Jeffrey Scofield
Career path: Before joining Lime Rock Partners in 2005 as an associate, he worked in Houston for London-based Harrison Lovegrove LP, an internationally focused upstream A&D advisory firm. Before that, from July 2000 to August 2003, he was an analyst and associate in Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette/Credit Suisse First Boston’s energy investment banking group.
His first work experience was C&S Groundworks Inc., a landscaping business he and a friend founded and ran throughout high school and college. From this experience, he learned the vital part working capital plays in companies. Since then, he opened the London office of Lime Rock Partners before moving back to Houston, where he now primarily focuses on shale-oriented service and E&P companies.
Mentor: He considers someone who was a senior supervisor during his time in investment banking in Houston to be a mentor. Scofield said the man “took a heavy interest in the young people at the bank. He got to know us, allowed us to think on our own and generally gave us way more responsibility than we ever deserved. Over nearly 20 years, I’ve watched how he’s kept those relationships, and over time, realized he used the same approach with his business contacts to create a deep network with people centered on honesty, hard work, fair dealing and a heavy dose of humility and friendship. The way he engaged and built those relationships with people has been the most valuable lesson I’ve learned in my career.”
Today, Scofield helps manage the day-to- day operations of the Lime Rock Partners team. “The strength of our team is our core differentiator. Helping to play a role in bringing in the team that forms a key part of our leadership group, as well as our overall investment team, has been a key part of my role at Lime Rock. Our business’ only asset is its people, and having a team and culture that challenges you and drives you to perform is what defines a firm and creates your competitive advantage.”
Quotable: “The best lessons come from the worst deals, but the best student is the one who can minimize the ‘tuition’ from these bad deals.”