Thompson & Knight LLP Combines with Brazilian Law Firm of Tauil & Chequer; Continues International Expansion

Business Wire, May 27, 2003

Energy Editors/Business Editors/Legal Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2003

Continuing its international expansion and focus on the energy industry, Thompson & Knight LLP announced today that it has formalized an association with the Brazilian law firm of Tauil & Chequer, with offices in Rio and Vitoria. In addition, two of Tauil & Chequer's attorneys, Ivan Tauil and Alexandre Chequer, have become partners of Thompson & Knight. Both firms are full-service law firms with an energy focus. Earlier this year, Thompson & Knight opened offices in Algiers and Paris, and recently expanded its Monterrey, Mexico, office.

"Thompson & Knight has steadily increased its work on behalf of clients in Latin America and, with the additional capabilities of Tauil & Chequer, we now have a solid footprint in South America," said Pete Riley, Managing Partner of Thompson & Knight. "We know each other well and have worked together for over two years in an informal alliance. Our association will formalize the alliance and give us a foundation for growing our practice capabilities in accordance with the needs of our clients."

With more than 20 lawyers, Tauil & Chequer has focused on developing its energy practice in Brazil and South America. Thompson & Knight will now have approximately 400 lawyers worldwide, with more than 100 lawyers practicing in the energy sector.

"After working with some of the best energy law firms, we decided that Thompson & Knight offered us what we needed -- the most sophisticated practice and a similar client focus," observed Alexandre Chequer of Tauil & Chequer. "The two firms have integrated our legal efforts in energy, finance, bankruptcy, tax, and litigation with great success."

"Brazil is the engine of growth for South and Central America, and we have witnessed an incredible growth in the private sector," Tauil said. "With 170 million people and South America's largest economy, Brazil is undergoing a rapid transformation as it moves to deregulate and attract foreign investment."

In addition to representing approximately half the large publicly traded oil and gas companies in the United States, Thompson & Knight has handled energy transactions in more than 50 countries and counsels national oil companies in South America, Africa, and Asia. Among other international energy initiatives, Thompson & Knight has an alliance with Randall & Dewey, a Houston-based oil and gas transaction and advisory service firm, to aid companies in managing their oil and gas portfolios.

Andrew B. Derman, international practice group leader at Thompson & Knight, said, "Although the energy sector is global, it is also a small community. Clients need a global reach. We are positioning ourselves to help them address cross-cultural legal and commercial demands in an environment where the private and public sectors are consolidating and national and quasi-national government oil companies are expanding."

Founded in 1887, Thompson & Knight offers clients full-service capabilities, including a global energy practice representing public and private companies as well as host governments worldwide. The Firm has approximately 400 attorneys with offices and alliances in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.