Due Diligence Attorney • Houston, Texas

Due Diligence Attorney in Houston

By Alex Lubyansky · Managing Partner

Last updated May 18, 2026

What you do not know about a target company can cost you everything. Our Houston due diligence attorneys conduct rigorous legal due diligence for business acquisitions across Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, identifying hidden risks and liabilities so you can make informed decisions and negotiate from a position of strength.

Request Engagement Assessment Learn Our Process

Selective M&A Practice

Personal Attention

Senior Counsel on Every Deal

Talk to Alex About Your Houston Transaction

Share the basics. Alex reviews every inquiry personally.

What We Do

Alex Lubyansky handles acquisition due diligence law work for buyers and sellers in Houston and across the country. Here is what that looks like:

Comprehensive legal due diligence for acquisitions
Contract review and assignment analysis
Litigation and regulatory exposure assessment
Intellectual property and proprietary rights evaluation
Employee and benefit plan compliance review
Real estate lease and environmental liability analysis
Corporate governance and organizational document review
Due diligence findings report with risk-ranked recommendations

Who We Serve

We work best with people who know what they want and are ready to move:

Buyers under LOI who need legal due diligence completed on a deadline
Private equity firms requiring institutional-quality diligence reports
Search fund operators conducting diligence on their first acquisition
Corporate development teams acquiring companies in regulated industries
Independent sponsors who need diligence to satisfy lender requirements
Family offices evaluating operating company investments

See If Your Deal Is a Fit

Tell us what you are working on. We respond within one business day.

Our Process

A structured, methodical approach to acquisition due diligence law

Diligence Planning

We create a customized due diligence checklist and request list based on the target company's industry, size, and deal structure, then coordinate document collection with the seller.

Document Review & Analysis

Our team reviews every material contract, corporate record, litigation file, and regulatory filing in the data room, flagging risks that could affect valuation or deal terms.

Risk Identification

We identify and categorize risks by severity, including potential liabilities, contract issues, compliance gaps, and operational exposures that require attention before closing.

Findings Report & Recommendations

Managing Partner Alex Lubyansky delivers a clear, actionable findings report with risk-ranked issues and specific recommendations for how to address each one in the purchase agreement.

Deal Term Negotiation Support

We translate diligence findings into negotiation leverage, drafting specific representations, warranties, indemnities, and closing conditions that protect you from identified risks.

Request Engagement Assessment

What Happens After You Submit

We don't take every matter. Here is what happens when you reach out.

Personal Review (Within 24 Hours)

Alex reviews your transaction details personally. No intake coordinators, no junior associates screening your submission.

Fit Assessment

We evaluate whether your deal aligns with our practice. Not every matter is a fit, and we will tell you directly if it is not.

Initial Conversation

If there is alignment, Alex schedules a direct call to discuss your transaction, timeline, and objectives.

Clear Engagement Terms

Before any work begins, you receive a written engagement letter with defined scope, timeline, and fee structure. No surprises.

Request Your Houston Engagement Assessment

Alex Lubyansky handles every acquisition due diligence law engagement personally.

15+ years of M&A experience. Nationwide. One attorney on every deal.

Request Engagement Assessment

We review every transaction inquiry within one business day.

Questions to Ask Any M&A Attorney Before Hiring

Use these before you call any firm, including ours.

1. "Who will actually handle my transaction?"

At many firms, a partner sells the work and a junior associate does it. Ask for the name of the attorney who will draft and negotiate your documents.

2. "How many M&A transactions has the lead attorney closed in the past 12 months?"

Volume indicates current, active deal experience, not just credentials from years ago.

3. "What is your experience with my deal size and industry?"

A $500K SBA acquisition and a $50M PE deal require different skill sets. Make sure the attorney has handled transactions similar to yours.

4. "Will you coordinate with my CPA, financial advisor, and broker?"

M&A transactions require a team. Your attorney should work with your other advisors, not in a silo.

5. "How do you handle post-closing disputes?"

Reps, warranties, and indemnification claims surface months after closing. Ask whether the firm handles post-closing litigation or refers it out.

6. "What is your fee structure, and what drives cost?"

Hourly, flat fee, or hybrid. Ask what factors increase legal costs so there are no surprises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from Houston clients

What does a due diligence attorney do in an acquisition?

