Phelps Dunbar LLP Logo
  • Services
  • Insights
  • Professionals
Phelps Dunbar LLP Logo
  • Services
  • Insights
  • Professionals
  • ABOUT US
  • LOCATIONS
  • SUSTAINABILITY
  • CAREERS
  • Practices
  • Industries
    Richard Matheny photograph

    Richard E. Matheny

    Senior Partner

    Baton Rouge
    225-376-0210
    richard.matheny@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    BusinessTaxBankruptcy and Reorganization

    Richard Matheny practices in the areas of tax, public utilities and electric power, energy, corporate and securities, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, and general business matters. He represents clients in mergers and acquisitions of financial institutions, electric utilities and other businesses, representing both buyers and sellers.

    Mr. Matheny served as an active duty officer in the U.S. Air Force, is a certified public accountant (inactive) and was a senior tax manager with the international accounting firm of Ernst & Whinney, a predecessor of Ernst & Young.

    Experience

    • More than 40 years of experience representing individual and business taxpayers in federal, state and local tax matters, including tax controversies.
    • Tax counsel or securities counsel in numerous private placements of investment interests in real estate, oil and gas exploration, research and development and other business projects.
    • Advised individual clients in estate and gift tax planning, particularly with regard to interests in closely held business entities.
    • Advised individuals and businesses on the federal, state and local tax consequences of making, exiting and restructuring investments.
    • Bankruptcy counsel to both debtors and creditors in matters involving reorganizations, rejections and renegotiations of executory contracts, confirmation or rejection of plans of reorganization, settlement of federal, state and local tax liabilities of debtors and bankruptcy litigation.
    • Counsel to electric utility on renewable energy policy and investments including fuel cell, biomass, geothermal, solar, syngas, wind and the negotiation of related university research and development contracts.
    • Special counsel to independent directors in the roll-up and going public transaction of a privately held oilfield services company and its affiliates.
    • Louisiana counsel to utility constructing coal-fired generating plant, including administration of EPC contract.
    • Transaction counsel to utility company in purchases and sales of electric power plants.
    • Counsel in mineral interest transactions representing owners in some transactions and acquirers in others.
    • Counsel in energy operating agreements representing operators in some transactions and investors in others.
    • Transaction counsel in numerous merger and acquisition transactions, including asset sales and stock sales, representing buyers in some transactions and owners in others.
    • Negotiation and drafting of industrial contracts representing owners in some transactions and contractors or vendors in others, including EPC agreements, subcontracts, joint operating agreements, fuel supply agreements, feedstock supply agreements, and marine construction contracts.
    • Counsel to electric utility on renewable energy policy and investments including fuel cell, biomass, geothermal, solar, syngas, wind and the negotiation of related university research and development contracts.
    • Special counsel to independent directors in the roll-up and going public transaction of a privately held oilfield services company and its affiliates.
    • Louisiana counsel to utility constructing coal-fired generating plant, including administration of EPC contract.
    • Transaction counsel to utility company in purchases and sales of electric power plants.
    • Counsel in mineral interest transactions representing owners in some transactions and acquirers in others.
    • Counsel in energy operating agreements representing operators in some transactions and investors in others.
    • Transaction counsel in numerous merger and acquisition transactions, including asset sales and stock sales, representing buyers in some transactions and owners in others.
    • Negotiation and drafting of industrial contracts representing owners in some transactions and contractors or vendors in others, including EPC agreements, subcontracts, joint operating agreements, fuel supply agreements, feedstock supply agreements, and marine construction contracts.

    Insights

    • August 15, 2024

      185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List…

    • August 17, 2023

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    Recognition

    • Louisiana State University’s E. J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction (2009)
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Tax Law (2013-2025), "Lawyer of the Year" Tax Law (2016, 2018), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Louisiana Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2007-2013)
    • Board Certified Tax Law Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization
    • Louisiana State University’s E. J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction (2009)
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Tax Law (2013-2025), "Lawyer of the Year" Tax Law (2016, 2018), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Louisiana Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2007-2013)
    • Board Certified Tax Law Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization

    Education

    • Louisiana State University Law Center, J.D., 1979
    • Louisiana Tech University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1968
    • Louisiana State University Law Center, J.D., 1979
    • Louisiana Tech University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1968

    Credentials

    • Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
    • U.S. Tax Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
    • U.S. Tax Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

    Memberships and Affiliations

    • Louisiana State Bar Association (Former Chair, Tax Section)
    • Baton Rouge Bar Association
    • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
    • Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants
    • Louisiana State Bar Association Board of Legal Specialization (Tax Advisory Committee, 2006-2010)
    • Louisiana State Bar Association (Former Chair, Tax Section)
    • Baton Rouge Bar Association
    • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
    • Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants
    • Louisiana State Bar Association Board of Legal Specialization (Tax Advisory Committee, 2006-2010)
    • Overview
    • Experience
    • Insights
    • Recognition
    • Education
    • Credentials
    • Memberships and Affiliations

    Related Services

    • Business
    • Tax
    • Bankruptcy and Reorganization
    • Corporate and Securities
    • Energy
    • Wholesale Power and Regulated Utilities
    Stay connectedReceive our latest thinking on topics you care about.SIGN UP NOW
    • ©2025 Phelps Dunbar LLP. All Rights Reserved
    • Lawyer Advertising
    • Privacy & Disclaimer
    • Contact Us
    © 2025 Phelps Dunbar LLP. All Rights Reserved