Aaron Ball

• International Law
• Corporate
• Taxation
• Oil & Gas - Energy
• Latin American Projects Group

• Energy
• Manufacturing

• Aaron Ball Speaks at Energy Seminar
  September 23, 2010
• Looper Reed Completes Transaction for Houston American Energy Corp.
  August 1, 2010
• Ball and Galhardo Speak at Dallas Bar Energy Section Luncheon
  July 21, 2010
• Ball Contributes to KTRH Radio
  July 21, 2010
• Aaron Ball Interviewed on KRLD
  July 15, 2010

• Advise public company concerning the registration requirements for the oil concession award process before the National Hydrocarbons Agency of Colombia.
• Advise multi-national media company concerning value added tax dispute with the Tax Service Administration of Mexico.
• Lead attorney in the acquisition and development of Colombian mining operation on behalf of Australian client and its parent holding company (used for acquiring and exploiting mining concessions through a Colombian subsidiary).
• Advise general counsel of joint venture between major chemical company and major oil company concerning (i) international corporate governance and commercial legal issues primarily related to Latin American operations (e.g., director and officer authority, nationality requirements, registration requirements for infusion of foreign capital), (ii) review of major contracts, and (iii) the development and implementation of a restructuring plan for U.S. and Latin American operations.
• Representation of Bermuda-based, GOM, oil & gas exploration company. Services generally include providing international legal and tax advice management and the negotiation of major service and drilling contracts and credit agreements.
• Devise and implement international holding company structure for Panamanian oilfield equipment manufacturer with international operations.
• Lead attorney in sale of all stock of a domestic holding company and its ownership interest in a Trinidad gas company consisting of government and private shareholders.
• Tax and corporate planning for privately-owned, Panamanian, international seismic services company with operations in Asia and Latin America. Advised company on sanctions and restrictions on trade with various countries such as Cuba and Myanmar.
• Outside general counsel to Energistics, the technology standards consortium for the international oil and gas industry whose members include major oil companies, NOCs, and major oilfield services companies.
• Lead attorney for acquisition of oilfield parts manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic.
• Advise energy hedge fund on restructuring to eliminate application of Texas "margin" tax.
• Lead counsel for Chinese company engaged in multiple private placements for investment in Barnett Shale oil & gas properties.
• Advise a national real estate investment company, in connection with Texas "margin" tax planning matters connected to acquisition of five Texas properties.
• Advised a group of affiliated companies including a Panamanian and a Netherlands Antilles corporation concerning the sale of substantial real estate holdings in the U.S. and U.S. and Texas tax ramifications of a Luxembourg holding company strategy recommended by their European tax advisors.

Admissions

• England & Wales (2008) 
• New York (2007)
• Texas (2005)
• District of Columbia (2001)
• Illinois (2000) 
• Wisconsin (1997)   

Professional Activities

• Member, Houston Lawyer Editorial Board (2006-2009).
• Co-Chairman, Houston Bar Association Speakers Bureau (2008-2009).
• LegalLine Pro Bono Legal Assistance Program & The Peoples Law School (Houston Bar Association) (2006-2009).
• DePaul University College of Law, Adjunct Professor, "Taxation of Mergers & Acquisitions" (2005).

Bar Association Membership

• Law Society of England & Wales
• New York Bar Association
• Texas Bar Association
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Illinois Bar Association
• Wisconsin Bar Association
• Houston Bar Association

Industry Memberships/Affiliations

• The Energy Law Advisor, International Editor
• Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).
• Institute for Energy Law, Advisory Board Member.
• Houston Producers' Forum
• Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
• Indo-American Chamber of Commerce
• Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce
• World Affairs Council of Houston

• Leadership Houston, Board of Directors (2010).
• Leadership Houston, Class XXVI (selected as one of 40 professionals in Houston to participate in year-long leadership program).
• Leadership Houston, Selection Committee (2009).
• Co-Chairman, Houston Ballet, Ballet Ball Underwriting Committee (2009).
• Founder & Chairman, Youth Leadership America (non-profit corporation sponsoring youth leadership programs).

Publications / Speeches: Taxation

• Interview, Houston Chronicle (2009) Concerning the Impact of the Obama Tax Plan
• "The Crossborder Tax Solution," Oil & Gas Investor (2009).
• "Margin tax: Some firms ready to trade LP status," Houston Business Journal (2008).
• "Pending Business Legislation & TIC Structures," BIZ Radio (2006).
• "A Business Lawyer's Guide to Equity Compensation Issues," University of Texas School of Law (2006).
• "New Rules for Compensatory Transfers of Partnership Interests," 28th Annual Tax & Business Planning Seminar (2005).
• "House Bill Permanently Bans State & Local Taxes on Internet Access," WORLD eBUSINESS LAW REPORT (2003).
• "Reeling in Employment Tax Claims in Worker Misclassification Cases," Depaul Bus. & Comm. L. J. (Spring 2003).
• "A Merger Mystery: Outlining a Legislative Solution for the Problem of Distinguishing Deductible Expenses from Capital Expenditures Discussed in Wells Fargo v. Commissioner," DePaul Business Law Journal (Fall 2001).

Publications / Speeches: Energy

• Frequent Contributor to KRLD's  Beyond the Headlines with Scott Braddock
• "Pre-Salt Contracts," Oil & Gas Investor (2009).
• "Pre-Salt Contracts," E&P Magazine (2009)
• "Energy Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," The Energy Law Advisor (2009).
• "A Legal Perspective: Competitive Aspects of Protecting Intellectual Property Rights in Standard Setting," Energistics 3rd Annual Standards Summit (2008)
• "Oil slick: Companies avoid slips on foreign oil and gas tax rules," Houston Business Journal (2007).
• "House's Pending Energy Bill: It'll Increase Dependency," The National Law Journal (2007).
• "Feel The Heat: Bio Fuels Are A Hot Investment, But Don't Get Burned," Houston Lawyer (2007).

Publications / Speeches: Corporate

• "International Agency & Distribution: Focus on Latin America," Association of Corporate Counsel - Houston Abogados Corporativos (2009).
• "Colombian Mining Projects:  A Foreign Investor's Guide," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Journal (2009).
• "Acquiring a Business: The Basics," Houston Association of Legal Professionals (2006).
• "The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002: Implications for Companies Involved in Rebate Programs," Best Practices in Medicaid, Managed Care, and Medicare (national pharmaceutical company conference) (2004).

• 2002 - L.L.M., Taxation, DePaul University, College of Law, with honors
• 1997 - J.D., The American University, Washington College of Law
• 1993 - B.A., Butler University, with honors

• Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition - 2010.
• Houston Business Journal "40 Under 40", selected as one of the top forty emerging business leaders in Houston under age forty.
• Honored as an "Empire State Counsel" for rendering more than 50 hours of free legal services to the poor during the past year by the New York Bar Association (2009).

• Spanish