James Robertson advises clients on sophisticated US and international energy transactions.

James represents exploration and production companies, midstream companies, private equity clients, and financial institutions in complex transactions across the energy sector, including:

  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Divestitures
  • Joint ventures
  • Project development
  • Private equity investments

James’ experience includes representing:

Upstream and Midstream M&A

  • Pioneer Natural Resources in its acquisition of DoublePoint Energy, valued at about US$6.4 billion*
  • Reliance Marcellus in its divestiture of its Marcellus shale assets to Northern Oil and Gas, valued at about US$250 million*
  • Pioneer Natural Resources Company in its all-stock acquisition of Parsley Energy, valued at about US$7.6 billion*
  • Leading petroleum company in its US$2.3 billion sale of its Eagle Ford assets to Sanchez Energy and Blackstone Energy Partners*
  • Enduring Resources in its US$2.5 billion sale of its Permian business unit to American Energy*
  • A large public exploration and production company in the acquisition of substantially all the assets of a private equity-backed exploration and production company for US$1.2 billion in cash and stock*
  • Reliance Holding USA in its US$2.15 billion sale to Enterprise Products Partners*
  • Newfield Exploration in its US$390 million sale to Protégé Energy of its Eagle Ford and South Texas assets*
  • Lonestar Resources US in its US$38.7 million acquisition of Eagle Ford assets from Sabine Oil & Gas and Alerion Gas AXA*
  • A private equity firm and upstream portfolio company in its US$78.5 million divestiture of non-operating Eagle Ford assets to a public exploration and production company*
  • An independent E&P company in its divestiture of a produced water disposal business in the Permian Basin*
  • Midstream LNG company in its divestiture of natural gas gathering and processing assets in Texas*
  • A newly formed and private equity-backed exploration and production company in its US$400 million acquisition of substantially all the assets of a private equity-backed portfolio company*
  • An ad hoc group of unsecured noteholders in its formation of a new exploration and production company and acquisition of the Permian Basin assets of Breitburn Energy Partners in its US$3.6 billion restructuring*
  • A private equity fund in its acquisition of, and subsequent joint sale to SM Energy of, oil and gas assets in Howard and Martin counties, Texas, for US$1.6 billion*
  • Bold Energy III in its combination with Earthstone Energy*
  • Leading private markets asset management firm in its US$1.6 billion acquisition of Centennial Resource Development*
  • Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas in its US$1.8 billion acquisition of the Deepwater assets in the Gulf of Mexico from Apache Corporation*
  • A private equity company in its acquisition of interests in 28 deepwater Gulf of Mexico leases and structuring, negotiating and implementing a participation agreement calling for a minimum expenditure of US$600 million and a management services agreement*
  • Energy Transfer Equity in its US$1 billion acquisition of Trunkline LNG Company, a provider of bulk storage and regasification of liquefied natural gas*
  • EXCO Resources in its US$1 billion acquisition of the Northern Eagle Ford and Haynesville Shale assets in Texas and Louisiana owned by Chesapeake Energy*
  • EXCO Resources in its US$131 million acquisition of conventional oil and natural gas assets in East Texas and North Louisiana from a BG Group affiliate*
  • Triangle Petroleum in its US$120 million acquisition of Williston Basin oil and gas producing properties in North Dakota and Montana*
  • Rosetta Resources in its US$85 million acquisition of Delaware Basin assets*
  • Rosetta Resources in its US$3.9 billion sale to Noble Energy*
  • A public oil and gas company in a simultaneous like-kind exchange of producing oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin*
  • A public oil and gas company in a reverse like-kind exchange comprising multiple divestitures and acquisitions*
  • A private oil and gas company in a reverse like-kind exchange of producing oil and gas property*
  • Trilantic Capital Partners IV in its investment in a newly formed oil and gas exploration and production company*
  • A private equity company in its acquisition of 160,000 acres in South Texas from a private exploration and production company*
  • A private upstream exploration and production company in its formation of a partnership with a private equity firm*

Upstream and Midstream Joint Ventures

  • International energy and chemical company in a US$1.5 billion upstream joint venture with an Ecopetrol SA subsidiary covering 97,000 net acres in the Midland Basin*
  • EOG Resources in its US$400 million “drillco” joint venture with The Carlyle Group to fund the development of EOG oil and gas assets in Oklahoma*
  • Oil & gas service company in its Deep Water Gulf of Mexico joint venture with a multinational energy company*
  • Electric and gas service provider in its formation of a US$2 billion natural gas pipeline and storage joint venture with Crestwood Equity Partners*
  • CONSOL Energy in its separation of its Marcellus/Utica joint venture with Noble Energy*
  • Leading private markets asset management firm in its Gulf of Mexico joint venture with Ridgewood Energy*
  • Continental Resources in its US$360 million joint venture with SK E&S Co. for 49.9% stake in undeveloped acreage of Woodford natural gas property*
  • Swift Energy Operating in its US$175 million joint venture with PT Saka Energi Indonesia for 36% stake in undeveloped acreage of Eagle Ford property*
  • EXCO Resources in its US$131 million joint venture with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for 50% stake in undeveloped acreage of Eagle Ford property*

Other Strategic Transactions

  • Infrastructure investment firm in a US$810 million reorganization and recapitalization of its midstream portfolio company in connection with a preferred equity investment and new term loan facility*
  • A public oilfield services company in the sale of its water handling and disposal business unit*
  • A private oilfield cementing and acidizing company in its US$84 million sale to a publicly traded oilfield services company*
  • A private crude oil logistics company in the sale of its oil marketing, transportation, and water disposal businesses*
  • A private well-treatment company in its sale to a publicly traded oilfield services company*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • Texas

Education

  • J.D., SMU Dedman School of Law, 2010
    magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • BS, University of Texas at Dallas, 2007
    cum laude