Mark Hughes

Attorney Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes

  • Position: Partner
  • Practice Areas:Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Employment Law, General Transactional Law
  • Phone:(713) 942-7755
  • Email:

Personal Experience

Mark has extensive experience across a variety of industries. He advises clients in most general business areas and has particular expertise in mergers & acquisitions and capital-raising transactions.

Until 2003, Mark was a partner in the corporate and securities section of Thompson & Knight, LLP. He began his career as a tax professional in the international tax/mergers & acquisitions section of Arthur Andersen, LLP. His practice consists of an equal mix of transactions (mergers/acquisitions, capital-raising transactions, etc.) and general day to day legal advice, including contract negotiation, employment issues and commercial transaction advice and counseling. In addition, Mark has advised C-level executives of multiple Fortune 500 companies and multiple private equity/venture backed companies with regard to their executive compensation arrangements and/or exit negotiations. Mark acts as outside general counsel to several clients in industries such as energy, technology, industrial services, retail and food service.

Professional Background

  • Hughes Arrell LLP, Partner, 2022-Present.
  • Hughes Arrell Kinchen LLP, Partner, 2003-2022.
  • Thompson & Knight, LLP, Associate 1995-2001, Partner 2001-2003.
  • Arthur Andersen, LLP, 1994-1995, International Tax and Mergers & Acquisitions.

Education

  • University of Texas School of Law. JD, 1994.
  • University of Texas at Austin. BBA – Accounting, 1991.

Recent Representative Engagements

    Mergers & Acquisitions
     
  • Represented private equity fund focused on the healthcare technology enabled services industry in sale of portfolio company to private equity fund with consideration paid in cash and rollover equity.
  • Represented Austin-based Security as a Service company in multiple fundraising transactions (both debt and equity) and in ultimate cash sale to a Fortune 500 purchaser.
  • Represented Austin-based cloud infrastructure provider in multiple fundraising transactions followed by ultimate cash sale to industry consolidator.
  • Represented multi-line insurance program manager with a focus in alternative risk structures (including both onshore and offshore captive insurance companies) in sale to private equity fund with consideration paid in cash and rollover equity.
  • Represented private equity backed environmental services company in multiple add-on acquisitions valued at over $100mm collectively.
  • Represented Houston's first micro-distillery in sale to industry leader.
  • Represented security software company in acquisition of equity of Danish web application firewall company.
  • Represented private equity fund focused on the healthcare technology enabled services industry in completion of multiple acquisitions over an 18 month period followed by an exit transaction payable cash and rollover equity.
  • Represented Austin-based software company focused on process management products and services for large insurance carriers, real estate companies and government agencies in sale to Fortune 500 company.
  • Represented various portfolio companies of a private equity fund with more than $1B under management in multiple add-on acquisitions ranging in size from $3 million to $40 million.
  • Represented wastewater services company in roll-up of two wastewater services companies in a transaction involving rollover equity for continuing management teams and creation of "profits interest" incentive pool.
  • Represented oilfield services company in a two year growth initiative involving 12 acquisitions (aggregate purchase price in excess of $100mm). During this period, the client grew from under 100 employees to over 4,000.
  • Represented specialty tubular connections company in sale of assets to major multinational pipe manufacturer in exchange for cash, earn out and royalty payments on future sales.
  • Represented oilfield tool manufacturer in several acquisitions of complementary product manufacturers each involving concurrent senior credit facility with Wells Fargo, N.A. and/or equity infusions to fund such acquisition.
    • Capital-Raising Transactions
     
  • Represented project development and technology services company focused on the waste management industry in $6.5mm investment by ESG focused private equity fund.
  • Represented wastewater services company in equity bridge transaction followed by senior and subordinated debt transactions.
  • Represented healthcare technology enabled services company in 3 successive senior and subordinated debt transactions utilized to effect concurrent acquisitions.
  • Represented SaaS security software company in Series E preferred stock funding by venture capital investors.
  • Represented industrial services company in concurrent senior debt financing by commercial bank and subordinated debt financing by venture capital investor.
  • Represented oilfield services company in initial credit facility followed by several increases in available credit and creation of acquisition line of credit involving major amendments and syndication of credit facility. During this period, the credit facility was increased from $5mm to over $500 million.
  • Represented action ski film production company in an equity investment transaction to enable new investors to provide capital to expand product offering.
  • Represented wastewater services company in initial equity placement of common equity and concurrent term, draw to credit and line of credit loan to enable funding of acquisition and working capital.
  • Represented Houston's first micro-distillery in various capital raising transactions ranging from equity private placements to lending and other bridge financing transactions.
    • Executive Compensation
     
  • Represented CEO of Fortune 500 technology company with negotiation of executive compensation package and related agreements.
  • Represented CFO of Fortune 500 technology company with separation and release agreements and related aspects of departure, followed by employment agreement and restricted stock agreement at subsequent employer.
  • Represented CMO in exit from prior private equity backed portfolio company and negotiation of CEO executive compensation package with new private equity portfolio company.
  • Represented management team of private equity backed CRM company in negotiations of individual compensation and exit packages (including 280G analysis and compliance) in connection with acquisition.
  • Represented CFO of publicly traded oilfield service company with employment agreement, change of control agreement and terms of restricted stock grant.
  • Represented multiple C-level executives of equity-backed private companies in negotiation of employment agreements, equity grants, negotiated departure and severance agreements and various other compensation related matters.
    • General Counsel Engagements
     
  • Serve as outside general counsel to several venture-funded energy companies, including waste recycling company, biomethane renewable gas company, oilfield supply company, specialty fluids company, deepwater rig construction company and drilling tool company.
  • Serve as outside general counsel to several venture-funded technology companies, including biospecimen provisioning company, healthcare technology focused private equity fund, digital currency data center, Security as-a Service software provider, storage software provider and cloud infrastructure software provider.
    • Joint Venture & Partnership Negotiations
     
  • Represented private equity-funded waste processing company in joint venture with Fortune 500 waste management company to commercialize waste-to-energy processing concept.
  • Represented franchised taco restaurant in establishment of joint venture for proliferation of franchises in the Houston area.