Debbie P. Yee is a partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She primarily advises public and private companies in the energy industry on strategic acquisitions and divestitures, as well as on capital raising transactions and corporate governance matters.
Debbie has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers since 2016. She has also been honored as a Law360 Energy Rising Star, and as Dealmaker of the Week by The Am Law Daily.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland, Debbie has been involved in the following transactions:
Penn Virginia Corporation (NASDAQ:PVAC) in Juniper Capital Advisors, L.P.’s $188 million strategic investment in the company, including $150 million of cash and certain oil and gas assets, in exchange for 59 percent of Penn Virginia’s equity
Peridot Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, in its $300 million initial public offering. Peridot is sponsored by an affiliate of Carnelian Energy Capital Management, LP and will target businesses in the electrification, clean fuel transportation, self-directed and autonomous mobility and related infrastructure, energy storage and efficiency, smart grid technology and renewable energy sectors
Vector Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company that will target businesses in the technology and technology-enabled services sectors, in connection with its $300 million initial public offering
WPX Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WPX) in its $12 billion all-stock merger of equals with Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN)
Bruin E&P Partners, LLC and its subsidiaries in connection with their prepackaged Chapter 11 cases
Centennial Resource Development, Inc. in its $254 million debt-for-debt exchange
Special Committee of the Board of Directors of TerraForm Power, Inc., in Terraform Power’s $1.58 billion sale to Brookfield Renewable Partners
Bristow Group Inc. on its all-stock business combination with Era Group Inc. (pending)
Prior to joining Kirkland, Debbie was involved in the following transactions:
Mergers & Acquisitions
Energy Transfer LP – $5.1 billion acquisition of Sem Group
Enagás – Co-investment in $3.3 billion acquisition of the GP interest and 44% LP interest in Tallgrass
Energy Transfer LP – $24.9 billion acquisition of Energy Transfer Partners
Silver Run Acquisition Corporation II – $3.8 billion acquisition of Alta Mesa Holdings, LP and Kingfisher Midstream, LLC
Andeavor Logistics, LP – $1.8 billion acquisition of Western Refining Logistics, LP
Ensco plc – $860 million acquisition of Atwood Oceanics, Inc.
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. – $20 billion acquisition of Energy Transfer Partners by Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P.
Centennial Resource Development Inc. – $855 million acquisition of the leasehold interests and related upstream assets in Reeves County of Silverback Exploration
Riverstone Holdings LLC / Silver Run Acquisition Corporation – $1.575 billion acquisition of an 89% stake in Centennial Resource Production
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. – $18 billion acquisition of Regency Energy Partners LP
Buckeye Partners – $1.15 billion acquisition of 50% stake in VTTI
Plains Exploration & Production Company – $9 billion acquisition by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. of Plains Exploration & Production Company and McMoRan Exploration Company
Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. – $9.2 billion acquisition of Southern Union Company
Questar Corporation – $5 billion spin-off to its shareholders of QEP Resources, a natural gas and oil exploration, production, and midstream field services company
Plains Exploration & Production Company – $450 million sale of a 20% interest in Plains Offshore Operations, Inc., the US-based Gulf of Mexico assets of Plains Exploration & Production Company
Capital Markets
RMG Acquisition Corp. – $200 million IPO
Centennial Resource Development, Inc. – $340 million PIPE offering
Energy Transfer Operating, L.P. – multiple debt and common and preferred equity offerings totaling over $20.6 billion in aggregate
Sunoco LP – multiple debt offerings and PIPE totaling more than $2 billion in aggregate
Regency Energy Partners LP – multiple debt and equity offerings totaling over $3.55 billion in aggregate
Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. – multiple debt offerings totaling over $1 billion in aggregate
Rosetta Resources Inc. – multiple debt and equity offerings totaling over $2 billion in aggregate
Underwriters – IPO of Enviva Partners, Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc., Enable Midstream Partners, LP, Eclipse Resources Corporation, and EP Energy Corporation
Prior Experience
Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
More
Thought Leadership
Seminars
Presenter, Take Private Transactions in the Oil and Gas Industry, Webinar, 2020
Presenter, M&A Strategies for Energy Companies in a Time of Market Distress, Webinar, 2020
Presenter, Structuring Solutions in Challenging Times, Webinar, 2020
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
Texas
Education
New York Law SchoolJ.D.magna cum laude2006
Executive Articles Editor, New York Law School Law Review