 million syndicated, reserve-based credit facility to an upstream energy company
  • A national bank in a $580 revolver and term loan to an energy exploration and production company for the acquisition of a new subsidiary

Matters may have been handled prior to joining Paul Hastings.

Practice Areas

Corporate

Global Finance

Direct Lending and Private Credit Lending

Leveraged & Syndicated Lending

Asset-Based Lending

Borrower Finance


Languages

English


Admissions

Texas Bar


Education

The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. 2011

Southern Methodist University, B.A. 2008


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