Arturo Cavazos
Practice Areas
Experience
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Blockchain & Digital Assets
- Commercial Finance
- Commodities & Derivatives
- Diversity & Inclusion Counseling
- Energy Finance
- Healthcare Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
- Real Estate Financing
- Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
Biography
Art Cavazos is a finance and corporate lawyer who focuses his practice on complex financial transactions and other business matters. His clients include companies from a range of sectors including finance, healthcare, energy, real estate, construction, and technology. His transactional experience includes M&A, private placements, entity formation and governance, and general contract negotiations.
Art’s significant finance experience includes representation of both lenders and borrowers in a variety of transactions, including syndicated, bilateral and club facilities, secured and unsecured facilities, first, second lien and mezzanine facilities, revolvers and term loans, acquisition financings, commercial real estate and construction loans, asset-based loans, reserve-based loans, commodities and derivatives transactions, and others. He has also helped guide lenders and borrowers through distressed loan workouts and bankruptcy debtor-in-possession financings.
Moreover, Art’s diverse transactional practice affords him broad experience that enables him to identify problems, find solutions, and help clients achieve their goals. This includes advising companies on mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring and governance, private debt and equity securities offerings, and other complex business transactions.
Education
B.B.A., Texas A&M University
- National Merit Scholar
- President’s Endowed Scholar
J.D., Columbia Law School
- Operations Editor, Columbia Law Review
- Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
Bar Admissions
Texas
Corporate Finance
- Represented BBVA Compass Bank, as lender, in connection with $45 million revolving loan and $5.3 million term loan credit facility for building materials supply company borrower.
- Represented Texas Capital Bank, N.A., as lender, in connection with amendment and restatement of multiple credit facilities secured by commercial real estate for group of affiliated borrowers.
- Represented Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, in connection with $725 million revolving credit facility to Memorial Resource Development Corp.
- Represented oil and gas exploration and production company, as borrower, in connection with $500 million revolving credit facility and $125 million second lien term loan facility.
- Represented Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, in connection with distressed workout of $200 million revolving credit facility to Emerald Oil, Inc., as borrower, and subsequent bankruptcy financing.
- Represented major institutional lender, as administrative agent, in connection with $75 million second lien term loan facility to oil and gas exploration and production company.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Represented a public mobile advertising solutions provider in its transformative acquisitions of three international mobile advertising companies valued in excess of $1 billion.
- Represented Abraxas Petroleum Corporation in connection with the exchange of $3.2 million in cash, 2 million shares of Abraxas Petroleum Corporation stock and certain surface estate real estate for certain oil & gas assets from Blackbeard Resources, LLC.
- Represented matchmaking company with operations in Austin and San Antonio, as seller, in connection with the purchase of substantially all of its assets by Dallas-based matchmaking company, as buyer.
- Represented regional owner-franchisee of national fast food chain, as seller, in connection with the purchase of substantially all of the equity in its operating company.
Financial Derivatives
- Represented oil and gas exploration and production company, as a counterparty, in connection with nine ISDA Master Agreements and schedules, each with a major institutional swap dealer.
- Represented multinational automatic teller machine operator, as a counterparty, in connection with four ISDA Master Agreements and schedules, each with a major institutional swap dealer.
Securities Transactions
- Represented technology startup, as issuer, in connection with $2 million second-round secured notes offering.
- Represented fund, as purchaser, in connection with the purchase of $5 million notes from technology startup, as issuer.
Intellectual Property
- Represented microwave radiation pathogen sterilization company, as licensee, in connection with the licensing of its technology to multinational baked goods company.
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.)
- Banking and Finance Law, 2022-2023
- Corporate Law, 2022-2023
- Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation – Corporate, Finance, 2023-2024
- “Best S.A. Lawyers” List, San Antonio Scene, 2018-2023
- Banking
- Business & Corporate
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- “Rising Star Lawyers” List, San Antonio Scene, 2018, 2020-2022
- Business & Corporate
- Securities and Corporate Finance
- San Antonio Chamber of Commerce – Leadership San Antonio, Class 48, 2024
- San Antonio Bar Association
- Columbia Law School, Reunion Committee Co-chair
- U.S. Green Building Council, LEED Accredited Professional (Building Design and Construction)
- Advisory Board Member, Justice Technology Association
August 23, 2024
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2024
View Jackson Walker’s August 2024 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 7, 2024
Podcast: Future-Ready Business
The Changing Face of Cyber Threats and Defenses in the Age of AI
In this episode of Future Ready Business, Art Cavazos and William Nilson discuss with cybersecurity expert John Dickson the current state of cyber threats, from the automation of ransomware attacks to the emerging concerns around deep fakes and voice-based authentication.
June 28, 2024
Attorney News
Seven Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s List of 500 Next-Generation Lawyers
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of Edwin Buffmire, Art Cavazos, Amanda Crouch, Brian Oates, Manny Schoenhuber, Bethany Pickett Shah, and Ashley Withers to the “Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation” list for 2024.
