Highly recognized as one of the most sought after dealmakers in the industry, Purpura represents a full spectrum of oil and gas companies in mergers and acquisitions, project finance and development and other energy-related transactions. He also represents major private equity and hedge funds, and other financial institutions in closing large, complex, and often cross-border energy and commodities deals.
“Ryan’s exceptional leadership and holistic team approach is well aligned with our own,” said Prajakt Samant in London, chair of Reed Smith’s global Energy and Natural Resources Industry Group. “His skill set will greatly enhance our ability to serve the cross-border transactional needs of our energy clients, as well as help attract new clients to the firm.”
While Purpura’s practice focuses in particular on upstream oil and gas companies, his experience covers the full gamut of the supply and distribution chain. He has helped structure major joint ventures and other strategic combinations in connection with the development of oil and gas assets, primarily in domestic shale. Likewise, Purpura has handled significant acquisitions and divestitures of large energy holdings, midstream and master limited partnership assets, and oilfield service businesses. His financing transactions include volumetric production payments, net profits interests and mineral royalty funds.
Additionally, Purpura serves as outside general counsel to several exploration and production and midstream companies, and he has served as in-house counsel to two publicly traded natural gas companies.
“I am very excited to be joining A-class colleagues at Reed Smith, whose reputation in the energy, oil and gas and shale sectors is second to none,” Purpura said. “Having a significant presence in the Appalachian shale area, as well as in key Texas markets like Houston and Dallas, is a perfect combination for my clients and for my practice. I look forward to working with this new team.”
A thought leader in his field, Purpura frequently lectures on energy topics, and he has served as an adjunct professor of Energy Law at Duquesne University School of Law. An advisory board member for Pennsylvania State University’s energy land management program, and the Institute for Energy Law, Purpura also serves on the board of trustees of the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation.
“Ryan is a perfect fit for our overall growth strategy, which remains focused on our industry groups. He enhances our corporate practice, especially in the private equity sector, and our overall energy capabilities,” said Ron Francis, managing partner of Reed Smith’s Pittsburgh office. “Not only is he a great addition to our firm and for our clients, Ryan is a credit to our profession and the Pennsylvania legal community, especially in his pro bono work for our nation’s service members.”
Purpura co-founded and provides legal oversight to Operation Troop Appreciation, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to active and veteran members of the US Armed Forces.
A 2004 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law and its Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, where he earned a both a J.D. and an MBA in Finance, Purpura is admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio and West Virginia.
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