V&E Advises Targa Resources in $7.7 Billion Acquisition of Atlas

© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.By Natalie Posgate – (October 13) – Houston-based Targa Resources Partners LP and Targa Resources Corp. are acquiring Atlas Pipeline Partners, LP and its Pennsylvania-based master limited partnership, Atlas Energy, LP, for $7.7 billion. Vinson & Elkins represented Targa in the transacation, with Houston partner Christopher Collins as the lead attorney. He received assistance on M&A matters from Dallas partner Chris Schmitt, Austin associate Shaun Mathew and Houston associates Benji Barron and Thomas Zentner. Other attorneys on the deal included Houston partners Darin Schultz, Ryan Carney, Sean Becker, counsel Larry Pechacek and associates Jason Busch, Ryan Hunsaker, Leonard Wood, James Melchers, Jared Whalen and Martin Luff; Dallas partner Shane Tucker; and Washington, D.C. partner Craig Seebald and associate Kimberley Biagioli.Collins is not new to leading deals for Targa Resources. In November 2012, he led the oil and gas company’s $950 million acquisition of Saddle Butte Pipeline LLC’s Williston Basin crude oil pipeline, terminal system and natural gas gathering and processing operations. And in 2010, he and fellow Houston partner David Oelman handled Targa’s initial public offering, which according to Bloomberg and Reuters raised $360 million. In the current deal, Delaware-based Richards, Layton & Finger advised Targa’s…