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More than a dozen Texas-based energy M&A lawyers and investment bankers say they have personally witnessed one or more proposed deals halted during the past two weeks because of the uncertainty about the future price of crude or the drop in the stock price of one of the oil and gas companies involved in the proposed transactions.

Five decades ago, a Houston paper mill dumped tons of sludge laced with dioxin into pits near the San Jacinto River. Harris County is now asking a jury to force three corporations, including Houston-based Waste Management, to pay $1 billion in penalties for their actions.

The trial, now in week three, features some of Houston’s premier courtroom litigators, including Paula Hinton, Barrett Reasoner, Robin Gibbs and Winn Carter. They argue the companies followed all environmental laws and guidelines. The Texas Lawbook has all the details of this potential lardmark trial underway in Houston.

The two Texas companies entered two joint ventures to develop the previously announced Dakota Access Pipeline and Energy Transfer Crude Oil Pipeline.

Global investment firm KKR announced that it has invested a non-disclosed amount to become a non-operated working interest partner with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in the development of its acreage in the Eaglebine play.

The Woodlands-based Western Gas Partners, LP has agreed to acquire Houston-based Nuevo Midstream Partners, a startup midstream company that is backed by the private equity firm, EnCap Flatrock Midstream.

There is a new ticker on the NYSE: SHLX. Houston-based Shell Midstream Partners, a MLP, is expected to raise $920 million. Shell Midstream GC Lori Muratta selected Baker Botts partners Kelly Rose, Hillary Holmes and A.J. Ericksen to be its legal advisers. Vinson & Elkins partners Doug McWilliams and Gillian Hobson served as the lead legal advisers for the underwriters.

ETP’s landmark $535 million court victory over Enterprise earlier this year raises an important issue facing many Texas companies: Can companies effectively disclaim the existence of a joint venture or partnership—and the fiduciary obligations these relationships entail—or will Texas courts disregard the disclaimers and look to the parties’ course of conduct?

This article provides a thorough examination of the ETP v. Enterprise jury verdict and the impact the case is having on businesses.

Richardson-based Lennox International has obtained a $250 million short-term loan facility that was provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA and Morgan Stanley Bank, NA.