• Subscribe
  • Log In
  • Sign up for email updates
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

  • Appellate
  • Bankruptcy
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Deal Tracker
  • GCs/Corp. Legal Depts.
  • Firm Management
  • White-Collar/Regulatory
  • Pro Bono/Public Service/D&I

Orrick and Gibson Dunn Advise on $2B NOVA Chemicals-Williams Deal

April 18, 2017 Mark Curriden

© 2017 The Texas Lawbook.

By Natalie Posgate

(April 18) – Calgary-based NOVA Chemicals Corp. said Monday that it will purchase Tulsa-based Williams Partners’ 88.5 percent ownership interest in a Gulf Coast petrochemical facility for $2.1 billion.

The assets include Williams Partners’ stake in the Geismar, Louisiana olefins plant, 525 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the plant and Williams Partners’ interest in the Ethylene Trading Hub in Mt. Belvieu, Texas.

Jonathan Ayre

NOVA Chemicals turned to a group of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe attorneys to handle its end of the transaction. The deal team was led by two Houston attorneys, partner Jonathan Ayre and associate Puja Parekh, as well as an attorney in the firm’s San Francisco office. Other Houston attorneys on the deal were energy partner Darrell Thomas and energy associates Mason Harry and Andrea Memovic. Attorneys from the firm’s San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C. offices were also involved.

Orrick has represented NOVA in a number of joint ventures, acquisitions and capital markets financings for more than 25 years.

Williams Partners turned to a primarily non-Texas-based team from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, but the deal team included Dallas corporate associates Needhi Vasavada and Paige Lager.

In 2015, Gibson Dunn represented Williams in both of its proposed mergers with Energy Transfer Equity ($38 billion) and Williams Partners ($14 billion).

Closing of the NOVA-Williams transaction, anticipated for this summer, is subject to regulatory approvals and financing conditions.

© 2017 The Texas Lawbook. Content of The Texas Lawbook is controlled and protected by specific licensing agreements with our subscribers and under federal copyright laws. Any distribution of this content without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.

If you see any inaccuracy in any article in The Texas Lawbook, please contact us. Our goal is content that is 100% true and accurate. Thank you.

Mark Curriden

Mark Curriden is a lawyer/journalist and founder of The Texas Lawbook. In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Dallas Morning News.

View Mark’s articles

Email Mark

©2025 The Texas Lawbook.

Content of The Texas Lawbook is controlled and protected by specific licensing agreements with our subscribers and under federal copyright laws. Any distribution of this content without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.

If you see any inaccuracy in any article in The Texas Lawbook, please contact us. Our goal is content that is 100% true and accurate. Thank you.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Stories

  • Hearing in Merit Street Media Case Premiered Tuesday 
  • Judge Halts Construction of Natural Gas Pipeline, Compressor Station in Conroe
  • San Antonio Utility Buys Four Natural Gas Plants for $1.4B
  • Litigation Roundup: Lawyer Notches Fifth Circ. Win in Long-running Feud with Former Firm
  • New GE Vernova GC Dionne Hamilton: ‘We’re Working to Make the World a Better Place’

Footer

Who We Are

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Submit a News Tip

Stay Connected

  • Sign up for email updates
  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Premium Subscriber Editorial Calendar

Our Partners

  • The Dallas Morning News
The Texas Lawbook logo

1409 Botham Jean Blvd.
Unit 811
Dallas, TX 75215

214.232.6783

© Copyright 2025 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.