© 2012 The Texas Lawbook.
By Mark Curriden, JD
Senior Writer for The Texas Lawbook
Houston-based Plains Exploration & Production Company announced Monday that it is buying various deepwater Gulf of Mexico oil and gas properties from BP America and BP Exploration for $5.5 billion.
Latham & Watkins corporate partner Jeffrey Munoz in Houston is the lead lawyer representing Plains.
Plains Assistant General Counsel Carolyn Bertrand of Louisiana, Plains General Counsel John Wombwell of Houston and Latham corporate partner Michael P. Darden played key roles in the transaction. Latham attorneys Stephen Szalkowski, Wesley Thoman, Christopher Bennett and Dane Johnson also worked on the deal.
“The deal came together very quickly,” says Munoz. “Once Plains was selected as the lead bidder, we were able to get everything done in about a week and a half.”
Latham has represented Plains in other major transactions, including its 2010 acquisition of shallow water assets from McMoRan Exploration for $818 million. Last August, Munoz represented Consol Energy in its $3.4 billion deal with Noble Energy.
Gardere Wynne Sewell corporate partner Douglas Eyberg of Houston led the transaction for BP America and BP Exploration. BP in-house lawyer Karen Westall and Gardere corporate partner Timothy Spear also worked on the deal.
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