Mike O’Leary has an extensive corporate securities and mergers and acquisitions practice that is focused on the energy industry. He also has a significant reputation in master limited partnerships. In 1983, O’Leary was a young associate involved in the first MLP created through an underwritten initial public offering—Transco Exploration Partners, Ltd. This new corporate structure allowed the securities of limited partnerships to trade on public stock exchanges while still maintaining control of the entity through its general partner and benefiting from the tax treatment as a partnership. As MLPs grew in popularity, O’Leary found himself working on the vast majority of MLP matters.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the profession during your career?