Craig E. Zieminski

Obtained post-trial opinion permitting Energy Transfer Equity, LP to terminate merger agreement with The Williams Companies based on failure of condition precedent relating to the provision of a tax opinion; the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the decision. The Williams Companies, Inc. v. Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., 2016 WL 3576682 (Del. Ch. June 24, 2016), aff’d, 159 A.3d 264 (Del. 2017)

Secured reversal of an injunction issued by the Delaware Court of Chancery against an oilfield services company and its directors in a fiduciary duty lawsuit; the Court of Chancery subsequently granted defendants’ motion to dismiss and denied plaintiff’s motion for fees, and the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal.  C&J Energy Services, Inc. v. City of Miami Retirement Trust, 107 A.3d 1049 (Del. 2014), on remand, 2016 WL 4464274 (Del. Ch. Aug. 24, 2016), aff’d, 158 A.3d 885 (Del. 2017)

Obtained take-nothing post-trial judgment in a class action lawsuit challenging a midstream energy company’s securities issuance in the Delaware Court of Chancery; the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the decision. In re Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. Unitholder Litig., 2018 WL 2254706 (Del. Ch. May 17, 2018), aff’d, 223 A.3d 97 (Del. 2019)

Obtained dismissal of securities fraud class-action filed after a pipeline leaked oil in the Pacific Ocean; Plaintiffs challenged the pipeline company’s disclosures regarding its operations and maintenance efforts; the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal. In re Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. Sec. Litig., 307 F.Supp.3d 583 (S.D. Tex. 2018), aff’d, 777 Fed. Appx. 726 (5th Cir. 2019)

Obtained dismissal of securities fraud claims arising after a sudden drop in an MLP’s stock price; the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal. Anderson v. StoneMor Partners, L.P., 296 F. Supp. 3d 693 (E.D. Pa. 2017), aff’d, 927 F.3d 710 (3d Cir. 2019)

Obtained post-trial judgment in favor of defendants in a class action lawsuit alleging that a midstream MLP’s general partner had breached its duties when agreeing to merge the MLP with an affiliated energy company.  Dieckman v. Regency GP LP, 2021 WL 537325 (Del. Ch. Feb. 15, 2021)

Obtained dismissal of class action challenging an upstream energy company’s disclosures in a merger proxy under the federal securities laws. Braun v. Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P., 223 F. Supp. 3d 644 (S.D. Tex. 2016)

Defeated a unitholder’s attempt to enjoin a merger between an MLP and its affiliate under federal securities laws. Greenthal v. Joyce, 2016 WL 362312 (S.D. Tex. Jan. 29, 2016)

After defeating an attempt to enjoin a merger, obtained a favorable settlement for an MLP and its directors in a breach-of-duty lawsuit; Plaintiffs sought approximately $500 million in damages but settled for minimal non-cash consideration on the eve of trial. In re Inergy L.P., 2010 WL 4273197 (Del. Ch. Oct. 29, 2010)

Obtained a favorable mid-trial settlement for a private equity firm in expedited litigation concerning the sale of its interests in an MLP AIM Midstream Holdings, LLC v. High Point Infrastructure Partners, LLC, et al., C.A. No. 8803-VCP (Del. Ch. 2014)

Obtained summary judgment for an MLP and its directors in a breach-of-duty derivative lawsuit under Delaware law in Texas state court

Defeated a shareholder’s attempt to enjoin a merger between a Delaware energy corporation and a midstream company in Texas state court

Obtained a favorable settlement for an MLP and certain of its employees in litigation brought by a joint venture partner in the Delaware Court of Chancery

Obtained dismissal of breach-of-contract claims brought by warrant-holders in connection with a merger in the Southern District of New York