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Kevin Paul Lewis
Experience | Education | Recognition | Activities | Publications

Biography
Kevin is a partner in Vinson & Elkins' Houston office, and is an active member of the firm's Corporate Finance and Securities Group. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the firm's Corporate Governance and Compliance Group, and a member of the firm's Project Finance and Development Practice Group. Prior to relocating to Houston, Kevin practiced for many years in Singapore and in New York City, and he currently serves as the liaison partner for the firm's Asian offices and the firm's lateral hiring partner.

Kevin's clients have included boards of directors and audit committees, major commercial airlines, oilfield service companies, large electric retail providers, venture capital firms and their portfolio investment companies, investment banking houses, developers and owners of infrastructure projects, and other financial institutions and energy industry companies. He has significant experience in capital markets financings, including IPOs, ADRs, 144A and Reg S securities, equipment pass-through certificates, mortgage-backed securities and other asset securitizations. He also has extensive experience in venture capital transactions, private placements, mergers and acquisitions, and other structured financings (including aircraft sale-leaseback and other leveraged lease transactions). He has represented developers and lenders in numerous Asian infrastructure projects, including the Corridor Project, Project Finance magazine's 1997 Indonesian Deal of the Year.

Representative Experience
Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
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  • Represented numerous public company boards of directors and audit committees in connection with Sarbanes-Oxley Act matters, board and committee structure and other corporate governance issues
  • Represented several mainline and regional commercial airlines in connection with regional airlines service agreements, a major commercial airline in the largest-ever IPO for a US airline, and many other airline capital markets transactions
  • Represented several small-cap companies through Chapter 11 restructurings
Project and Structured Finance
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  • Represented developers and lenders in international project finance transactions, including the sponsors of a large international offshore gas development and cross-border pipeline transaction, including the structuring and financing aspects of the project
  • Represented the issuer of equipment pass-through certificates to refinance approximately US$400 million of bridge debt incurred in connection with the leveraged lease of aircraft
  • Worked extensively on behalf of project sponsors and international commercial banks in connection with the development and financing of gas processing facilities power plants (including gas, coal and hydroelectric projects) in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and various provinces in China
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Education and Professional Background
  • Harvard Law School, J.D. cum laude, 1986
  • Yale University, B.A. magna cum laude History and Economics with honors, 1983
  • Judicial clerk to The Honorable Jerre S. Williams, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1986-1987
  • Admitted to practice:  Texas, 1986; New York, 1988
Professional Recognition
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  • The Best Lawyers in America in corporate law, international trade, and finance law, 2006-2008
  • Who's Who Legal: Texas in capital markets law, 2007
  • Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Project Finance Lawyers, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008
Activities and Affiliations
  • Chair: Interfaith CarePartners
  • Executive Committee: Asia Society Texas
  • Advisory Board: Congregation Beth Israel, Acorn Foundation, InPrint
Publications and Presentations
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  • "The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee: A Practical Choice?" Securities Regulatory Update, Vol. 6, Issue 11, June 9, 2003 (co-author) 
  • "Capital Markets Financing for Emerging Country Infrastructure Projects," Project Finance Monthly, September, 2000 (co-author)
  • "Transforming the Role of General Counsel and Legal Departments," Texas General Counsel Forum, Houston, Texas, November 2003
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Full Biography

Kevin Paul Lewis
Partner
Lateral Hiring Partner
Asia Offices Liaison
First City Tower
1001 Fannin Street
Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77002-6760

713.758.3884 : Tel
713.615.5967 : Fax
klewis@velaw.com

Practices

Industries