Will Franklin

Will Franklin is the founder of Liberty FortyFive, a family-office investment platform focused on investing, strategic advisory work, and policy engagement. After retiring from Lime Rock Partners in 2024, he now concentrates on business leadership, public policy, and philanthropic initiatives that promote economic opportunity, individual liberty, and long-term prosperity.

Prior to founding Liberty FortyFive, Will spent nearly three decades investing in and advising energy companies. He served as a Managing Director and Investment Committee Member of Lime Rock Partners, a leading energy-focused private equity firm, where he helped deploy capital across the global energy sector and served on the boards of numerous private and public companies. Most recently, he served as Chairman of Shelf Drilling, an international offshore drilling contractor operating across multiple continents.

In 2022, Will was a candidate for the Texas House of Representatives, reflecting his belief that citizens should be willing to step into the public arena. Today, he remains active in business, civic, educational, and charitable organizations, with a particular interest in energy policy, economic growth, and American competitiveness.