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Profile Picture

Robert B. Little

Robert
Little

Partner

CONTACT INFO

rlittle@gibsondunn.com

TEL:+1 214.698.3260

FAX:+1 214.571.2924

Dallas

2001 Ross Avenue, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75201-2923 USA

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PRACTICE

Mergers and Acquisitions Capital Markets Energy Fashion, Retail and Consumer Products Global Finance Investment Funds Oil and Gas Power and Renewables Private Equity Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance

BIOGRAPHY

Robert B. Little is a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Dallas office.  He is a Global Co-Chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group.

Mr. Little has consistently been named among the nation’s top M&A lawyers every year since 2013 by Chambers USA. Mr. Little is admired by clients as “an exceptional practitioner and trusted adviser” who is “a smart, hard-working, high-character, results-oriented lawyer who focuses on timely, efficient and cost-effective solutions – he’s an outstanding lawyer.” (Chambers USA 2022).  Also viewed by clients as “very efficient, always knowledgeable in the subjects with immediate recommendations for action” and “an excellent corporate attorney well suited for negotiating tough deals” (Chambers USA, 2021), Mr. Little’s practice focuses on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, joint ventures, investments in public and private entities, and commercial transactions. Further described by clients in Chambers USA 2018 and 2019 as an “exceptional practitioner and trusted adviser” and in 2017 as a “practical and proactive lawyer who is oriented to problem solving,” he also advises business organizations regarding matters such as securities law disclosure, corporate governance, and fiduciary obligations.  In addition, he represents investment funds and their sponsors along with investors in such funds.  Mr. Little has represented clients in a variety of industries, including energy, retail, technology, infrastructure, transportation, manufacturing, and financial services.

In 2013, Mr. Little was the youngest corporate M&A lawyer in Texas to receive a ranking by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.  Chambers noted that Mr. Little “attracted a raft of glowing comments, with one interviewee noting: ‘He is very personable and one of the best lawyers in negotiations at keeping the relationship with the other side good. He is a fantastic lawyer with great commercial and interpersonal skills.’”  Chambers 2014 observed that he has a “remarkable grasp of legal issues” and “provides outstanding legal work.”  The 2015 edition noted that he “receives extensive praise from clients and peers who describe him as ‘extremely thorough and very knowledgeable.’”  In 2016, Chambers observed that clients praise him for being ‘strategic, super-responsive [and] a fast learner of industries” and having “an excellent approach to complex and highly contested negotiations.”

In 2023, Mr. Little was recognized by his peers as the Dallas/Fort Worth “Lawyer of the Year” in both Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law in The Best Lawyers in America®.  He is also consistently recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America® for corporate and M&A law (2013-2023), and has been recognized as one of the “500 Leading Lawyers in America” by Lawdragon. D CEO magazine and the Association of Corporate Growth named Mr. Little the 2017 Dallas Dealmaker of the Year.  In addition, Texas Lawyer named Mr. Little to its 2013 list of “Legal Leaders on the Rise” recognizing Texas lawyers under age 40 whose accomplishments distinguish them from their peers.

Mr. Little received his law degree in 1998 with highest honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where he was named a Chancellor and a member of Order of the Coif and served as Articles Editor of the Texas Law Review.  He holds a B.A. from Baylor University, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1995. He previously served as a law clerk to The Honorable Patrick Higginbotham of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Representative Matters

