Due Diligence Attorney • Houston, Texas

Due Diligence Attorney in Houston

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.

Selective M&A Practice
Personal Attention
Managing Partner on Every Deal

What We Do

Our managing partner provides selective acquisition due diligence law counsel to clients in Houston and nationwide, including:

  • 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 engage selectively with capitalized founders and investors in Houston and nationwide:

  • 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

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 Clients in Houston Engage Acquisition Stars

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

Our Process

A structured, methodical approach to acquisition due diligence law

1

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.

2

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.

3

Risk Identification

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

4

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.

5

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.

"If you don't qualify aggressively on the front end, what a terrible waste of time. The other party might not have actual funding, they might not have actual backing, they might not have actual intent. They're just using the deal as a way to gain free market information."

Alex Lubyansky, Managing Partner On the critical role of due diligence in protecting buyers

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

Discuss Your Acquisition Due Diligence Law Needs in Houston

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

Your information is kept strictly confidential and will never be shared. Privacy Policy

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

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Acquisition Due Diligence Law Counsel in Houston

Our managing partner provides selective acquisition due diligence law counsel for transactions nationwide. Submit your transaction details for a preliminary assessment.

Request Engagement Assessment

Submit transaction details for review. We engage selectively with capitalized buyers and sellers.

Your information is kept strictly confidential and will never be shared. Privacy Policy

Selective M&A practice - Nationwide reach - Managing partner on every deal