Holland & Knight today announced the opening of its 22nd U.S. office in Houston, Texas. The Houston office is the firm’s third in Texas. Holland & Knight opened offices in Dallas and Austin in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Partners L. Bradley Hancock and Christopher D. Johnsen are joining the firm to establish the new office. Their practices focus on complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution. They are accompanied by associate Theresa Wanat. All were formerly with Greenberg Traurig in Houston. Mr. Hancock will serve as executive partner of the office. More >>

Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised GEP Haynesville, LLC in its $850 million acquisition of Haynesville Shale assets from indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Canada-based Encana Corporation (TSX: ECA, NYSE: ECA). The properties, which are located primarily in DeSoto and Red River Parishes, Louisiana, contain approximately 112,000 net acres and 300 operated wells in the most prolific area of the Haynesville Shale. More >>

The global law firm Dentons today named Glenn Ballard, a past president of the Houston Bar Association, as Managing Partner of the Firm’s Houston office. Ballard joins Dentons following a notable career as a litigator with another law firm for more than 30 years. More >>

The global law firm Jones Day today announced that Stephen Olson has joined the Houston Office as a partner in the Energy Practice. Formerly a partner in BakerHostetler’s Houston and New York offices, Mr. Olson will focus on energy industry M&A, private equity investments, capital markets transactions, and corporate governance matters. More >>

Hogan Lovells announced today that Maria Boyce, Jennifer Smith, and Cristina Rodriguez will be joining the Litigation and Arbitration practice group as partners in the firm’s Houston office.

“As Houstonians with global practices and perspectives, Maria, Jennifer, and Cristina are the kind of market leaders who will add to our diverse, collaborative, and client-centered team,” said Stephen Immelt, CEO of Hogan Lovells. “Houston is critical for many of our energy clients in Texas and international clients in Latin America and beyond. We welcome Maria, Jennifer, and Cristina and the ability they bring to serve clients in this important market.” More >>

Eric English has joined Porter Hedges as a partner in the Bankruptcy section of the Corporate Practice Group. Mr. English has a diverse restructuring, litigation and creditor rights practice, including the representation of debtors, secured lenders, trade creditors, and equity holders in commercial workouts, bankruptcy restructurings and disputes. He also has experience with commercial foreclosures and has represented buyers in distressed acquisition transactions. More >>

A team of Locke Lord lawyers led by Terry Radney and including Joe Perillo, Dale Smith, Hunter Summerford and Walker Clarke, provided counsel to Enterprise Products Operating, LLC (“Enterprise”) in its $2.15 billion purchase of the Eagle Ford Shale Midstream business (EFS Midstream) of Pioneer Natural Resources Company (“Pioneer”) and Reliance Holding USA, Inc. (“Reliance”). Assistant General Counsel Charlie San Miguel led the legal team at Enterprise on the deal. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and normal closing adjustments. Pioneer owns 50.1% of EFS Midstream and Reliance owns the remaining 49.9%. More >>

Hogan Lovells announced today that Jeffrey Whittle has joined its Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology practice (IPMT) as a partner in the Houston office More >>

Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Duston K. McFaul has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in both its Corporate Reorganization and Bankruptcy, and Energy practices. Mr. McFaul is an experienced restructuring lawyer with a concentrated practice built around complex business restructurings, negotiated workouts and contested proceedings. More >>