Senior Bankers
With offices in Dallas and Houston, the Energy Group takes an industry-focused approach to its investment banking services. Our transactional, client-focused experts deliver superior results.
Howard House
Managing Director – Investment Banking
Co-Head of Energy Group
Mr. House joined Raymond James & Associates as Managing Director and Co-Head of Energy Investment Banking in September 2001. Prior to that, Mr. House held senior positions in the energy investment banking groups of Lehman Brothers Inc. and Prudential Securities Inc. Mr. House began his investment banking career in 1986 as an associate with Kidder, Peabody & Company, Inc. From 1981 through 1984, he was employed by Exxon Company, USA as a petroleum engineer. During his 25 years as an energy investment banker, Mr. House has developed an extensive background in public offerings of equity and debt, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and private placements. He also has considerable experience in the design of new securities, including master limited partnerships and royalty trusts. Under his direction, Raymond James has become the industry leader in structuring and marketing royalty trusts. For its involvement in the design and placement of the ECA Marcellus Trust, Raymond James was awarded the 2010 Oil and Gas Investor Financing of the Year, The M&A Advisor 2011 Energy Deal of the Year and the ACG 2011 Energy Deal of the Year.
Mr. House holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas, where he was a Sord Scholar. He also holds a Masters of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Tulane University and a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from Lamar University. Mr. House serves as a director of the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and as a director of the Houston Producer's Forum.
Allen Lassiter
Managing Director – Investment Banking
Co-Head of Energy Group
Mr. Lassiter, who joined Raymond James & Associates in 1994, has more than 25 years of investment banking experience, including an extensive background in public offerings of equity and debt securities, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions. Earlier, he served as a managing director at Kemper Securities, where he was responsible for the management of investment banking in the Southwest and as managing director and co-head of the Smith Barney Energy Group.
Mr. Lassiter was a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina, where he received a Bachelor of Arts. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Michael Ames
Managing Director – Investment Banking
Exploration & Production
Mr. Ames joined the Raymond James & Associates Energy Group in September 2001 and has over 20 years of investment banking experience. Prior to joining Raymond James, Mr. Ames was in the energy group at Prudential Securities where he specialized in the exploration and production and oilfield services sectors. Prior to Prudential Securities, Mr. Ames also worked in the corporate finance departments at Merrill Lynch Capital Markets, Shearson Lehman Hutton and Stephens Inc.
Mr. Ames graduated with honors earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas.
Mark Huhndorff
Managing Director – Investment Banking
Midstream, Coal and Alternative Energy
Mr. Huhndorff joined the Dallas office of Raymond James & Associates in 1997. Previously, he was a process specialist with BetzDearborn where he developed and sold chemical treatment programs in the petroleum refining industry. Mr. Huhndorff also served four years in the space systems division of the United States Air Force, and was honorably discharged as a captain. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan, and he holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Scott McNeill
Managing Director – Investment Banking
Oilfield Service
Mr. McNeill joined Raymond James & Associates in 1998 after earning his MBA, with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin. He was employed as a summer associate with Raymond James in 1997. Prior to joining Raymond James, Mr. McNeill worked in the Dallas office of Arthur Andersen in the enterprise group focusing on middle-market companies. Mr. McNeill holds a BBA in accounting with a concentration in information systems from Baylor University and is licensed as a certified public accountant.
Christopher J. Simon
Managing Director – Investment Banking
Head of Asset Acquisitions & Divestitures
Mr. Simon joined Raymond James & Associates as Managing Director and Head of Asset Acquisitions & Divestitures in April 2009. Earlier, he served as managing director of acquisitions & divestitures and was a member of the board of directors at Tristone Capital. Mr. Simon also held senior positions at Petroleum Place Energy Advisors, JMI Energy, Inc. and Destec Energy, Inc. He began his career as a petroleum engineer at ARCO Oil and Gas Company.
Mr. Simon holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas and a Bachelor of Science in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University.
Chip Van Os
Managing Director – Investment Banking
Exploration & Production
Mr. Van Os joined the Raymond James & Associates Energy Group in September 2010 and is focused on the E&P sector. Mr. Van Os has been an energy investment banker for over twelve years and has significant experience executing M&A, equity and debt transactions for E&P, oilfield service and midstream companies. Prior to joining Raymond James & Associates, Mr. Van Os was an Executive Director in the Energy Group at UBS Investment Bank, where he worked for seven years. Prior to UBS, Mr. Van Os worked for the Energy Groups of Credit Suisse First Boston and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.
Mr. Van Os earned a B.B.A. in accounting from Southern Methodist University and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas.