Gibson Dunn Secures Resounding Courtroom Victory for Client Energy Transfer
Firm News | September 19, 2025
In a high-stakes battle that put a critical Gulf Coast energy hub on the line, Gibson Dunn secured a resounding courtroom victory for client Energy Transfer that safeguarded the Sea Robin Gas Processing Plant and reaffirmed the rule of law in the midstream sector.
At issue was an audacious attempt by Energy Transfer’s midstream energy rival Enterprise to shutter the plant through a corporate sleight of hand. Enterprise carved off a 7.39 percent slice of its own interest, transferred it to a freshly minted affiliate with no gas of its own, and then used that affiliate’s vote to fabricate the super-majority needed to shut the facility down.
The Energy Transfer team acted decisively, exposing the scheme as a violation of both the substantive requirement that all transferees deliver qualifying gas and the procedural mandate that every owner receive advance notice under the parties’ longstanding 1995 Operating Agreement.
Louisiana District Judge Laurie Hulin granted summary judgment voiding the transfer of the plant, finding that Enterprise did not “strictly follow the language of the agreement” governing transfer of plant ownership. The result was a complete vindication of contractual governance — and the preservation of a vital piece of America’s Gulf energy infrastructure.
Our Dallas team was led by partner Trey Cox and associates Travis Jones and Cody Johnson and included associates Robert Frey and Lara Kakish.