  • Counsel to CenterOak Partners LLC in its acquisitions and divestitures of numerous businesses, including Cascade Windows, Wetzels Pretzels, Aakash Chemicals, Full-Speed Automotive, TruRoad, Turf Masters, Techna Glass, Palmetto Exterminators, SurfacePrep, HK Solutions Group, Hometown Services, CollisionRight and Service Champions
  • Counsel to Murata Electronics North America, Inc. in its acquisition of Resonant, Inc. in an all-cash tender offer to create a leading global provider of RF system solutions and filter products
  • Counsel to Trive Capital in acquisitions for OWL Services, a provider of integrated solutions for petroleum convenience and electric vehicle markets
  • Counsel to Arcosa, Inc. in its acquisition of Cherry Industries, a provider of infrastructure-related products and solutions, and in the disposition of its international storage tanks business
  • Counsel to York Space Systems, an independent provider of small satellites, satellite components and mission operations, in its sale to AE Industrial Partners
  • Counsel to Talen Energy in its joint venture with Pattern Energy for the $2 billion development, financing and construction of solar and wind energy projects
  • Counsel to Keystone Group, a privately held investment firm, in multiple investments
  • Counsel to Sunrise Oil & Gas on the sale of substantially all of its oil and gas assets to affiliates of Contango Oil & Gas, a subsidiary of Crescent Energy Company
  • Counsel to Summit Midstream Partners in its Double E Pipeline Project joint venture to provide natural gas transportation service from the Delaware Basin to the Waha Hub in Texas
  • Counsel to Satori Capital in its minority investment in Torani, the flavor company
  • Counsel to Callaway Golf Company in its strategic investment in Five Iron Golf
  • Counsel to SemGroup Corporation in its private placement of $350 million of newly authorized 7% Series A Convertible Preferred Shares
  • Counsel to Celanese Corporation in its agreement to acquire thermoplastics custom compounder Omni Plastics
  • Counsel to Sony Pictures Television Networks in its acquisition of a substantial majority stake in Japanese anime distributor Funimation Productions, Ltd.
  • Counsel to Pizza Hut in its acquisition of ordering provider QuikOrder
  • Counsel to Atmos Energy in its acquisition of a natural gas pipeline and related assets from EnLink Midstream and its disposition of its energy marketing subsidiary to CenterPoint Energy
  • Counsel to Edge Natural Resources, LLC in its formation of a joint venture focused on small-cap upstream oil and gas investments
  • Counsel to Luminant Holdings in its acquisition of natural gas generation facilities from NextEra Energy for approximately $1.3 billion
  • Counsel to Topgolf International, Inc. in its acquisitions of World Golf Tour, Inc. and Protracer AB and investment in Full Swing Golf Holdings, Inc.
  • Counsel to Topgolf International, Inc. in its sales of preferred stock to Providence Equity Partners and institutional investors
  • Counsel to Tenet Healthcare Corporation in multiple joint venture transactions
  • Counsel to Berkshire Hathaway Energy in its acquisition of publicly-traded NV Energy, Inc. for $10 billion
  • Counsel to Berkshire Hathaway Energy in its acquisition of a Texas wind power project