June 24, 2024
Podcast: Future-Ready Business
The AI Frontier: Policy, Regulation, and Global Leadership
In this episode of Future Ready Business, Art Cavazos and Courtney White welcome Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, and Travis Wussow to discuss the rapidly expanding realm of artificial intelligence.
May 15, 2024
Podcast: Future-Ready Business
Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow
In this two-part segment of FRB, panel co-hosts Art Cavazos, William Nilson, Courtney White, and Greg Lambert discuss the latest developments in business and technology. The conversation continues with Cliff Zintgraff sharing insights on preparing the next generation of the workforce for the future amidst rapidly changing times.
April 15, 2024
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – April 2024
View Jackson Walker’s April 2024 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
April 10, 2024
Podcast: Future-Ready Business
Unlocking the Potential of AI in Medicine
In this episode of FRB, Art Cavazos and Courtney White discuss with family medicine physician Dr. Lane Aiena the benefits of value-based healthcare, the potential of AI in medicine, and the importance of sustaining the human touch that is at the heart of healthcare.
February 29, 2024
Podcast: Future-Ready Business
AI Currents in Law and Beyond
In this episode of FRB, Art Cavazos, William Nilson, Courtney White, and Greg Lambert have an open discussion on the evolving landscape of AI, the challenges it poses, and the need for robust regulations to safeguard against potential misuse.
January 24, 2024
Podcast: Future-Ready Business
You’re Already Living in the Space Economy
The concept of a space economy often conjures up images of distant, sci-fi futures, but in reality, it’s a present and rapidly evolving aspect of our daily lives. On this episode of Future Ready Business, co-hosts Art Cavazos and Will Nilson talk with Space Lawyer Bailey Reichelt about her work and how space law isn’t just about international treaties and policies, but also about their practical, day-to-day application.
December 19, 2023
Podcast: Future-Ready Business
Looking Back: AI and Emerging Technology in 2023
In this podcast, Art Cavazos, William Nilson, Courtney White, and Greg Lambert engage in a thought-provoking exploration of AI’s impact so far on law and business, and the need for a nuanced approach to its integration.
Practice Experience
Corporate Finance
- Represented BBVA Compass Bank, as lender, in connection with $45 million revolving loan and $5.3 million term loan credit facility for building materials supply company borrower.
- Represented Texas Capital Bank, N.A., as lender, in connection with amendment and restatement of multiple credit facilities secured by commercial real estate for group of affiliated borrowers.
- Represented Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, in connection with $725 million revolving credit facility to Memorial Resource Development Corp.
- Represented oil and gas exploration and production company, as borrower, in connection with $500 million revolving credit facility and $125 million second lien term loan facility.
- Represented Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, in connection with distressed workout of $200 million revolving credit facility to Emerald Oil, Inc., as borrower, and subsequent bankruptcy financing.
- Represented major institutional lender, as administrative agent, in connection with $75 million second lien term loan facility to oil and gas exploration and production company.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Represented a public mobile advertising solutions provider in its transformative acquisitions of three international mobile advertising companies valued in excess of $1 billion.
- Represented Abraxas Petroleum Corporation in connection with the exchange of $3.2 million in cash, 2 million shares of Abraxas Petroleum Corporation stock and certain surface estate real estate for certain oil & gas assets from Blackbeard Resources, LLC.
- Represented matchmaking company with operations in Austin and San Antonio, as seller, in connection with the purchase of substantially all of its assets by Dallas-based matchmaking company, as buyer.
- Represented regional owner-franchisee of national fast food chain, as seller, in connection with the purchase of substantially all of the equity in its operating company.
Financial Derivatives
- Represented oil and gas exploration and production company, as a counterparty, in connection with nine ISDA Master Agreements and schedules, each with a major institutional swap dealer.
- Represented multinational automatic teller machine operator, as a counterparty, in connection with four ISDA Master Agreements and schedules, each with a major institutional swap dealer.
Securities Transactions
- Represented technology startup, as issuer, in connection with $2 million second-round secured notes offering.
- Represented fund, as purchaser, in connection with the purchase of $5 million notes from technology startup, as issuer.
Intellectual Property
- Represented microwave radiation pathogen sterilization company, as licensee, in connection with the licensing of its technology to multinational baked goods company.
Recognition & Accolades
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.)
- Banking and Finance Law, 2022-2023
- Corporate Law, 2022-2023
- Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation – Corporate, Finance, 2023-2024
- “Best S.A. Lawyers” List, San Antonio Scene, 2018-2023
- Banking
- Business & Corporate
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- “Rising Star Lawyers” List, San Antonio Scene, 2018, 2020-2022
- Business & Corporate
- Securities and Corporate Finance
Community Involvement
- San Antonio Chamber of Commerce – Leadership San Antonio, Class 48, 2024
- San Antonio Bar Association
- Columbia Law School, Reunion Committee Co-chair
- U.S. Green Building Council, LEED Accredited Professional (Building Design and Construction)
- Advisory Board Member, Justice Technology Association