Chanse J. Barnes

CHANSE BARNES primarily focuses his practice on representing private businesses and private equity funds in the energy (including energy transition and conventional energy) and infrastructure (including digital infrastructure) spaces. Chanse has experience representing public and private companies, private equity and infrastructure funds, and management teams in a range of complex corporate transactions, including private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and general corporate matters.

Chanse has assisted clients in transactions awarded “Deal of the Year” honors in both the energy and infrastructure spaces. Chanse was a part of the core Sidley team that advised Stonepeak’s acquisition of a 29% stake in American Tower’s U.S. data center business, CoreSite, for US$2.5 billion (implying an enterprise value of approximately US$10.5 billion). The CoreSite acquisition was awarded TMT Finance’s 2023 “Data Center Deal of the Year.” Prior to joining Sidley, Chanse represented White Oak Global Advisors in related transactions with Superior Energy and Scandrill, Inc., which involved the acquisition, restructuring, and subsequent sale of multiple oilfield service businesses. This transaction was awarded “Deal of the Year” by ACG Houston in 2020 in the category of oil and gas transactions under US$500 million.

Chanse has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® 2026 for Energy Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law.

Chanse’s representative experience includes:

Private Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Other Corporate Transactions

• Ares Management Corporation in its US$1.1 billion acquisition of Meade Pipeline Co LLC.
• FTAI Infrastructure, Inc. in its US$1.05 billion acquisition of Wheeling Corporation and its railroad subsidiaries, Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company and Akron Barberton Cluster Railway Company.
• Orion Resource Partners, a leading global investment firm specializing in the metals and materials critical to sustainable economic growth and energy transition, on its US$80M preferred equity investment in New Wave G.P., a global Brazilian technology holding company dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for the mining and metallurgical industries.
• Stonepeak in its launch and US$1.5 billion equity commitment to Montera Infrastructure, a North American-based company focused on developing data centers to support the high-growth area of cloud computing and AI.
• United Airlines, Inc. (United) in connection with the proposed merger of Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Republic) and Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Mesa), including assisting with several agreements among United, Republic, and/or Mesa addressing certain financial matters and United’s capacity purchase arrangements with those airlines.
• Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in its definitive documentation with American Tower subsidiary CoreSite to form a joint venture to develop, construct, and operate a new 18 megawatt data center campus in Denver, Colorado, with CoreSite operating the data center. 
• Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in the sale of its portfolio company, WTG Midstream Holdings LLC – the largest private Permian gas gathering and processing business with assets located in the core of the Midland Basin – to Energy Transfer LP. for US$3.25 billion.
• Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in its US$2.5 billion investment into CoreSite (a transaction awarded “Data Center Deal of the Year” by TMT Finance in 2023), including a US$500 million add-on investment.
• Neste Corporation in its US$1 billion investment in a renewable diesel joint venture with Marathon Petroleum.
• A private equity firm in a business combination valued at US$1 billion involving portfolio companies holding mineral and royalty interests.
• Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in the sale of the Canal and Bucksport thermal power stations to JERA.
• Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in its acquisition of a majority interest in West Texas Gas.
• Key Capture Energy, LLC, a developer of large-scale energy storage projects, in an agreement to be acquired by SK E&S Co., Ltd.
• Certain affiliates of Macquarie Infrastructure Partners in connection with its acquisition of RailUSA, a freight railroad and rail services management company.
• A private equity portfolio company in the acquisition of a 440 MW solar project in Texas.
• A private equity firm in connection with the sale of a portfolio company providing emission reduction solutions.
• A management team in connection with the formation of a sponsor-backed developer and operator of battery energy storage systems.
• A public company in the acquisition of an electrical generating facility in Texas.
• A portfolio company in connection with its acquisition of full ownership in a gas processing plant from minority interest holders.
• Private investment firm in out-of-court restructuring transaction of a solid waste management company.
• Fintech issuer in its issuance of a penny warrant in connection with a large secured note financing.
• Trustee of several debtors in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy of an onshore oil and natural gas company.
• Investment firm in the purchase of debt and securities from investors of a technology company serving as a government analysis platform.
• A group of creditors in connection with a credit bid to purchase the assets of an oilfield services debtor in a 363 sale.
• An undisclosed financial sponsor in its equity commitments of over US$500 million and debt commitments of over US$100 million, in connection with the development and construction of multiple battery storage facilities in the United States.
• A consortium of premier sponsors in connection with the recapitalization of Getronics.
• PBF Energy Inc. in connection with its sale of hydrogen plants to Air Products for a purchase price of US$530 million.
• A Fortune 100 technology company in connection with the acquisition of a UK-based technology company.
• White Oak Global Advisors, LLC in connection with the acquisition of multiple oilfield service businesses, including Felderhoff Brothers Drilling from Superior Energy, and the related restructuring and sale thereof to Scandrill, Inc., a transaction awarded “Deal of the Year” by ACG Houston in 2020 in the category of Oil and Gas transactions under $500 million.
• The management team of a private equity-backed midstream company in connection with the formation of a producer midstream joint venture.
• A midstream saltwater disposal services provider in multiple acquisitions of salt water disposal infrastructure.
• A large independent midstream company in the restructuring and expansion of joint ventures with a public upstream company regarding gas gathering and processing plants.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Houston Young Lawyers Association (2017–present)

• Successfully represented clients in obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
• A non-profit organization providing social, educational, mentoring, and other related services to Houston-area youth in connection with a 501(c)(3) filing and general corporate governance matters.