Andrew A. Pidgirsky

Partner
andrew.pidgirsky@arlaw.com

Andrew A. Pidgirsky joined Adams and Reese in 2001 and is a Partner in the firm's Transactions and Corporate Advisory Practice Group in the Houston office.
Andrew has been practicing law since 1998 and has extensive experience in the areas of energy, technology and international law. His clients include public corporations, international companies and start-up enterprises. Andrew is a frequent lecturer and author, and is an active member of several industry associations.

Andrew has counseled clients in the following areas:
Mergers and Acquisitions

United States and cross border mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, restructuring, and reincorporations involving oil and gas companies, refineries, shipyards, auto companies, telecommunications providers, steel manufacturers, business forms publishers, health care providers, banks and biotech companies.

International

Assisted companies with cross-border transactions, privatizations, joint-ventures, exploration and sale of hydrocarbons, global project development, finance and investment, and international trade issues.
Drafted and negotiated joint operating, production sharing, transportation, management, service, distribution, construction, supply, swaps and derivatives, and sales contracts and international financing documentation.

Securities

Represented United States and foreign issuers in connection with their initial and secondary public offerings, private placements, SEC disclosure, reporting and compliance.

Compliance

Assisted companies with FCPA and foreign investment compliance, OFAC, CFIUS, Sarbanes-Oxley issues, export/import regulations, and risk management.

Technology

Negotiated and drafted complex intellectual property, telecommunications and technology agreements; including software licenses, software development, ASP, purchase, tariffs, service and B2B membership agreements; represented the international interexchange providers on regulatory matters with FCC and PUC's.

Andrew's recent representation includes:

Chinese public oil and gas drilling company in a $100 million drilling project in Brazil.
Chinese public oil and gas drilling company in a $120 million drilling project in Mexico.
Japanese public oil and gas exploration and production company in a $1.5 billion oil and gas acquisition in the Gulf of Mexico.
NYSE exploration and production company in connection with $450 million 144A offering of high yield notes.
Israeli public company in the $200 million acquisition of a refinery in the United States.
United States exploration and production company in sale of its significant oil and gas assets in Kazakhstan.
NYSE exploration and production public company in connection with the $1.3 billion financing of its oil and gas acquisitions.
Largest Peruvian independent exploration and production company in connection with its international restructuring and compliance.
German energy company in connection with the financing and the acquisition of its coal assets in Australia.
United States shipbuilder in connection with the sale of a shipyard and set up of its operations in Mexico and Romania.
NASDAQ business forms publisher in connection with the sale of all assets.
NYSE telecommunications provider in a $1 billion merger.
NASDAQ bank in a $50 million public merger.
Ukrainian companies in connection with their privatization in Ukraine.
NYSE gaming company in connection with a $124 million senior debt offering and a $54 million merger.
AMEX exploration and production company in connection with a $155 million IPO.

Andrew's recent honors includes:

2007 President's Award, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators
Texas Super Lawyers® - Rising Star - 2006 and 2007
Editor, Computer Law and Technology Journal, Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1998

Andrew's community and professional civic involvement includes:

Chair, International Business Issues Committee, Board Member, World Trade Supervisory Board, Greater Houston Partnership
Chair, Houston Mayor's International Affairs and Development Council/Europe
Chair - Communications Committee, Past Vice President - Communications and Secretary, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators
Board Member, Houston District Export Council
Chairman of the Board, Past President, Ukrainian-American Bar Association
Executive Committee Member, United States-Ukraine Business Council
Director, Italy-America Chamber of Texas
Member, International Bar Association and American Bar Association
Past Vice-President, International Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association 1998, Past Director, MIT Enterprise Forum of Texas 2004-2009, Past Executive Committee Member, International Study Group of the Society of Petroleum Engineers 2004-2008

Andrew was recently selected to serve on the Executive Committee for the United States-Ukraine Business Council. The Council is a private, nonprofit trade association representing the interests of United States businesses active in Ukraine. It promotes United States and Ukrainian commercial ties through regular interactions with business and government leaders from both countries, and through the analysis and advocacy of key policy issues impacting United States businesses and the future of United States-Ukrainian relations.

In 2007, Andrew was honored with the Association of International Petroleum Engineers (AIPN) President's Award. The Association, composed of approximately 2,000 members from 75 countries, is an international nonprofit association serving the worldwide energy industry. Andrew led AIPN's effort to develop and implement the Association's first ever Five Year Communication Plan aimed at improving global activities.

He was also responsible for the web site management and the Advisor newsletter. AIPN President Rick Goenmer also lauded Andrew's energy, good judgment and positive attitude.

Andrew received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1998. He earned his LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from SMU School of Law in1995, and also obtained a J.D. & LL.M. in Civil Law from Ivan Franko University School of Law in Lviv, Ukraine, in 1993.

Speeches and Presentations

Russia: Expanding Your Business in a Challenging Economic Environment, U.S. Commercial Service and International Trade Center Conference, February and May 2009
Legal Aspects of International Expansion, Houston Export Academy, Instructor, 2008 - present
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Tatum CFO In-house Meeting, October, 2008
Legal Considerations for International Investments in Houston, Offshore Technology Conference, May 2008 and 2009
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Overview and Developments, International Business and Logistics Conference, April 2008
Doing Business in Russia: Legal and Business Considerations, Texas District Export Council, March 2008
Guest Commentator, Legal Reforms in Ukraine, Voice of America, Washington, DC, September 22, 2007
GATT/WTO: Framework, Dispute Resolution and China's WTO Compliance, Sinopec Management Seminar, February 2007
"Going Public": Should U.S. Companies Consider AIM Market?, 29th Annual Conference of Ukrainian American Bar Association, November 2006
Regulation of Foreign Investment in the U.S.A., China Business Council, March 2006
Exploring New Frontiers: Navigating the Russian Market, The Consular Forum and Greater Houston Partnership Conference, October 2005
Public Shell and Reverse Merger in the Current Regulatory Environment, 28th Annual Conference of Ukrainian American Bar Association, September 2005
Update on Legislative, Regulatory and Case Law Developments in the International Business Transactions, Dallas Bar Association, October 1998