Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm, announced today that it is representing Sinochem Petroleum USA LLC, a US subsidiary of the Beijing-based Sinochem Group, on a $1.7 billion transaction to purchase a 40% undivided interest in approximately 207,000 net oil and natural gas leasehold acres held by Pioneer Natural Resources Company in the highly prospective horizontal Wolfcamp shale play within the Spraberry Trend of the Midland Basin in west Texas. Under the agreement, Sinochem will acquire approximately 82,800 net acres of leasehold with development rights for all the horizontal Wolfcamp shale play and deeper horizons.

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Bracewell & Giuliani LLP announced that Jeffrey B. Andrews has joined the firm as a partner in the technology practice in Houston. Andrews’ practice focuses on the highly specialized fields of outsourcing, sourcing and technology transactions, and his clients span a wide range of industries, including energy, financial services, consumer products, retail, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, commercial aviation, and telecommunications.

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Bracewell & Giuliani LLP is representing Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: KMP) in its announced agreement to acquire Copano Energy, L.L.C. (NASDAQ: CPNO), a midstream natural gas company with operations primarily in Texas, Oklahoma and Wyoming. KMP will acquire all of Copano’s outstanding units for a total purchase price of approximately $5 billion, including the assumption of debt. The transaction will be a 100 percent unit for unit transaction with an exchange ratio of 0.4563 KMP units per Copano unit.

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In a noteworthy capital markets transaction, law firm BakerHostetler has advised CO2 enhanced oil recovery leader Denbury Resources in a $1.2 billion debt offering. The 10 ½ -year, senior subordinated notes were priced to yield 4.625 – according to the underwriters, that represents the lowest yield on record for a non-investment grade subordinated notes offering. The sale is expected to close on February 5.

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Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm, announced that William T. Heller IV and Harry R. Beaudry have joined the firm as partners in its Corporate & Securities practice in Houston. Previously, Mr. Heller and Mr. Beaudry were partners at Thompson & Knight.

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Jackson Walker is representing Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. in its deal to acquire Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. On Dec. 11, 2012, the two companies announced that they have reached a definitive merger agreement for Pernix to acquire Somaxon in a stock-for-stock transaction with a total equity value of $25 million. The acquisition, which is expected to close in the first quarter, is subject to shareholder approval and the satisfaction of other terms and conditions.

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Bracewell is representing Evercore Partners, advisor to the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of the general partner of Rose Rock Midstream, L.P., regarding Rose Rock Midstream’s acquisition of a 33.3% interest in SemCrude Pipeline, L.L.C. – which owns 51% of the White Cliffs Pipeline – from SemGroup Corporation for $273.9 million.

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National law firm Wilson Elser is pleased to announce that Houston law firm Powers & Frost, LLP has joined the Am Law 100 firm, nearly doubling the number of attorneys in its Houston office.

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Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm, announced that Bill Hart Jr. has joined the firm in Houston as a partner in the Banking & Finance practice. Previously, he was a partner with Baker Botts in Houston.

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Morgan Lewis announced today that Ryan McConnell, a former assistant U.S. attorney, will join the firm as a partner in its Litigation practice, resident in the firm’s Houston office. His arrival continues the firm’s recent growth of its White Collar practice, following the arrival of George Terwilliger, Daniel Levin, Matthew Miner, and Robert J. Bittman in Washington, D.C.

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