- People
- Practices
- Antitrust/Competition
- Intellectual Property
- Broker-Dealer and Market Regulation
- Internal Investigations
- Climate Change
- International Practice
- Corporate and Securities
- Labor and Employment
- Educational Institutions
- Litigation
- Energy
- Private Investment Funds
- Environmental Strategies
- Real Estate and Projects
- Finance
- Strategic Communications
- Financial Institutions
- Tax
- Financial Restructuring
- Technology
- Government
- White Collar Defense
- News & Publications
- Rankings & Awards
- Events
- Blogs
Corporate/M&A
Chambers and Partners USA
Nationwide Corporate/M&A (Highly Regarded)
New York Corporate/M&A (Highly Regarded)
According to Chambers USA 2011:
Nationwide
THE FIRM Bracewell & Giuliani is highly regarded in both New York and its native Houston. The firm's strengths lie in capital markets and M&A deals that involve the energy industry, and the team offers particular expertise in MLP transactions. Distressed work has been a big focus for the firm recently. Recent highlights have included representing Apache in its $7 billion acquisition of BP's oil and gas operations, acreage and infrastructure in west Texas, New Mexico, Egypt and Canada. Other clients include Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and Chesapeake Energy.
Sources say: "Bracewell lawyers are very thoughtful and prepared in anything they do. They all think five steps ahead, so they rarely if ever get caught off guard."
KEY INDIVIDUALS Alan Rafte and Gregory Bopp, both based in Houston, are the key contacts.
New York
THE FIRM Bracewell & Giuliani has a strong reputation for distressed acquisitions, especially on behalf of substantial quantity private equity and hedge funds. The team frequently represents MatlinPatterson, and recently acted for the private equity fund in its acquisition through its affiliated funds of more than 30% equity interested in land development company Crescent Resources. Other clients include Monarch Alternative Capital and Firebird Management.
Sources say: "The partners here are excellent in taking control of projects. You really know you are going to get that high level of attention."
KEY INDIVIDUALS Robb Tretter is the key contact at the group.
Texas
THE FIRM Energy transactions dominate the deal list at this Texas firm. The team's 125 lawyers are recognized for their strength in capital markets and in representing MLPs. Highlights of the past year have included representing Apache in a $7 billion acquisition of oil and gas assets from BP, and $3.6 billion related capital markets offerings. Other clients include Kinder Morgan, Chesapeake Energy and Western Gas.
Sources say: "Bracewell is responsive and easy to work with. The firm was understanding of our needs during the difficult economy, which means it is certainly first on the list when work arises."
KEY INDIVIDUALS Gregory Bopp is co-head of the firm's corporate and securities department. He specializes in deals involving MLPs, recently representing Kinder Morgan in its purchase of a 50% interest in Petrohawk Energy's natural gas gathering and treating business. Gary Orloff works in M&A and capital markets, having recently represented Kinder Morgan in a range of capital markets transactions and assisted Western Gas in the acquisition of midstream assets from Anadarko. Michael Telle "is easy to work with and always available - knowing I can get someone to handle something at any time is a big plus." Telle works solely on energy matters, recently handling transactions for Key Energy and Chesapeake Energy. Senior statesman Edgar Marston has 40 years' experience in acquisitions, business combinations, divestitures and securities offerings. Market sources say that Marston is "an iconic figure who works exceptionally hard."
Legal 500
According to Legal 500 2011:
In addition to transactional lawyers with capital markets and M&A experience, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP’s tax, environmental, finance, and energy regulation attorneys are an integral part to its M&A team. Highlights included advising MatlinPatterson Global Advisers in connection with its $725m bid to acquire substantially all of the assets of Nortel Networks Corporation relating to its CDMA/LTE business via the Chapter 11 process, assisting Denham Capital in the sale of its participation in the Marcellus shale in northeastern Pennsylvania through the transfer to Williams of approximately 42,000 net acres acquired in partnership with Alta Resources, and representing the special committee of the board of directors of Western Gas Holdings in two acquisitions of certain midstream assets from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. In the sub-$500m part of the market, the team represented Key Energy Services in its proposed sale of its pressure pumping and wire line businesses to Patterson-UTI for approximately $256.7m. The practice has also expanded its capacity in large $1bn-plus transactions, while in mega-deal matters, Apache Corporation was assisted in its $7bn acquisition of BP’s oil and gas operations, acreage and infrastructure in the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico and in Egypt’s Western Desert, as well as BP’s upstream natural gas business in western Alberta and British Columbia. Houston partner Gregory Bopp is a key contact. Dallas partner Sanford Brown is “good to have on your side.”
