Mega natural gas merger clears hurdle

The battle over the merger of Denver-based MarkWest Energy Partners LP and a subsidiary of Ohio-based Marathon Petroleum Corp. ended with about 80 percent of MarkWest's shareholders voting in favor of the deal. Both companies have offices in the Houston area. Jones Day was the legal adviser for Marathon Petroleum, led by Houston Partner Jeff Schlegel. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP was the legal adviser for MarkWest. The vote in favor of the deal came despite two co-founders speaking out against the…