Laura McMahon has over 20 years of legal experience, is a partner in the Corporate and International Departments and co-chairs the firm's Latin America Practice Group. For the past two years she has been named by the Latin Business Chronicle as one of the top business women in Latin America. She regularly advises clients on corporate and business transactions, both domestic and international, including mergers and acquisitions, financings and joint ventures. Laura also regularly counsels clients on securities disclosure and compliance and corporate governance. A significant portion of her practice involves cross-border transactions with Latin America and, she has experience negotiating transactions and working in Spanish. In the past three years, she has represented issuers in public debt and equity offerings with aggregate proceeds of over $7.8 billion and companies in acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures valued at over $2.5 billion.

In the area of Corporate/Securities she has:

• Served as principal outside counsel to publicly held companies, both U.S. and non-U.S., with respect to compliance with, and disclosure under, U.S. securities laws and exchange regulations, including periodic reports, proxy statements, listing requirements and related corporate governance matters
• Represented issuers and underwriters in numerous initial public offerings
• Represented U.S. and non-U.S. issuers and investment banking firms in connection with equity, debt and hybrid securities offerings, including units in master limited partnerships
• Advised corporations and special committees of boards of directors in connection with takeovers and business combinations
• Advised public corporations on mergers and acquisitions involving public and private target companies
• Advised non-U.S. companies as to corporate matters for U.S. subsidiaries
• Participated in corporate governance audits of large, publicly held companies
• Advised publicly held corporations on compliance programs and corporate governance
• Represented several clients in connection with NASDAQ delisting proceedings and hearings

In International/Latin America matters, she has:

• Represented U.S. and non-U.S. international companies in various industries in the acquisition and disposition of assets and stock of companies located in various Latin American countries
• Represented U.S. and non-U.S. international companies in the formation of joint ventures and consortiums, as well as in bidding on governmental or state-owned companies' projects
• Represented Latin American companies and stockholders in dispositions, financings and other transactions governed by U.S. law
• Represented multi-national companies in supply, distribution, franchise and joint venture and collaboration arrangements in various countries throughout Latin America
• Advised U.S. energy service companies in connection with contracts with state-owned oil companies and forming joint ventures to facilitate project bidding
• Negotiated and prepared settlement documents in connection with resolution of disputes arising for commercial ventures in Mexico and Latin America
• Advised U.S. companies in establishing subsidiary structures in Latin America
• Advised clients headquartered in Mexico and Central and South America on acquisitions of U.S. businesses, joint ventures and distribution arrangements

• International Bar Association
• American Bar Association 
• State Bar of Texas
• Houston Bar Association

• "Latin America's Top 50 Businesswomen," Latin Business Chronicle (2010, 2011)
• "Who's Who in Latin Business," Latin Business Chronicle (2010)

Corporate and Securities related:

• Contributing author, "International Energy and Natural Resources - North America," The International Lawyer, Volume 42, Number 2, Summer 2008
• "SEC Adopts Changes to Rules 144 and 145," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Client Alert, November 19, 2007  
• "The SEC is Updating Interpretations," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Client Alert, March 15, 2007  
• Co-author with Angel Wesley, "SEC Approves New Rule Allowing Delivery of Proxy Materials Via Internet Posting," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Client Alert, January 24, 2007
• Co-author with Nadelle Grossman, "Hurricane Response (relief under SEC, FASB and NYSE rules for companies affected by Hurricane Katrina)," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Client Alert, September 9, 2005
• Co-author with Charlene A. Brownlee, Melissa Cozart, Layne Kruse and William Pakalka, "United States v. Arthur Andersen Reversed," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Legal Update, May 31, 2005
• Co-author with Charlene A. Brownlee, "Better Safe Than Sorry: Establish Records Management Program," Houston Business Journal Business Survival Guide, May 6-12, 2005

Latin America related: 

• Co-author with Brian Bradshaw, Cecilia Ibarra and Gabriel Salinas, "Mexico Energy Reform Approved this Week," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Latin America Alert, October 31, 2008
• Co-author with Cecilia Ibarra, Enrique Gonzales and Pedro Resendez, "Private Entities Now Allowed to Participate in Gas Development Projects," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Latin America Update, June 29, 2006
• Co-author with Cecilia Ibarra, "President Bush Signs CAFTA," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Latin America Update, August 5, 2005
• "A Change in Business Culture in Mexico?" Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Latin America Update, May 2005
• "Energy Reform in Mexico: New Opportunities for Energy Companies?" Latin American Law & Business Report, February 2002

Corporate and Securities related:

• "M&A Workshop," IBA 4th World Women Lawyers Conference, London, England, April 16, 2010
• "M&A: What Now? The New Realities for Buyers and Sellers," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. 2008 Executive Women's Leadership Forum, Dana Point, California, September 13, 2008
• "SEC Initiatives in Executive Compensation," Southwest CEO Council, October 26, 2006
• "SEC Initiatives on Executive Compensation and Stock Option Grants," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Legal Issues Forum, Houston, Texas, September 21, 2006
• "Corporate Fiduciary Duties in the Magic Kingdom and Elsewhere – The Disney Derivative Litigation Decision," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P Legal Issues Forum: Corporate Governance, Houston, Texas, December 7, 2005

Latin America related:

• "The Private Equity Climate in South America," ABA International Law Section 2008 Spring Meeting, New York, New York, April 3, 2008
• "Investing in Real Estate Development Projects in Mexico," Gonzalez Calvillo, S.C. 20th Anniversary Conference, Mexico City, Mexico, June 11, 2007
• "Avoiding Mistakes in Drafting Dispute Resolution Provisions in Transactions," CAM TEC Annual Conference of Mediation & Commercial Arbitration, Mexico City, Mexico, January 26, 2007
• "Issues in Foreign Investment through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Current Trends in Latin America," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. International Energy Projects Seminar, Houston, Texas, June 15, 2005
• "Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Implication for Mexican Issuers," (in Spanish) Conference of Mexican Bar Association, Mexico City, Mexico, November 5, 2002
• Interview on proposed Multiple Service Contracts with Pemex, Energy News Live, August 12, 2002
• "Colocaciones Valores Mexicanos en los E.U.A. (Listing Mexican Securities in the U.S.)," Asociaciones Abogados de Empresa, A.C.: Business Opportunities in the United States of America, Mexico City, Mexico, June 22, 2000
• "Overview of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and OECD Convention," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Legal Issues Forum: Corporate Compliance Series; Houston, Texas, May 18, 2000

1991 - J.D., University of Houston
1977 - B.A., with distinction in the curriculum, Spanish, University of Illinois

While attending the University of Houston, Laura was a member of Phi Delta Phi. She was admitted to practice law in Texas in 1991.

• Member, Advisory Board, Women in Law Empowerment Forum, 2012 to present
• Founder, Center for Women in Law at The University of Texas School of Law, 2009
• DaCamera of Houston
  • Board of Directors and Executive Committee (2003 - 2011)
  • DaCamera of Houston Foundation Board (2005 - 2011)
  • Marketplace Committee, Chair (2004 - 2009)
  • Annual Opening Night Dinner, Chair (2004)
• Houston Youth Symphony, Board of Directors (2006 - present)
• Association for Community Television
  • Board of Directors (2000 - 2005)
  • Executive Committee (2002 - 2004)
  • Membership Committee, Chair (2003, 2004)
  • Steering Committee for Speaking of Women's Health event (2002, 2003)