Christopher Converse

Partner

Christopher Converse

Partner

Chris Converse specializes in corporate governance matters and mergers and acquisitions, advising public and private companies, private equity firms and family offices. He serves as co-chair of the firm’s Texas Corporate Governance Team and co-chair of the firm’s Private Equity practice.

As a result of his and his team’s intimate involvement in the drafting and passage of Texas Senate Bill 29 by the Texas legislature in 2025, Chris and his co-chair of the Texas Corporate Governance Team, Chris Babcock are considered the leading counselors to Fortune 500 companies when considering incorporating in Texas.   Chris and his team have unique experience counseling public and private companies in the intricacies of Texas corporate law and its application to public and private companies and their boards and shareholders.  In concert with this experience, Chris’ team has crafted corporate governance documents tailored to public and private companies implementing the latest updates to Texas corporate law.

In addition, Chris has advised private equity firms and other public and private companies in hundreds of M&A transactions with an aggregate deal value exceeding US$10 billion. Chris manages mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, financings, and private offerings of debt and equity for companies throughout the United States.

Chris is known by clients as a pragmatic and responsive counselor in sophisticated, high value transactions. Working with a team of experienced lawyers, his work spans many industries, including consumer packaged goods, aerospace components, product distribution, energy logistic services, information technology services, health and nutrition products, and infrastructure services.

Awards and Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Corporate Law (2015-2024) and Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law (2023-2024)
  • Region’s most influential business leaders in North Texas, D CEO’s Dallas 500 (2022)
  • Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, Corporate Law: General (2015); Corporate Law: Mergers and Acquisitions (2017)
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Tom Wicker ed., Chambers & Partners) in the practice area of Corporate/M&A (2016, 2018, 2021 – 2024)
  • 40 Under 40 Recognition Award, M&A Advisor (2014)
  • Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, as published in Texas Super Lawyers Magazine, Business/Corporate (2005, 2007-2009, 2013-2015)

Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas, Member
  • Dallas Bar Association, Securities Section, Member

Community Involvement

  • Former Board Member, Carter BloodCare
  • Member, Dallas Arboretum and former member of the Corporate Advisory Committee
  • Former Board Member and Secretary, Friends of the Trinity Strand Trail
June 3, 2025 Foley Corporate Governance Update

Texas Senate Bill 2337: Protecting Texas Companies and Their Directors, Shareholders and Boards from Proxy Advice Not in the Financial Interests of Shareholders

On June 2, 2025, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2337, meaningfully regulating proxy advisors like ISS and Glass Lewis when providing proxy voting recommendations concerning Texas companies.
May 15, 2025 In the News

Foley Attorneys Featured in Texas Lawyer on New Corporate Law Reforms Aimed at Promoting Business Growth in Texas

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 29 into law, a major legislative development aimed at enhancing the state’s corporate governance environment and positioning Texas as a leading destination for incorporation. Foley partners Christopher Babcock and Christopher Converse were quoted in Texas Lawyer’s article, “New Texas Law 'Eliminates Rogue Shareholders,' Abbott Says,” discussing the impact of the legislation and how it strengthens Texas’s appeal as a business-friendly jurisdiction.
May 7, 2025 Foley Corporate Governance Update

Passage of Senate Bill 29 Positions Texas as a Leading State for Incorporations

The three most significant reforms effected by S.B. 29 are codification of the "business judgment rule," allowing Texas corporations to adopt an ownership threshold that must be met for derivative claims, and allowing Texas corporations to set venue, and waive jury trials, for internal entity claims.
February 27, 2025 Foley Corporate Governance Update

Newly Filed Legislation Positions Texas as a Leading State for Incorporations

On February 27, 2025, Senate Bill No. 29 was filed in the Texas Legislature to introduce a series of corporate reforms that aim to make Texas the preferred jurisdiction for legal domestication.
November 4, 2024 Deals and Wins

Foley Advises LongWater in Formation of Cypress Rail Solutions

Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal advisor to LongWater Opportunities in the formation of Cypress Rail Solutions, a new railcar services company created in partnership with longtime industry executives Randy Meyer and Brian Trammell.
June 6, 2024 Press Releases

Foley Achieves Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2024

Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that it is again recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of the leading law firms in the country in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.