The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

Jason Philyaw

CDT Roundup: LNG Assets, SPAC IPOs and Plans to Build the World’s Largest AI Factory

For the week ended March 21, the CDT Roundup saw 11 deals with a total reported value of about $7.5 billion, mostly attributable to Constellation Energy shedding some PJM assets to LS Power for $5 billion. A Houston energy services company leaped up in the supply chain, acquiring an Irving energy company and 30 turbine delivery slots; a U.K. hyperscaler bought a power company in order to build one of the world's largest AI factories in West Virginia; two blank check companies issued IPOs in search of "disruptive technology companies" and "robotics, electric vehicles, drones, unmanned aerial systems and fintech" firms. That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.

Jason Philyaw

CDT Roundup: Thirteen Deals, One Theme? Energy Still Rules

For the week ended March 14, the CDT Roundup saw 13 deals reported — same as the week prior and the same as this time last year. The reported values were different, ranging from $5.9 billion last week, down from $48.1 billion during the prior week and $13.7 billion last year. The bump in value in our last report derived from BlackRock's $33 billion take-private deal of AES. There was nothing of that magnitude this week.

There was, however, plenty of energy represented.

Jason Philyaw

Clifford Chance Taps Alexandra Wilde to Lead Houston Office

Clifford Chance named Alexandra Wilde the Office Managing Partner in Houston, as the Magic Circle law firm continues investing in the nation’s fourth-largest city.

Wilde joined the firm after more than a decade at Jones Day in Dallas, as one of the first partners in the Houston office in 2023.

Jason Philyaw

Gibson Dunn Advises Exxon As Energy Giant Looks To Reincorporate in Texas

ExxonMobil announced Tuesday that its board seeks shareholder approval to change the company’s legal permanent home to Texas from New Jersey.

Gibson Dunn advised the company with a team led by Houston partners Gerry Spedale, Hillary Holmes and Tull Florey, as well as Washington, D.C., partner Ronald Mueller. Jeff Taylor is Exxon's general counsel.

Jason Philyaw

Shell Sells Jiffy Lube to PE Firm for $1.3B

Pennzoil Quaker State, the lubricants business of Shell USA, announced Monday an agreement to sell Jiffy Lube International to an affiliate of middle-market private equity firm Monomoy Capital Partners for $1.3 billion. Kirkland & Ellis provided counsel to Monomoy. Travis Torrence is head of legal for Shell USA.

Jason Philyaw

AI Arms Race, Digital Infrastructure Revolution, Middle Market Producing M&A Super Cycle

The rapid expansion of AI is creating a “super cycle” in data centers, combining headline megadeals with a powerful but less visible middle‑market M&A surge in specialized infrastructure and services. Investors are racing to build and acquire hyperscale facilities, while private equity sponsors increasingly target mission‑critical providers in areas such as cooling, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and more to keep data centers humming around the clock. Legal advisors and their financial counterparts report increasingly sophisticated deal structures (and widely available capital) to support expansion and acquisitions.

Jason Philyaw

CDT Roundup: Biopharma, Logistics and a $33B Take-Private Power Deal

For the week ended March 7, the CDT Roundup saw 13 deals with a total reported value of about $48.1 billion. Thanks to a $33.4 billion take-private deal for yet another power provider, that's better than the 11-deal $7.3 billion clocked the week prior. And it's far better than the seven-deal $2.2 billion week reported this time last year. That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.

Jason Philyaw

Paul Weiss Adds Another Kirkland Veteran to New and Growing Houston Office

Paul Weiss is adding an energy infrastructure partner to its new Houston office as Jennifer Gasser joins the Wall Street firm’s M&A Group within the Corporate Department.

Gasser comes to the growing Paul Weiss Houston office from Kirkland & Ellis. She advises private equity sponsors and public companies in the energy and infrastructure industries on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures.

Jason Philyaw

© Copyright 2026 The Texas Lawbook
The content on this website is protected under federal Copyright laws. Any use without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.