Sharon M. Beausoleil
Of Counsel
Sharon Beausoleil focuses her practice on commercial matters involving supply chain, logistics, and operations. Sharon’s extensive experience includes contract development and collaboration with business stakeholders to contract negotiations with various counterparties. Sharon also provides advice related to contract disputes, including litigating such matters both in and outside of bankruptcy.
Prior to joining the firm, Sharon served as senior legal counsel in the global supply chain group for an international exploration and production company, where she handled procurement, transportation, and shipping matters for operations in the North Sea, West Africa, the Middle East, and the United States.
Sharon also has prior law firm experience, where she was lead counsel for a major integrated energy company. She represented that company and its affiliates in various bankruptcy matters throughout the United States involving construction, distribution, franchise, petroleum marketing, and supply chain matters. She also was involved in local and national professional groups, serving in various leadership roles. Sharon started her career as the law clerk to the Hon. Wesley Steen, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (retired).
Sharon’s extensive industry experience makes her a unique resource for Foley clients.
Representative Experience
Energy Sector Matters
- Represented global oil and gas company with respect to various contract and bankruptcy matters related to operating agreements, drilling rig contracts, plugging and abandonment and decommissioning obligations, post-closing acquisition issues, mineral lien matters, and midstream and pipeline matters.
- Represented oil and gas company with respect to various upstream and midstream matters, involving its oil and gas leases, drilling obligations, joint operating agreements (including operatorship and audit issues), crude oil/gas/condensate processing and sales agreements, and supply chain matters.
- Represented terminalling company in its claims against corporate debtor and individual debtor owners.
- Represented commercial electrical services company with respect to its supply contracts and claims in various bankruptcy matters.
- Represented corporate co-owner of a fuel distributor regarding the contracts and claims in a multi-branded fuel wholesaler bankruptcy, involving disputes over branded fuel supply and payment issues related to dealer gas stations.
- Represented seismic acquisition company in connection with a dispute over seismic data ownership in a seismic company bankruptcy and subsequent contract negotiations.
- Represented reorganized oil and gas company in its claim objection process and resolution, involving complex matters related to royalty, development, and operational claims arising under oil and gas leases and various contracts.
- Represented oilfield service provider with respect to its contract and claims in an oil and gas bankruptcy.
- Represented pipeline company in various bankruptcy matters with respect to contract claims and disputes.
- Represented oil and gas company in two oil and gas bankruptcy cases in connection with joint operating agreement issues, lien priority disputes, and accounting issues.
- Represented a group of non-operating working interest owners in an oil and gas bankruptcy case with respect to their working and royalty interests claims and disputes against the former oil and gas operator.
- Represented a group of interest owners in the two oil and gas bankruptcy cases in connection with the enforceability of their net profit interests in various oil and gas leases.
Healthcare Sector Matters
- Represented not-for-profit blood supply company in connection with contract claims against hospital system bankruptcy case and post-sale issues with the new buyer of certain hospitals, including negotiations of a new supply contract.
- Represented pathology group in connection with its contract and claims in a hospital system bankruptcy case.
- Represented telehealth company in connection with the negotiation of a new telehealth services agreement with a post-chapter 11 debtor.
- Represented medical staffing company in connection with its contract and claims against distressed counterparties, both in and out of bankruptcy.
- Represented the purchaser of two memory care facilities from a bankrupt memory care provider.
Manufacturing Sector Matters
- Represented fuel wholesaler in contract negotiations for supply, logistics, and terminalling contracts.
- Represented oil and gas company in contract negotiations and enforcement with oilfield and other service providers and in providing updated supply chain contracts, including its master services agreement and work orders.
- Represented clothing and home department store in connection with ocean carrier contract negotiations.
- Represented clothing retailer in connection with ocean carrier contract negotiations.
- Represented manufacturer in a logistic company bankruptcy case with respect to its claims and contracts against the debtors and third parties.
- Represented manufacturer in connection with its claims against a bankrupt group of commercial electric companies involving liens and construction trust fund issues .
- Represented information technology company in connection with its contracts and claims in various bankruptcy matters and in the development of a new services agreement and related documents.
Other Bankruptcy Related Matters
- Represented an international sports events company in the acquisition of certain assets in the Aztec/Shaffer bankruptcy cases and post-closing matters.
- Represented international travel agency regarding enforcement of its claim under maritime surety bond related to a bankrupt cruise company.
- Represented floor lender in an used car company bankruptcy involving vehicle financing, consignment, and related party transactions.
- Represented Country Fresh and its affiliates, as debtor’s counsel, involving the food services and supply industry.
- Represented Whistler Energy II, LLC, as debtor’s counsel, involving the offshore oil and gas industry.
- Represented GMI USA Management, Inc, and its affiliates, as debtors’ counsel, involving the shipping industry.
Awards and Recognition
- Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization (2012, 2013, 2019 – 2024)
- Litigation: Bankruptcy (2012, 2013)
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights Law (2009 – 2011)
- Recognized, Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, as published in Texas Super Lawyers Magazine
- Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2005, 2007 – 2009)
Affiliations
- Member, American Bar Association, Business and Litigation Sections
- Member, State Bar of Texas, Business and Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Sections
- Member, Houston Bar Association, Bankruptcy and Energy Law Sections
- Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
Presentations and Publications
- Presenter, “Bankruptcy Lingo 101: How Bankruptcy Impacts Strategies for Addressing Distressed Counterparties” at Foley & Lardner LLP’s 31st Annual Law of Product Distribution & Franchise Seminar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (September 2022)
- Co-author, “Strategies for Addressing Financial Distress in the Supply Chain: Checklist” in Thomson Reuters Practical Law (September 2022)
- Co-presenter, “Protect Your Company from Financially Distressed Suppliers and Customers” webinar, National Association of Credit Management (September 2022)
- Co-author, “Franchising and Insolvency,” in Lexology’s Franchise Practice Guide (4th ed.) (March 2022)
- Co-panelist, “Let’s Waive COVID Goodbye” at Association of Corporate Counsel (Houston) webinar (October 2020)
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