A due diligence attorney investigates the legal health of a target company before you close the deal. This includes reviewing contracts, litigation history, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, employee matters, and corporate governance. At Acquisition Stars, we go beyond checklists to give you a clear, strategic picture of what you are actually buying.

How long does legal due diligence take?

Legal due diligence typically takes 3 to 6 weeks depending on the size and complexity of the target company. Acquisition Stars is structured for speed, and Managing Partner Alex Lubyansky personally oversees every diligence engagement to ensure we meet your deal timeline without sacrificing thoroughness.

What risks does due diligence uncover?

Common findings include undisclosed liabilities, contracts that do not survive a change of control, pending or threatened litigation, regulatory non-compliance, intellectual property ownership gaps, employee classification issues, and environmental exposures. Any of these can significantly affect valuation or kill a deal entirely.

What happens if due diligence uncovers problems?

Diligence findings give you negotiation leverage. Depending on the severity, you can negotiate a purchase price reduction, require the seller to fix the issue before closing, add specific indemnification protections to the purchase agreement, or walk away from the deal if the risks are too significant.

Why not just use my general business attorney for due diligence?

Acquisition due diligence requires specialized M&A experience. A general business attorney may not know which risks matter most in the context of a transaction or how to translate findings into protective deal terms. Acquisition Stars has 15+ years of exclusive M&A experience, which means we know exactly where to look and what to do with what we find.

What are the Texas tax considerations for transaction due diligence?

Texas has no corporate income tax and no personal income tax. The state imposes a Franchise (Margin) Tax on entities with total revenue exceeding $2.47 million (2024 threshold), at rates of 0.375% (retail/wholesale) or 0.75% (other). As a community property state, spousal consent is required for transfers of community property business assets. The no-income-tax environment significantly affects deal structuring.

What can I expect during an initial consultation in Houston?

During your confidential initial consultation in Houston, we'll discuss your acquisition due diligence law needs, review your current situation, assess potential challenges specific to Texas, and outline a clear path forward. We'll explain our process, answer your questions, and determine if we're the right fit for your needs.

Do you work with companies outside of Houston?

Yes, we represent clients nationwide while maintaining a strong presence in Houston. Our managing partner handles acquisition due diligence law matters across all 50 states, coordinating with local counsel where state-specific requirements apply.

Need Specific Guidance?

Submit your transaction details for a preliminary assessment by our managing partner

Submit Transaction Details

Ready to Discuss Your Houston Deal?

Submit transaction details and Alex will respond directly.

The Houston M&A Market

Houston's M&A market is anchored by the energy sector but has diversified significantly into healthcare, technology, and industrial services. Energy transition is creating new deal flow as traditional oil & gas companies acquire renewable energy and carbon capture businesses. The Texas Medical Center - the world's largest - drives healthcare M&A from physician practice roll-ups to medical device acquisitions.

Top M&A Sectors in Houston

Energy & Oilfield Services
Healthcare
Industrial Services
Technology
Chemical & Petrochemical

Deal Environment

Houston deal flow is cyclical in energy but consistent in healthcare and industrial services. The region's business-friendly tax environment attracts out-of-state buyers, increasing competition for quality targets in non-energy sectors.

Why Acquire in Houston

Houston's pro-business environment, no state income tax, and population growth make it one of the fastest-growing M&A markets in the country. The city's massive port infrastructure and energy expertise create unique acquisition opportunities not found elsewhere.

Texas Legal Considerations

Texas has no state income tax but imposes a franchise (margin) tax on businesses with revenue exceeding $2.47 million - buyers must evaluate the target's franchise tax exposure and ensure proper filing history during due diligence.

Why Houston Clients Work With Us

Our deep expertise in energy sector securities transactions and public offerings makes us the go-to firm for Houston companies navigating complex regulatory requirements.

Local Market Context

Houston M&A Market

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX MSA · MSA population 7.8M

MSA Population (2024)

7.8M

U.S. Census Bureau

Top Industry Concentration

1 oil and gas and energy
2 petrochemicals and refining
3 healthcare

Houston is the energy capital of the United States. M&A activity is driven primarily by oil and gas exploration and production, refining, petrochemicals, and midstream infrastructure transactions. The energy transition is generating a new wave of deals as traditional energy firms acquire renewable energy, carbon capture, and hydrogen assets. Healthcare, particularly the Texas Medical Center complex, is the second major M&A sector for this metro.

