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About John
John Zabaneh represents and counsels clients engaged in exploration and production activities, midstream activities, oilfield services, renewable energy projects, low carbon initiatives and related new ventures, in all aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and complex commercial transactions. He has extensive experience as a corporate deal lawyer, working on an array of transactions across the energy value chain, including in the most prolific US resource plays. John regularly advises clients on a broad range of energy operational matters, governance, and overall asset development strategy and execution. He represents a diverse client base, ranging from majors to large independents, private equity funds and portfolio companies, across the energy complex.
Prior to joining Bracewell, John began his legal career as an associate in the corporate and securities group of a global law firm based in Houston. Additionally, John previously held senior in-house legal roles with Chesapeake Energy, Noble Energy and Gavilan Resources (a Blackstone portfolio company).
Experience
Recent Notable Matters
Noble Energy, Inc. — $3.225 billion acquisition of Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.*
Rosetta Resources Inc. — $3.9 billion sale to Noble Energy, Inc.*
Exxon Mobil Corporation — $700 million acquisition of independent E&P company*
Williams Partners L.P. — $12 billion restructuring drop-down transaction with The Williams Companies, Inc.*
Independent E&P company — acquisition of Texas oil and gas assets*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $130 million divestiture of assets in Permian Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $70 million divestiture of assets in Permian Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $450 million acreage trade in Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $710 million divestiture of assets in US Gulf of Mexico*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $50 million divestiture of assets in Permian Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $340 million divestiture of minerals in Permian Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $650 million divestiture of assets in Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $1.125 billion divestiture of assets in Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $300 million acquisition of assets in Permian Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $120 million in series of divestitures of assets in Eagle Ford Shale*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $270 million acreage trade in Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — $505 million divestiture of assets in Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin*
Noble Energy, Inc. — drop-down midstream transactions with Noble Midstream Partners LP*
Noble Energy, Inc. — upstream and midstream commercial agreements*
Rosetta Resources Inc. — upstream and midstream commercial agreements*
Chesapeake Energy Corp. — upstream, midstream and oilfield services commercial agreements*
Juniper Capital — portfolio company midstream commercial agreements
Jefferies Capital Partners — represented private equity fund in equity financing of Patara Oil and Gas*
Jefferies Capital Partners — represented private equity fund in equity financing of Exaro Energy*
Jefferies Capital Partners — represented private equity fund in the formation and equity financing of EagleRidge Energy*
Ziff Brothers Investments — represented private equity fund in the formation and equity financing of Legend Energy Services*
Common Resources — represented management team in the formation and private equity financing of Common Resources*
* Work completed prior to Bracewell