W. Creighton Smith
Every deal is unique and presents its own set of issues and challenges. Each side has its objectives, and we work creatively—in the relative freedom of the private investment space—to bridge gaps and help bring parties together to a mutually beneficial conclusion. We gain a working knowledge of our client’s business and priorities and bring that insight to the next deal they’re involved in. W. Creighton Smith advises clients on a broad range of private investment transactions, including private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, line of equity investments, and general corporate matters. These clients include private equity funds, their portfolio companies, public and private companies, management teams and high-net-worth individuals.
Creighton has represented clients in a variety of industries and a number of different sectors in energy, including exploration and production, midstream, oilfield services, renewable energy, power generation, shipping and chemicals.
Experience Highlights
Outrigger Energy in its sale of Outrigger Delaware Operating, Outrigger Southern Delaware Operating and Outrigger Midland Operating to Targa Resources Partners for up to $1.5 billion
Vantage Energy in its $2.7 billion sale to Rice Energy
Enbridge Energy Partners in a $2.6 billion joint venture with Marathon Petroleum Corporation to construct the Sandpiper pipeline project, an approximately 610-mile interstate crude oil pipeline originating in North Dakota
The Blackstone Group in the $800 million line of equity commitment to Tamarind Energy, a new exploration and production company focused on South East Asia oil and gas exploration and development
TapStone Energy and its CEO in a $500 million line of equity commitment to the company by GSO Capital Partners
Avista Capital Partners in its $106 million divesture of its interest in SEA-Vista, a joint venture between SEACOR Holdings and Avista
Outrigger Energy II, LLC in its equity commitments from NGP Partners and Flatirons IV LLC
Talara Capital Management in the $108 million sale of its portfolio company Lighthouse Oil & Gas, LP to White Star Petroleum
Talara Capital Management in its $75 million line of equity commitment to Crescent Pass Energy Holdings
Clean Line Energy Partners, a developer of renewable energy transmission projects, in the $50 million equity investment in the company by Bluescape Resources
Lime Rock Partners in the $118.5 million line of equity commitment to Battlecat Oil & Gas, an exploration and production company focused on South Texas
TPG Capital in the $330 million line of equity commitment to Caelus Energy Partners, an oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused on properties in the Asia Pacific region
Avista Capital Partners in its $150 million investment in a joint venture with SEACOR Tankers to operate and construct Jones Act vessels
The CEO of Endeavor Energy Holdings in the $100 million formation of the company, focused on thermal and hydroelectric power projects in Africa, and a line of equity commitment by Denham Capital
Lime Rock Partners in the formation of Shelf Drilling International Holdings Ltd., a joint venture with Castle Harlan and CHAMP, which acquired 38 shallow water drilling rigs from Transocean for $1.05 billion
Lime Rock Partners in its $100 million line of equity commitment to Endurance Resources Holdings, an exploration and production company focused on the Bone Spring oil play in New Mexico
A water supply and services company in its JV formation and related acquisition of certain real property and water rights and the assets of a water services company
Petro Harvester Oil & Gas, LLC in its combination with White Marlin Energy Partners to form Rockall Energy, LLC
Lime Rock Partners in the acquisition of a majority equity interest in KSW Environmental from Dupré Energy Services
TPG Capital in the $979 million acquisition of Ashland Inc.’s global chemical distribution business
Triangle Petroleum in the $180 million formation of Caliber Midstream, a joint venture with First Reserve Corporation’s Energy Infrastructure Fund to provide midstream pipeline services for oil, natural gas, and water in North Dakota and Montana
Enbridge Energy Company in a $650 million joint venture with Marathon Petroleum to construct the Southern Access Extension Pipeline, a 167-mile pipeline that will transport crude oil from Enbridge’s Flanagan Terminal near Pontiac, Illinois, to an existing crude oil terminal near Patoka, Illinois
Oil States International in its $650 million acquisition of The MAC Services Group, a publicly traded Australia-based operator of remote-area mining accommodations
Edge Oilfield Services and Summit Oilfield Services in their $300 million sale to Key Energy Services
Express Energy Services in its $635 million sale to Macquarie Group, Wachovia Capital Partners, and management
Credentials
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. cum laude, 1997
- Princeton University, A.B., Economics cum laude, 1994
- Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A (Texas), “Up and Coming”, 2016 and 2017
- Legal 500 U.S., Energy Transactions, 2017 and 2018
- IFLR1000, 2020 and 2021
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), Mergers & Acquisitions Law (Houston), 2022
- Member: American Bar Association; Houston Bar Association
- Texas
- Deals & CasesOctober 4, 2021
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- IFLR1000 2021 Recognizes Vinson & Elkins in 21 Practice Categories, Recommends 52 Individual LawyersRankings & AwardsAugust 25, 2021
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- Rankings & AwardsOctober 2, 2020
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- V&E+March 13, 2020
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- Deals & CasesAugust 5, 2019
- Deals & CasesJuly 25, 2018