Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC has merged with the Houston law firm of Spain Chambers, marking Baker Donelson’s entry into Texas with a major step in the Firm’s continuing strategic growth.

Thomas McCaffrey has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP’s Houston office as a partner in its energy and global transactions practice. Previously, Mr. McCaffrey was a partner in the Houston office of an international law firm.

Brian Antweil has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP’s Houston office as a partner in its litigation and alternative dispute resolution practice. Previously, Mr. Antweil was a partner in the Houston office of a mid-sized, international law firm where he led the firm’s Business Litigation South Practice Group.

Anthony F. Newton, an experienced corporate transactional attorney with a background in private middle-market energy-related transactions, has moved as a partner to Haynes and Boone, LLP as part of an expansion of the firm’s corporate and energy practices.

Noble Energy, Inc. (Noble Energy) announced today that it closed the previously announced agreement to create a joint venture partnership with CONSOL Energy, Inc. (CONSOL Energy) for the development of CONSOL Energy’s Marcellus Shale properties in southwest Pennsylvania and northwest West Virginia.  The deal was previously announced on August 18, 2011.  Porter Hedges represented Noble Energy in this transaction.  For an aggregate value of approximately $3.2 billion, Noble Energy will acquire 50% of CONSOL Energy’s Marcellus Shale interest including a 50% interest in the existing Marcellus Shale wells.  This joint venture establishes a new position for Noble Energy in the Marcellus shale.

The global law firm of Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to announce that Anna Marie Dempsey has rejoined the Firm as a Partner in its Corporate and Securities Practice Group in Houston.

Longtime corporate and securities attorney Robert Eickenroht has joined the Houston Office of Locke Lord as a Partner in its growing Corporate Energy Practice Group. Eickenroht has practiced law for more than 25 years and has a broad-based corporate securities practice focused on general corporate and partnership law, merger and acquisition transactions, joint ventures, equities and energy.

Porter Hedges represented Noble Energy, Inc. (Noble Energy) in an agreement announced today to create a joint venture partnership with CONSOL Energy, Inc (CONSOL Energy) for the development of CONSOL Energy’s Marcellus Shale properties in southwest Pennsylvania and northwest West Virginia. For an aggregate value of approximately $3.2 billion, Noble Energy will acquire 50% of CONSOL Energy’s Marcellus Shale interest including a 50% interest in the existing Marcellus Shale wells. This joint venture establishes a new position for Noble Energy in the Marcellus shale.

The highly regarded, Chambers-rated, Houston intellectual property trial firm of Slusser Wilson & Partridge, L.L.P. has joined forces with the internationally regarded firm Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Bill Slusser, Mike Wilson and Jayme Partridge have extensive jury trial experience in patent cases. Each has an engineering degree and excels at making technical issues understandable.

BHP Billiton and Petrohawk Energy Corporation (“Petrohawk”) announced late yesterday that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement for BHP Billiton to acquire Petrohawk for $38.75 per share by means of an all-cash tender offer for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Petrohawk, representing a total equity value of approximately $12.1 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $15.1 billion, including the assumption of net debt.  Morgan Lewis served as co-counsel to BHP Billiton, along with Sullivan & Cromwell.