LOI Attorney • Houston, Texas

LOI Attorney in Houston

The letter of intent sets the terms that define your entire deal. Our Houston LOI attorneys draft, review, and negotiate letters of intent for business acquisitions across Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, ensuring you lock in favorable terms and avoid costly surprises before you commit to due diligence.

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

What We Do

Our managing partner provides selective letter of intent law counsel to clients in Houston and nationwide, including:

  • Letter of intent drafting for buyers and sellers
  • LOI review and risk analysis for proposed acquisitions
  • Binding vs. non-binding provision structuring
  • Exclusivity and no-shop clause negotiation
  • Purchase price and deal structure term negotiation
  • Due diligence scope and timeline provisions
  • Confidentiality and non-disclosure protections
  • Transition from LOI to definitive purchase agreement

Who We Serve

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

  • Business buyers who received a seller's LOI and need it reviewed
  • Buyers drafting an LOI to present to a target company
  • Search fund entrepreneurs submitting offers on businesses
  • Business brokers whose clients need legal review of LOI terms
  • Private equity firms standardizing LOI terms across multiple deals
  • Business owners who received an unsolicited offer to buy their company

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 letter of intent law

1

LOI Review & Strategy

We review the proposed terms or your acquisition goals, identify leverage points, and develop a negotiation strategy that positions you for a successful deal.

2

Drafting or Markup

We draft a new LOI or mark up the existing one, structuring binding and non-binding provisions to protect your interests while keeping the deal moving forward.

3

Negotiation

We negotiate key terms including purchase price structure, exclusivity periods, due diligence timelines, and closing conditions directly with the other side's counsel.

4

Execution

Once terms are agreed, we finalize the LOI and ensure both parties understand which provisions are binding, which are aspirational, and what happens next.

5

Transition to Definitive Agreement

We carry the negotiated LOI terms into the due diligence phase and definitive purchase agreement, maintaining consistency and momentum through closing.

"The LOI is where leverage is won or lost. Once you sign a poorly structured letter of intent, you've already conceded negotiating positions you didn't even know you had. The purchase agreement just documents what the LOI already gave away."

Alex Lubyansky, Managing Partner On the strategic importance of LOI negotiation

Texas Legal Considerations for Letter of Intent 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 Letter of Intent 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

Why do I need an attorney for a letter of intent?
The LOI establishes the framework for your entire transaction. Terms you agree to in the LOI, such as purchase price structure, exclusivity, and closing conditions, become the baseline for definitive agreement negotiations. Having an experienced LOI attorney ensures you do not inadvertently lock yourself into unfavorable terms before the real negotiation begins.
Is a letter of intent legally binding?
Most LOIs contain a mix of binding and non-binding provisions. Typically, provisions like exclusivity, confidentiality, and governing law are binding, while purchase price and closing conditions are non-binding. Acquisition Stars carefully structures every LOI to make this distinction clear so you know exactly what you are committing to.
What should be included in a letter of intent for buying a business?
A well-drafted LOI should address purchase price and payment structure, deal type (asset vs. stock), key assumptions, due diligence scope and timeline, exclusivity period, closing conditions, confidentiality obligations, and which provisions are binding. Missing any of these can create problems downstream.
How quickly can Acquisition Stars turn around an LOI?
In most cases, we can draft or review an LOI within 24 to 48 hours. Managing Partner Alex Lubyansky understands that deal timing is critical and that delays at the LOI stage can cost you the opportunity. We are built to move at the speed your deal demands.
Can I negotiate the terms of an LOI I already signed?
If the purchase price and deal structure terms in your LOI are non-binding, those terms remain negotiable through the definitive agreement stage. However, binding provisions like exclusivity are enforceable. This is exactly why having an attorney review the LOI before you sign is so valuable.
What can I expect during an initial consultation in Houston?
During your confidential initial consultation in Houston, we'll discuss your letter of intent 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 letter of intent 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

Letter of Intent Law Counsel in Houston

Our managing partner provides selective letter of intent 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