Paul Hastings said it has added Jimmy Vallee to its Mergers and Acquisitions practice as a partner based in the firm’s Houston office.

Vallee has extensive experience representing clients in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities transactions, joint ventures and corporate governance matters, with a particular focus on domestic and international energy companies involved in oil and gas exploration and production (E&P), midstream and oil field services industries.

He recently advised OGE Energy in connection with its $11 billion joint venture with CenterPoint Energy to create one of the largest master limited partnerships (MLPs) in the midstream industry. In addition, Mr. Vallee advised Jefferies in connection with its role as financial advisor to Copano Energy in its $5 billion merger with Kinder Morgan.

The firm said the addition of Vallee continues the expansion of its Houston office and global Energy and Oil and Gas practices, following the recent arrival of MLP and Capital Markets partner Gislar Donnenberg and Litigation partner Sam Cooper, both in Houston, and Energy and Corporate partner Lorenzo Parola in Milan.