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Biography
Dick Bernasek joined Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP in 1988 as a partner in its Corporate and Securities practice group and currently is the head of the practice group. He has been practicing for over 35 years, handling mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, leveraged acquisitions and recapitalizations, securities offerings, financings, joint ventures, partnerships and similar matters. Mr. Bernasek has represented clients from a broad range of industries, including financial institutions, technology firms, retailers, communications companies and oil and natural gas producers. Mr. Bernasek's representation also extends to counseling public and closely-held companies in general corporate and partnership matters and family offices in investment matters.
As voted by his peers, Mr. Bernasek has been recognized as a "Top Lawyer" in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions in Fort Worth, Texas magazine since 2002. Similarly, he has been recognized as a "Lawyer of Distinction" in Securities Law in the Fort Worth Business Press since 2003, and as a Texas Monthly "Super Lawyer" in Mergers and Acquisitions. Mr. Bernasek was selected for inclusion in the 2007 and 2008 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Corporations Law and Securities Law.
Mr. Bernasek and his wife, Regina, have two adult children and five grandchildren. Mr. Bernasek is a college football fan and is in a noticeably better mood on autumn Mondays if both the KSU Wildcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish record Saturday victories. He also enjoys bird hunting and has served on the board of directors of the Fort Worth Trap and Skeet Club.
Education & Honors
Kansas State University, B. A., cum laude, 1969
University of Kansas School of Law, J.D., 1972
Editor-in-Chief, Kansas Law Review, 1971-1972
Order of the Coif
Top Lawyer (Mergers and Acquisitions), Fort Worth, Texas magazine, since 2002
Lawyers of Distinction (Securities Law), Fort Worth Business Press, since 2003
The Best Lawyers in America, 2007 and 2008 editions, areas of Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Corporations and Securities
Super Lawyer (Merges and Acquisitions), Texas Monthly, 2007
Admission & Affiliations
Texas, 1972
U.S. Tax Court, 1974
Member, State Bar of Texas and Tarrant County Bar Associations
Board Member, Texas General Counsel Management Practices Forum (2000 and 2001)
Member, Tarrant County Bar Foundation
Significant Matters
Public Offerings
Hugoton Royalty Trust - $142.5 million Trust Units
XTO Energy Inc. - $1.25 billion Senior Notes
XTO Energy Inc. - $1 billion Common Stock
XTO Energy Inc. - $1 billion Senior Notes
Mergers and Acquisitions
Represented TTI, Inc. in the sale of its assets to Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Represented Seven Network Ltd. in the $1.3 billion cash acquisition with its partner, Tracinda Corporation, of all the capital stock of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Inc.
Represented a limited partnership in the sale of its subsidiary partnerships with high priority water rights to U.S. Filter Corporation for $325 million of U.S. Filter stock.
Represented a Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Arch Mineral Corporation in connection with the merger of Arch with Ashland Coal Company to create Arch Coal Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange listed company.
Represented Fresh, Inc., and its shareholders in a merger with LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Inc. in which LVMH acquired a 65% interest in Fresh for cash.
Represented The BMS Enterprises, Inc. in its leveraged recapitalization, whereby the Blackmon family acquired sole ownership and control.
Private Placements
Seven Network Ltd. - $250 million of Senior Notes
XTO Energy Inc. - $400 million of Senior Notes
Wes Trac Pty Ltd. - $350 million of Senior Notes
Private Equity Investments
Represented family offices in connection with investments in private equity funds, venture capital funds and hedge funds involving total commitments in excess of $1.0 billion |
