DLA Piper announced today that Steven Bartz has joined the firm's Corporate practice as a partner in Dallas.

Bartz's practice focuses on structuring, forming and capitalizing private equity funds and portfolio companies on behalf of sponsors, investors and management teams. He also regularly represents clients in middle market mergers and acquisitions and dispositions of securities and assets.

Bartz has experience in fund formation, private equity, joint ventures and strategic alliances. He also regularly counsels asset managers, private equity sponsors and operating companies on compliance issues involving relevant regulatory considerations.

""Steve has substantial fund formation and private equity experience and relationships in the Energy sector,"" said John Gilluly, US chair of the Corporate practice and managing partner of the firm's Texas offices. ""As we continue to expand our presence in Dallas and elsewhere across the state, we are excited to welcome him, and his background and skills will deliver significant value to our clients.""

""Steve's extensive experience handling fund formations and private equity and M&A transactions will expand the scope of our robust Energy practice representing funds and their portfolio companies,"" said Jack Langlois, US co-chair of the Energy sector and managing partner of the Houston office. ""His broad understanding of the complexities of these transactions will serve our clients well, both in Dallas and beyond.""

Bartz, who joins the firm from Thompson & Knight LLP, earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law and his A.B. from Duke University.