Exhibit 5.1
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2001 ROSS AVENUE
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AUSTIN |
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DALLAS, TEXAS
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BEIJING |
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75201-2980 |
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DALLAS |
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DUBAI |
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TEL +1
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HONG KONG |
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214.953.6500 |
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HOUSTON |
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FAX +1
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LONDON |
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214.953.6503 |
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MOSCOW |
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www.bakerbotts.com
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NEW YORK |
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RIYADH |
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WASHINGTON |
December 14, 2007
Crosstex Energy, L.P.
2501 Cedar Springs
Dallas, Texas 75201
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Crosstex Energy, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Partnership), in connection with the proposed offering and sale of up to 1,800,000 common units
representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the Common Units) pursuant to that
certain Underwriting Agreement dated December 14, 2007 (the Underwriting Agreement) by and among
the Partnership, Crosstex Energy Services, L.P., a Delaware limited liability partnership, Crosstex
Operating GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on the one hand, and Goldman Sachs & Co.
and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (the Underwriters), on the other hand. The Underwriters have
an option to purchase up to 270,000 additional Common Units to cover over-allotments, if any.
We refer to the registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (Registration Statement No.
333-134712), with respect to the Common Units being sold by the Partnership (the Registration
Statement), as filed by the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). The final
prospectus supplement dated December 14, 2007 (the Prospectus Supplement), which together with
the accompanying prospectus dated July 18, 2006 (the Prospectus) filed with the Registration
Statement, has been filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act.
As the basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed, we examined the Sixth Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of March 23, 2007 (the Partnership
Agreement), the Underwriting Agreement, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the
Act), partnership records and documents, certificates of the Partnership, certain of its
affiliates and public officials, and other instruments and documents as we deemed necessary or
advisable for the purposes of this opinion. In making our examination, we have assumed that all
signatures on documents examined by us are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals
are authentic and that all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform
with the original copies of such documents.
Based on the foregoing and on such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the
opinion that:
1. The Partnership has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited
partnership under the Act.
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December 14, 2007
2. The Common Units, when issued and delivered on behalf of the Partnership
against payment therefor as described in the Underwriting Agreement, will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required by the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable
(except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Act).
This opinion is limited in all respects to the federal laws of the United States of America
and the Act, each as in effect on the date hereof.
At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as an exhibit to the
Partnerships Current Report on Form 8-K filed on the date hereof. We hereby consent to the
statements with respect to us under the heading Legal Matters in the Prospectus Supplement and
the Prospectus and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Partnerships Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on the date hereof. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or
the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.