February 27, 2026
Willkie represented Peoria Resources, LLC, a subsidiary of JAPEX (U.S.) Corp., in its acquisition of the operated oil and gas business of Verdad Resources Holdings LLC. The transaction reflects a total enterprise value of approximately $1.26 billion. Willkie also advised Peoria in a reserve-based debt facility financing in connection with the acquisition of the acquired DJ Basin assets.
On February 26, 2026, Verdad Resources announced that it completed the sale of its E&P operating assets in the Denver-Julesburg Basin to Peoria Resources. The portfolio comprises approximately 101,000 net acres across Colorado and Wyoming.
Willkie previously advised Peoria Resources on its partnership with Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX), which included an equity commitment from JAPEX (U.S.) Corp., the overseas consolidated subsidiary of JAPEX. The investment established Peoria Resources to acquire and develop operated oil and natural gas assets in the U.S.
The Willkie team was led by partners Brad Honeycutt, Tan Lu, and Andrew Thomison, with counsel Emerson W. Girardeau, III and Emily Monk and associates Braxton Smith and Nour Haikal. The team also included partners Robert Jacobson, Scott Thompson, Thomas McCaffrey, Britt Mosman, Jeffrey Clancy, Robert Lepore, Stuart Lombardi, John Bain and Dale Smith; counsel William Thomas, Jonathan Konoff, Britton Davis, Kenneth Sommer and Chase Tweel; associates Ahmad El-Gamal, Amanda Payne, Brielle Rowe, David Mohl, Garry Canepa, Joshua Nelson, Jacob Bell, Michael Fabiyi, Niko Letsos, Allison Kraynek, Katerina Ganasoulis and Alexa Villarreal; and law clerk Akshara Anirjita.
