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.
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 and Tan Lu with counsel Emerson W. Girardeau III and associate Braxton Smith. The team also included partners Robert Jacobson, Scott Thompson, Thomas McCaffrey, Andrew Thomison, Britt Mosman, Jeffrey Clancy, Robert Lepore and Stuart Lombardi; counsel William Thomas, Jonathan Konoff, Britton Davis, Emily Monk and Kenneth Sommer; associates Ahmad El-Gamal, Amanda Payne, David Mohl, Garry Canepa, Joshua Nelson, Jacob Bell, Michael Fabiyi and Katerina Ganasoulis; and law clerk Akshara Anirjita.
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 and Tan Lu with counsel Emerson W. Girardeau III and associate Braxton Smith. The team also included partners Robert Jacobson, Scott Thompson, Thomas McCaffrey, Andrew Thomison, Britt Mosman, Jeffrey Clancy, Robert Lepore and Stuart Lombardi; counsel William Thomas, Jonathan Konoff, Britton Davis, Emily Monk and Kenneth Sommer; associates Ahmad El-Gamal, Amanda Payne, David Mohl, Garry Canepa, Joshua Nelson, Jacob Bell, Michael Fabiyi and Katerina Ganasoulis; and law clerk Akshara Anirjita.