EDUCATION

University of Texas - 1998 Juris Doctor

Baylor University - 1995 Bachelor of Arts

ADMISSIONS

Texas Bar

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Webcasts - March 8, 2023 | Webcast: M&A Insights – Cross-Border Transactions, Attorney-Client Privilege and Covenants Not to Compete
Firm News - January 17, 2023 | Lawdragon Names 19 Partners Among its 2023 500 Leading Lawyers in America and Hall of Fame Honorees
Firm News - January 9, 2023 | Who’s Who Legal Recognizes 39 Gibson Dunn Partners in its Inaugural Thought Leaders USA Guide
Firm News - August 18, 2022 | 11 Gibson Dunn Partners Named Lawyers of the Year
Firm News - May 4, 2022 | Three Who’s Who Legal 2022 Guides Recognize 13 Gibson Dunn Partners
Client Alert - March 21, 2022 | Delaware Court of Chancery Addresses the Contours of Sandbagging
Webcasts - January 27, 2022 | Webcast: M&A Hot Topics 2022
Client Alert - July 26, 2021 | “Effect of Termination” Provisions in Purchase Agreements: Considerations in an Evolving M&A Market
Firm News - May 13, 2021 | Seventeen Partners Named Among the 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America
Webcasts - December 1, 2020 | Webcast: M&A Hot Topics 2020
Publications - June 1, 2020 | Chancery Holds Buyout Provision in LLC Agreement to Be a ‘Call Option’ and Irrevocable Following Exercise
Client Alert - May 4, 2020 | M&A Report – Determining the Likely Standard of Review Applicable to Board Decisions in Delaware M&A Transactions
Firm News - August 15, 2019 | Gibson Dunn Lawyers Recognized in the Best Lawyers in America® 2020
Client Alert - August 13, 2019 | Delaware Bankruptcy Court Rules That Liquidation Trustee Controls the Privilege of Board of Directors’ Special Committee
Article - April 10, 2019 | ‘Glidepath’: Guidance for Extra-Contractual Principles in an Earn-Out Context
Client Alert - January 22, 2019 | M&A Report – A New Twist in the Oxbow Joint Venture Saga: Delaware Supreme Court Rules the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing Cannot Save the Day
Webcasts - December 12, 2018 | Webcast: State of the Art: Critical Developments and Trends in M&A (2018)
Article - March 14, 2018 | Important Lessons From ‘In re Oxbow Carbon’ for Drafting Joint Venture Exit Provisions
Client Alert - December 19, 2017 | M&A Report – Delaware Chancery Court Decision Underscores the Risks to Buyers When Devising Earn-Outs
Client Alert - November 13, 2017 | M&A Report – Two Sides to Working Capital Adjustments
Article - April 19, 2017 | Supreme Court Suggests Caution for MLPs in Conflicted Transactions
Client Alert - April 12, 2017 | M&A Report – Determining the Likely Standard of Review Applicable to Board Decisions in Delaware M&A Transactions (April 2017 Update)
Webcasts - December 13, 2016 | Webcast: State of the Art: Critical Developments and Trends in M&A (2016)
Client Alert - November 28, 2016 | Issues and Best Practices in Drafting Drag-Along Provisions
Client Alert - August 8, 2016 | Delaware Court Invalidates Lender’s Attempt to Prevent Bankruptcy Through Issuance of ‘Golden Share’
Article - March 16, 2016 | Chancery Court Refuses to Review Binding Third-Party Valuation
Client Alert - February 8, 2016 | M&A Report – Determining the Likely Standard of Review Applicable to Board Decisions in Delaware M&A Transactions (February 2016 Update)
Webcasts - November 18, 2015 | Webcast: Critical Developments and Trends in M&A Post-Closing Remedies
Client Alert - June 26, 2015 | Delaware Enacts Legislation Endorsing Exclusive Forum Clauses and Prohibiting Fee-Shifting Provisions
Article - June 17, 2015 | Chancery Describes Standard of Review for Demand Refusal Decision
Article - June 8, 2015 | Attorney-Client Privilege Issues in M&A Work
Client Alert - May 11, 2015 | Delaware Court of Chancery Decision Rejecting Continuous Insolvency Requirement for Creditor Derivative Claims Summarizes Current Law on Derivative Standing for Creditors
Client Alert - May 4, 2015 | M&A Report – “Exclusive Forum” Bylaws Fast Becoming a New Item on Public M&A Deal Checklists
Client Alert - April 23, 2015 | M&A Report – New Delaware Court of Chancery Decision Examines MLP Conflicts Committee Requirement to Act in Subjective Good Faith
Article - January 5, 2015 | Looking Ahead: Expected Hot Buttons for M&A Negotiations in 2015
Webcasts - November 20, 2014 | Webcast: State of the Art: Critical Developments and Trends in M&A (2014)
Client Alert - November 18, 2014 | M&A Report – Determining the Likely Standard of Review Applicable to Board Decisions in Delaware M&A Transactions
Client Alert - November 5, 2014 | More Board Seats, More Problems
Client Alert - April 14, 2014 | M&A Report – In Chen v. Howard-Anderson, Delaware Court of Chancery Issues Important Guidance Regarding M&A Transactions
Client Alert - March 20, 2014 | M&A Report – When the Contractual Rubber Meets the Statutory Road: Drafting Contractual Survival Provisions in Light of State Law Statutes of Limitations
Client Alert - February 6, 2014 | A Clear Path To Section 363 Sale Challenges
Client Alert - February 3, 2014 | M&A Report – Winter 2014
Client Alert - February 3, 2014 | Oil and Gas Industry Briefing: Recent Fifth Circuit Ruling Limits Ability of Pipeline Owners in Bankruptcy to Sell Assets “Free and Clear” of, or Reject, Certain Covenants Associated with the Pipelines
Client Alert - January 21, 2014 | Top Five M&A Lessons From Delaware Courts in 2013
Client Alert - November 1, 2013 | New Reg D: Implications for Offering Publicly Traded Securities as Consideration in Private Acquisitions
Client Alert - October 18, 2013 | Guidance for Boards of Public Company M&A Targets
Client Alert - July 22, 2013 | M&A Report – Summer 2013
Client Alert - May 13, 2013 | A Checklist for the Early Stages of an M&A Transaction
Client Alert - April 17, 2013 | How Would Delaware Courts Treat Fiduciary-Out Provisions?
Client Alert - February 19, 2013 | M&A Report – Winter 2013
Client Alert - December 10, 2012 | Walking the High Wire: Guidelines for Board of Director Designees Of Private Equity Funds, Activist Stockholders and Other Investors
Client Alert - December 3, 2012 | Delaware Court of Chancery Rules “Don’t Ask, Don’t Waive” Standstill Provision Unenforceable
Client Alert - July 16, 2012 | Covering the Bases
Client Alert - July 16, 2012 | Ins and Outs of Purchasing Natural Gas-Fueled Power Plants
Client Alert - July 10, 2012 | Avoiding Unintended Consequences of Damage Waiver Provisions in M&A Agreements
Client Alert - May 7, 2012 | Delaware Court of Chancery Issues Important Guidance for the Drafting and Negotiation of M&A Confidentiality Agreements
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