Major Houston Employers and Deal Anchors

ExxonMobil
ConocoPhillips
Chevron Phillips Chemical
Houston Methodist
Halliburton
Schlumberger (SLB)

Transit and Logistics

Port of Houston is the largest US port by total cargo tonnage and the busiest for petrochemical exports. George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports serve the metro. The Houston Ship Channel is a critical national energy infrastructure asset.

Recent Houston Deal Signal (2024-2025)

ExxonMobil's acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources closed in Q2 2024 in a deal valued at approximately $60 billion, the largest US energy deal in decades. Upstream consolidation across Permian Basin operators continued through 2024-2025.

Source (accessed 2026-04-27)

Local Regulatory Notes for Acquisition Due Diligence Law

FERC oversight applies to midstream and pipeline transactions. Texas Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas operations and is relevant to E&P deal due diligence.

Texas Legal Considerations for Acquisition Due Diligence Law

Non-Compete Laws

Enforceable only if ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement. Mandatory reformation.

Filing Requirements

Entity mergers and conversions must be filed with the Texas Secretary of State. Franchise tax (margin tax) compliance is required. The Comptroller's office handles tax clearance certificates for asset purchases. Public Information Reports are required annually.

Key Texas Considerations

Texas has no corporate or personal income tax, making it one of the most favorable jurisdictions for structuring acquisitions, though the Franchise (Margin) Tax still applies as a gross-receipts-based tax
As a community property state, spousal consent is required for the sale of community property business interests, adding a required step in deal documentation
Texas's unique requirement that non-competes be "ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement" means buyers must carefully evaluate the enforceability of each non-compete in a target company's portfolio based on the underlying consideration

Texas Bar Authority

State Bar of Texas (mandatory unified bar). Unified/integrated bar. Membership required to practice law in Texas.

Bar association website

Texas Federal and Business Courts

Federal districts: N.D. Tex., S.D. Tex., E.D. Tex., W.D. Tex.

Business court: Texas Business Court (established 2024) Established by HB 19 signed in 2023; became operational September 1, 2024. Eleven divisions statewide, five divisions initially open. Concurrent jurisdiction with district courts in matters over $5 million including corporate governance, shareholder disputes, fiduciary claims, and state or federal securities law. The Fifteenth Court of Appeals serves as the dedicated appellate court, making Texas the first state with a dedicated business court appellate track.

Texas M&A Market Context

Texas is the second-largest U.S. M&A market, with Houston (energy), Dallas-Fort Worth (technology, financial services), and San Antonio as major deal-flow centers across all industry verticals.

Recent Texas Legislative Changes (2024-2025)

[object Object]

Watchpoints

Common Houston Acquisition Due Diligence Law Pitfalls

These are the items we see derail acquisition due diligence law transactions in the Houston market. Each one is rooted in current statutory law, recent legislative changes, or recurring patterns from the deals Alex has handled.

Recent Texas statutory change buyers and sellers miss

State statute

[object Object]

Texas non-compete enforcement and earn-out exposure

State legal framework

Enforceable only if ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement. Mandatory reformation.

"Non-binding is just a phrase. It does not guarantee a frictionless process down the line. An LOI can absolutely structure the entire future of a deal even when the document explicitly says non-binding. If counsel comes in later in the game, the LOI is already there, and parties will anchor to it. Whether or not you were involved in the drafting. Whether or not you were involved in the negotiation. They will anchor to that document. And when deals blow up, fingers get pointed at the LOI's terms. The phrase non-binding sets a buyer's expectations. The substance of the document sets the deal. Those two things are different, and the gap between them is where deals get expensive."
Alex Lubyansky · Leo Landaverde M&A Podcast

Houston local regulatory exposure

Local regulatory

FERC oversight applies to midstream and pipeline transactions. Texas Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas operations and is relevant to E&P deal due diligence.

Texas regulatory framework attorneys flag at LOI

State statute

Securities regulated by Texas State Securities Board (ssb.texas.gov). Texas follows the Texas Securities Act (Tex. Gov't Code Title 12); Blue Sky notice filings required for Reg D. Texas enforces non-competes only if part of an otherwise enforceable agreement and supported by adequate consideration (Tex. Bus. Com. Code sec. 15.50).