Exhibit 5.1
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2001 ROSS AVENUE
DALLAS, TEXAS
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AUSTIN
BAKU |
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75201-2980
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DALLAS |
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214.953.6500
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DUBAI |
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FAX 214.953.6503
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HONG KONG |
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HOUSTON |
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LONDON |
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MOSCOW |
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NEW YORK |
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RIYADH |
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WASHINGTON |
July 21, 2006
Crosstex Energy, L.P.
2501 Cedar Springs
Suite 100
Dallas, Texas 75201
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Crosstex Energy, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Partnership), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (the Registration Statement) to be filed by the Partnership with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), relating
to the resale by the selling unitholders named in the Registration Statement, from time to time
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, of (i) 6,414,820 senior subordinated series C units
representing limited partner interests of the Partnership (the Senior Subordinated Series C
Units) and (ii) 6,414,820 common units representing limited partner interests of the Partnership
(the Common Units) issuable upon conversion of the Senior Subordinated Series C Units. The Senior
Subordinated Series C Units will automatically convert into Common Units on the first date on or
after February 16, 2008 that conversion is permitted by the Partnerships Fifth Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership at a ratio of one Common Unit for each Senior
Subordinated Series C Unit. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as
Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.
In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above, we have examined the
Partnerships Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership and the Partnerships
Certificate of Limited Partnership, each as amended to date, and originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified, of partnership records of the Partnership, including minute books of the
Partnership as furnished to us by the Partnership, certificates of public officials and of
representatives of the Partnership, statutes (including the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act), the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein (the
Prospectus) and other instruments and documents as a basis for the opinions hereinafter
expressed.
In connection with this opinion, we have assumed that all signatures on all documents examined
by us are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, that all
documents submitted to us as copies are true and correct copies of the originals thereof and that
all information submitted to us was accurate and complete.
Based upon our examination as aforesaid, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications,
limitations and exceptions herein set forth, we are of the opinion that (i) the Senior Subordinated
Series C Units are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and (ii) the
Common Units, when issued upon conversion of the Senior Subordinated Series C Units, will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The opinion set forth above is limited in all respects to the Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act of the State of Delaware and federal laws of the United States, and no opinion is
expressed herein as to matters governed by the law of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading Legal Matters in the Prospectus
forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that
we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act
or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Baker Botts L.L.P.