Wheeler, a veteran transactional lawyer with a long list of major energy deals under his belt, made headlines last year when he jumped from Latham & Watkins to Kirkland & Ellis in Houston. 

He made even more headlines in 2018 leading some of the largest public energy deals of the year. He and his team advised Rowan Companies in its $12 billion combination with fellow  offshore drilling contractor Ensco in an all-stock, cross-border merger of equals transaction. It was the first of two public energy company deals Wheeler led in less than four weeks, with a combined value of $17.5 billion.

In the second transaction, Wheeler and his team advised Newfield Exploration Co. on its acquisition by Canada-based Encana Corp. in an all-stock transaction valued at about $5.5 billion that also included a plan for Encana to assume $2.2 billion of Newfield's net debt. 

What is the top quality that you've used to succeed in the profession?

If there is one quality that matters most, I would say it's the ability to continue moving forward toward your goal—day after day after day—in the face of adversity. Some people have called this grit or perseverance or strength of character. But the simple act of moving forward each day, even when things seem most difficult, is more important than intelligence, social connections, good looks or a great personality. The prize goes to the one who can finish the race, and most people—many of whom may be more qualified on paper—fall away at some point along the way. With that said, grit has to be moderated with some sort of higher purpose in life—like family or friends or faith.  There's no value in being the best lawyer in the room if you are the only one there.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone that you wish you had starting out?  

As a young lawyer, I was encouraged to broaden my skill set and work with as many different partners as possible, which I found to be incredibly valuable advice.  Broad work experience provides valuable knowledge, helpful perspective and meaningful insight for lawyers as they mature, which works well for M&A lawyers who are often leading large groups of lawyers with different skill sets to achieve the successful execution of an M&A transaction.  Working with a varied group of partners, particularly within your core discipline (like M&A), gives a lawyer the opportunity to adopt the best traits from each person in pursuit of developing your own unique and effective style.  Everyone has something good to offer, and it's impossible to copy the traits of a single successful individual in hopes of achieving similar success.  Each person needs to embrace their individuality while latching on to the good in others in order to create their own personal lawyering style.

What is one of your proudest achievements in the law, and what challenge did you have to overcome to achieve it?

I've worked on many deals, offered creative solutions to solve difficult problems and given wise counsel.  As I've gotten older, the deals of the past have become a blur—vague recollections of accomplishments without current significance other than as a lesson for the next deal, which then inevitably joins the blur of past deals shortly after it is over. I've come to value the relationships that have endured over the years, the friendships that I've made, the young lawyers that I've mentored and the time that I have freely given to others in exchange for their return kindness and the knowledge that I am—hopefully—leaving this place slightly better than how I found it.

An awards ceremony will be held on Sept. 18 at the Belo Mansion in Dallas. The Attorney of the Year award winner will be announced at the ceremony.

Click here for booking information. For information about sponsoring the event, contact Andre Sutton at 757-721-9020 or email [email protected].