Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP advised Genesis Energy, L.P. in its private placement of $350 million of 5.75 percent senior unsecured notes due in 2021, up from the previously announced aggregate principal amount of $300 million. The deal closed on February 8.

More >>

Morgan Lewis today announced that Christopher B. Amandes will join the firm’s Environmental Practice, resident in Houston. Amandes, most recently a partner at Vinson & Elkins, has more than two decades of experience with environmental laws, both at the federal level and in Texas, as well as with agency regulations and policies affecting the petrochemical, refining, power generation, manufacturing, natural resources, and real estate industries.

More >>

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is expanding its presence in The Lone Star State with the opening of its second Houston location. The new office will be located in The Woodlands and will serve the firm’s U.S. and international energy clients.

More >>

National law firm Chamberlain Hrdlicka announced the addition of three highly regarded bankruptcy attorneys to the firm’s Houston office. Shareholder Brian Kilmer and Associates Renee Bayer and Brian Roman joined the firm effective Feb. 1.

More >>

Bracewell represented Evercore Partners, advisor to the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of the general partner of Hi-Crush Partners LP, regarding Hi-Crush Partners’ acquisition of a preferred ownership interest in Hi-Crush Augusta LLC from Hi-Crush Proppants LLC for $37.5 million in cash and 3.75 million of newly issued convertible Class B units in Hi-Crush Partners.

More >>

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.

More >>

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.

More >>

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.

More >>

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.

More >>

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.

More >>