King & Spalding advised Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P.,  in a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract with a joint venture comprised of Zachry Industrial, Inc., and CB&I Inc. for the engineering and design of the Freeport Liquefaction Project near Freeport, Texas.

Sidley Austin LLP today announced the opening of a Houston office, with the addition of seven partners coming from seven different firms in Houston. This is Sidley’s 18th office and represents a significant expansion of the firm’s service to energy-based clients. The mix of transactional, regulatory and litigation practices in the office mirrors the firm’s overall mix. The Houston team will work closely with firm colleagues around the globe, including the energy regulatory and environmental practices in the Washington, D.C. office.

Sidley Austin LLP today announced the opening of a Houston office, with the addition of seven partners coming from seven different firms in Houston. This is Sidley’s 18th office and represents a significant expansion of the firm’s service to energy-based clients. The mix of transactional, regulatory and litigation practices in the office mirrors the firm’s overall mix. The Houston team will work closely with firm colleagues around the globe, including the energy regulatory and environmental practices in the Washington, D.C. office.

Looper Reed & McGraw welcomes Chris Shea (Houston – Healthcare Law), Rand Lionberger (Houston – Oil & Gas Law), Rachel Crockett (Dallas – Employment Law), Jennifer Gurevitz (Dallas – Tax Law).

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP is representing U.S.-based Old World Industries, LLC and Old World Management, Inc.  in the $795 million sale of Old World Industries I, Ltd. and Old World Transportation, Ltd. to Thailand’s Indorama Ventures PCL.

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC has merged with the Houston law firm of Drucker, Rutledge & Smith, L.L.P., marking Baker Donelson’s third merger, and its second one in Texas, in less than four months.

The international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP announced that John P. McMullan has joined its Houston office as a shareholder in the Corporate & Securities Practice.

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP is representing Apache Corporation in its acquisition of Cordillera Energy Partners III LLC, a privately held company, for $2.85 billion.

Today marks the formal launch of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP’s new public finance practice, with the addition of 24 attorneys, formerly of Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Jones Walker is pleased to announce that Cortlan H. Maddux and Lauren J. Harrison have joined the firm’s Houston office. Both Mr. Maddux and Ms. Harrison will practice in the Business and Commercial Litigation Practice Group, and both were elected to partnership effective January 1, 2012.