Who We Are
We are a boutique law firm specializing in business transactions. Our practice covers mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings and ’34 Act reporting, debt and equity financings, formation of LLC’s, 
corporations, cooperatives and joint ventures, corporate governance, general business contracts and literary rights.
We combine personalized attention and recognized expertise to facilitate your goals. Whether your needs are simple or complex, we shall see your project through from start-to-finish.
We are located in downtown Oklahoma City and since 1994 have served a wide range of clients across Oklahoma and the U.S.
Gary W. Derrick
Gary W. Derrick specializes in corporate and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, ’34 Act reporting, private equity and debt financing, venture capital financing, business formation and restructuring, corporate governance, and general business contracts. His clients are in oil and gas, technology, hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, retail and professional services.
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Professional/civic
- Chair, Oklahoma General Corporation Act Committee (1986-present) (the Committee drafted the Oklahoma General Business Corporation Act, the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act, and the Oklahoma Limited Liability Partnership Act) (recipient, Golden Gavel Award for Outstanding Committee, 1986)
- Chair, Business Associations Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association (1986-87, 2004-05)
- Delegate (Oklahoma County), Oklahoma Bar Association Annual Meeting (2007), Alternate Delegate (2006)
- American Society of Corporate Secretaries (professional organization for corporate counsels) ¾ President, Oklahoma/Arkansas Chapter (1994-95)
- Director, Young Lawyers’ Division, Oklahoma County Bar Association (1982-83)
- Fellow, Oklahoma Bar Foundation
- Chair, Oklahoma EDGE Endowment Policy Board (state fund to promote technology development and transfer) (Vice Chair, 2008-2010; Chair, 2010-present)
- Director, Oklahoma Venture Forum (2011-present)
- Chair, Constitution & Canons Committee, Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma (1999-present)
- Director, Historical Preservation, Inc. (1991-present)
Honors and Recognition
- “Best Lawyers in America” (corporate law) (since 2000)
- Chambers USA, ranked lawyer in its American’s Leading Business Lawyers (since 2004)
- Martindale-Hubbell (AV rating since 1986)
- “Who’s Who in American Law” since 1986 and “Who’s Who in America” since 1999
- OBA Earl Sneed Award for CLE, 1997
- American Jurisprudence Award, Dean’s List, Phi Delta Phi (OU College of Law)
- Blue Key, Gamma Gamma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Gilstrap Leadership Award, President’s and Dean’s Lists (OSU)
Authorship
- “Introduction: History of the General Corporation Act; Variances from Delaware Law”, “Rights, Duties, and Liabilities of Directors, Officers, and Shareholders,” and “Limited Liability Companies”, Oklahoma Business Organizations and Practice (Irving L. Faught, ed.) (Aspen, 2005)
- “New Developments in Oklahoma Business Entity Law”, University of Oklahoma Law Review (Fall 2003) (with Irving L. Faught)
- “Oklahoma Limited Liability Companies after Check-The-Box”, Oklahoma City University Law Review 643, 667 (Summer 1997)
Education
- Oklahoma State University (BA, 1976)
- University of Oklahoma (JD, 1979)
M. Courtney Briggs
M. Courtney Briggs combines her primary work as a literary agent with expertise in intellectual property, entertainment law and estates and probate. Her clients are published authors (exclusively), theatres, and a variety of small businesses and individuals.
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Professional and Civic Activities
- Leadership Oklahoma City, Graduate, Class XIX (2000-2001)
- Oklahoma Bar Association ‑ Governor (1997); Delegate (Oklahoma County) (), Alternate Delegate (1998-2001); Chair, Disaster Response and Relief Committee (1998); Chair, Young Lawyers Division (YLD), 1997; YLD Director (1995-1998) Chair, YLD Disaster Legal Assistance Comm.; Chair, YLD Long-Range Planning Comm.; Chair, Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Program; Chair, New Attorney Orientation Comm.; Vice-Chair, Women in Law Comm. (1997-2000); Member, Awards Committee, Women in Law Comm. (2000-2001); Member, AIDS Legal Resources Project Pro-Bono Panel
- Oklahoma County Bar Association ‑ Chair, Young Lawyers’ Division (1997); Chair, Community Outreach Committee (date); Chair; Awards Committee (2000); Member, Pro-bono Panel, Disaster Legal Assistance
- American Bar Association ‑ Speaker, National Affiliate Outreach Project, “Disaster Legal Assistance: The Oklahoma City Bombing Response”; Speaker, National Affiliate Outreach Project, “Oklahoma Senior Citizens Handbook”; Liaison, Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly; Co-Chairperson, Western Caucus, Young Lawyers Division; Member, Publications Committee, Young Lawyers Division; Delegate, Young Lawyers Division Assembly; Member, Sections on Intellectual Property Law; Entertainment Law; and General Practice (1995-2001)
- Board of Advocates, 1989-
- Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, National and Regional Member, Speaker (1994-2001)
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Parish Life Board Member (1997-2001)
- Junior League of Oklahoma City, Member and Committee Chair (1993-2001)
- Mental Health Association in Oklahoma County, Board Member, Committee Chair (1999-2001)
- Oklahoma City Bond Advisory Committee, Member, Ward 2 Representative (2000-2001)
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater OKC, Member and Advisory Board Member (1995-2001)
- Catholic Lawyers Guild, Member (1990-2001)
- Rose State College, Adjunct Professor (1995)
- Managing Editor, 1990-1991, Assistant Managing Editor, 1989-1990, Oklahoma Law Review
Honors
- OBA Award for Outstanding Young Lawyer (1997)
- OBA Award for Outstanding Service to the Young Lawyers Division (1995 and 1996))
- OBA Golden Gavel Award for Outstanding Committee (xxx Committee) (1998)
- Award for Outstanding Program, Ruth Bader Ginsburg American Inn of Court (1998-2001)
- Hardin Ballard Memorial Award for Outstanding Student in Appellate Advocacy
- American Jurisprudence Awards; Dean’s Honor Roll
- Academic Achievement Award
Authorship
- Note, "Securities: Statute of Limitation for 10b-5 Actions," 43 Okla. L. Rev. 391, 1990
Education and Background
- Wesleyan University (B.A., 1982)
- University of Oklahoma (J.D., with distinction, 1991)
- Admitted to bar, 1991, Oklahoma and U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
- LANGUAGES: French and Italian
Resources
We have prepared a number of forms that may be useful for Oklahoma organizations. Attorneys may download the forms and use them as examples for how a few common legal documents might be phrased.
- LLC forms
- Form of LLC operating agreement.docx
- Form of LLC operating agreement - single member.docx
- Corporation forms
- Form of certificate of incorporation.doc
- Form of bylaws.doc
We are actively engaged in continuing legal education and offer some papers that may be useful to you.
- Seminar Papers
- Gary W. Derrick, “Recent Developments in Oklahoma Business and Corporate Law ‑ 2010”” (Nov. 23, 2010)
- Gary W. Derrick, “Recent Developments in Oklahoma Business and Corporate Law ‑ 2009”” (Nov. 25, 2009)
- Gary W. Derrick, “Business Organizations for Lawyers and Law Firms” (Sept. 2009)
