Partner, Baker Botts
Houston
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J. David Kirkland Jr. is right at home in the world of big deals. In 2011, Kirkland served as lead counsel for Pride International Inc. when the Houston-based company was acquired by Ensco PLC, a London-based global provider of offshore drilling services. Work on the $8.6 billion deal began in 2010 and the transaction closed in May 2011. Kirkland says while working on the transaction he had to ward off a behind-the-scenes takeover attempt by Norwegian contractor Seadrill Ltd.
