David R. Earhart
Partner

My clients want the advantages of big firm talent and experience, but without the big firm staffing model where several lawyers have the meter running on one transaction. I give clients a more economical alternative – the same exceptional results at a reasonable price point. I also focus exclusively on issues that actually matter, instead of wasting a lot of time and money fixing unrealistic problems that will likely never materialize.

With nearly 30 years of experience focused on structuring extremely sophisticated, high-value transactions and securities offerings, David Earhart knows what it takes to help clients expand their businesses, raise capital and go public, while also remaining in strict compliance with all federal and state regulatory frameworks. His practice covers all areas of corporate, transactional and securities law, everything from complex mergers, acquisitions and dispositions to representation of both issuers and underwriters in all types of public and private offerings of debt and equity. David also represents clients in project finance transactions and has handled numerous private equity and debt financing deals, including workouts, recapitalizations and restructurings.

David’s clients include publicly traded companies, mid-size businesses and startups across every industry – oil and gas, healthcare, technology, restaurants, internet-based services plus many more – and they rely on his skillful guidance on much more than strategic transactions and securities offerings. David also serves as outside general counsel for many of his clients, advising on the entire range of operational, governance and day-to-day matters, and pointing them to other experienced lawyers in the firm if issues fall outside his skill set or when litigation is necessary to fully protect their interests.

Representative Experience
  • Organization and capitalization of SPAC sponsor in connection with $100 million IPO of SPAC
  • An acquisition of a California-based consulting firm specializing in planning, permitting and regulatory compliance in the energy, midstream and utilities industries
  • Formation of a $100 million partnership to acquire, hold and sell mineral interests
  • A private disposition of a laundry services business valued at over $20 million
  • Structuring joint venture in commercial optics field (value confidential)
  • A public merger involving a restaurant company valued at over $30 million
  • A public merger of a medical billing services company valued at approximately $50 million
  • A secondary public offering of $35 million of common stock of mowing and growth maintenance company
  • An initial public offering of $25 million of common stock of computer automated design manufacturing company
  • An initial public offering of $48 million of common stock of staffing company
  • A Rule 144A transaction involving $1.6 billion offering of secured notes of an oil and gas company
  • A Rule 144A transaction involving $176 million of subordinated notes of an oil refining company
  • A public offering of $24 million of senior debentures by an insurance company
  • A public offering of $50 million of derivative adjustable ratio securities by a securities and investment company
  • A private merger involving regional bottler of international beverage company
  • An acquisition of a private beverage distributor valued at approximately $130 million
  • A $920 million recapitalization of a direct sales company
  • The formulation of $100 million joint venture relating to creation of an internet-based marketing site
  • Secondary public offerings aggregating $86 million of common stock of a digital media services company
  • A public merger involving a digital media services company valued at approximately $165 million
  • A private acquisition of a pipeline construction company valued at approximately $160 million
  • A private merger involving a real estate services company valued at over $700 million
  • An initial public offering of $160 million of an oil and gas company
  • A private disposition of a construction products company valued at approximately $400 million
  • A disposition of a minor league baseball franchise
Thought Leadership / News
December 21, 2021 
 Blogs
SEC Approves Nasdaq Board Diversity Proposal
M&A Insights
December 21, 2021 
 Blogs
Delaware Supreme Court Applies Delaware Law to Determine D&O Coverage for Delaware Corporations
M&A Insights
December 21, 2021 
 Speeches and Presentations
Recent M&A Legislative and Caselaw Developments

Continuing Legal Education

Honors
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in Woodward/White, Inc.'s The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Corporate Law (2021 - 2024)
  • Selected as a Best Lawyer in Dallas by D Magazine (2021)
Organizational Involvement
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Dallas Bar Association
    • Mergers and Acquisitions and Securities Sections
Education
  • J.D., with honors, The University of Texas School of Law (1991)
  • B.B.A., with highest honors, University of Notre Dame (1988)
Bar Admission
  • Texas
When I Feel Most At Home
  • Supporting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Texas Longhorns, primarily football