Donald Looper’s practice focuses on the tax aspects related to partnership, corporate, and international transactions. His skills for structuring and managing international business transactions have resulted in Mr. Looper being selected by clients to manage international projects negotiated in 33 foreign countries and across the United States. Among his areas of expertise include U.S. and U.N. regulatory sanctions against foreign jurisdictions and designated nationals. The 1994 case of Looper v. Morgan, upholding his measures to protect the client’s privileged work product and communications, stemmed from Mr. Looper’s responsibilities to manage an international refinery and marketing acquisition while complying with international sanctions against Libya.

Representative Experience

• Offshore exploration licenses in Bahamas and Operating Agreements between BPC, Ltd, an AIM company, and Statoil Hydro.
• Structured oil exploration company Energy XXI, Limited, a public Bermuda company, publicly traded in London and NASDAQ.
• Structured Katana Energy International, private Bermuda company owning U.S. and foreign oil and gas interests; Kuwait investment fund and U.S. shareholders.
• Coil tubing project, joint venture between WSI Services in U.S. and China National Petroleum Company.
• Acquisition of refinery in Hamburg from Esso; included separate acquisition of 85 km pipeline and interest in deep water terminal.
• Structured acquisition of Gdansk refinery from Polish government.
• Created barter contract for gas trading companies by modifying NAESB form
• Airport Cargo infrastructure projects in Russia, China.
• Transaction with Ministry of Public Health in China to use technology to conduct thermal imaging breast cancer exams.
• Investigated breach of construction contract in Uganda, negotiated.
• Sale of international petroleum product marketing company in Egypt.
• Mergers and corporate divisions, including CPC Mexico pipe manufacturing.
• Formed offshore companies for international operations in BUI, Mauritius, Panama, Cayman Islands, Trinidad, Bermuda, Isle of Man, and Cyprus.
• Barter transactions.
• License applications to United Nations and OFAC related to sanctions.
• Represented Capital Alliance, a public REIT in California; tax advice and served on the board of AMEX REIT for several years.

Honors

• Selected as a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazine, 2005-2012.
• AV Preeminent® rated (the highest possible Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating designation)