The Delaware Court of Chancery has granted 's motion toexpedite its litigation against Energy Transfer Equity LP for allegedly threateningtheir mergeragreement, the company said in its April 14 news release.

Williams has filed a lawsuit against ETE seeking to undo ETE's Marchprivate offering ofseries A convertible preferred units. The company also sued ETE's leader KelcyWarren for "tortious, or wrongful, interference" with the mergeragreement.

ETE has said in response to the lawsuit that it "believes that ithas complied, and it intends to continue to comply, with its obligations underthe merger agreement."

The merger is expected to close in the second quarter of2016.