Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Robert G. Stephens has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in the Global Finance and Energy practices. He will have a leadership role in the Finance practice in Houston. Mr. Stephens is a highly regarded finance and energy lawyer whose practice is principally focused on structured energy transactions, including secured financings and derivatives transactions and energy asset acquisitions. More >>

Regency Energy Partners LP (NYSE: RGP) and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) announced a definitive agreement under which Regency and Energy Transfer Partners will combine in a unit-for-unit transaction plus a one-time cash payment to Regency unitholders that collectively implies a value for Regency of approximately $18.0 billion, including the assumption of net debt of $6.8 billion. More >>

Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm represented J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., RBS Securities Inc. and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent, in connection with a $3 billion revolving credit facility and a $2 billion 364-Day revolving credit facility for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. More >>

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that John Adkins has joined the Firm as a Partner in the Finance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy group. Mr. Adkins represents clients in business transactions, including banking, real estate, and corporate matters. He is based in the Firm’s Houston office.

“With Houston’s continued expansion as a hub of economic growth and opportunity, John’s experience working with local businesses and financial institutions will be an excellent complement to our expanding Houston office and the Firm,” said Alan J. Hoffman, Chairman and Managing Partner. “As a former general counsel, John also brings valuable perspective that will enhance our ongoing commitment to excellence in client service.” More >>

Bruce “Chip” Morris joins Kane Russell Coleman & Logan PC (KRCL) in the Houston office. Chip brings over 20 years of experience successfully representing and counseling clients on a wide range of commercial and intellectual property matters. More >>

Simpson Thacher represented the lenders, led by MUFG Union Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in connection with Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s (NYSE: CHK) five-year, $4 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The new facility replaces the existing $4 billion senior secured revolving credit facility that was scheduled to mature in December 2015. The aggregate commitments may be increased up to an additional $1 billion, and the new credit agreement matures December 15, 2019 with two one-year extension options, which are subject to lender approval and certain customary provisions. More >>

King & Spalding advised Sasol Chemicals (USA) LLC in the development of an engineering, procurement and construction management contract with Fluor and Technip for a world-scale petrochemical complex near Lake Charles, Louisiana. King & Spalding also is advising Sasol on a suite of local and international engineering and construction contracts for the project. More >>

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP announced today that nine trial lawyers, with diverse civil litigation backgrounds, will join the firm’s Houston office. The attorneys will start at the firm on January 5. Their arrival continues the firm’s expansion in Houston and strengthens Vorys nationally recognized litigation and energy groups.

Dick Schwartz, Monica Oathout, David Finck, Phillip Bechter, Steve Rech and Heather Kabele will join Vorys as partners. Jim Marrow will join as of counsel, and Mark Merrell and Jim Barnish come to the firm as associates. All nine lawyers most recently practiced law at Schwartz, Junell, Greenberg & Oathout LLP in Houston. More >>