Lawyers from Jones Day in Dallas are assisting Empeiria Acquisition Corp. (EAC) in negotiating a deal to merge with Integrated Drilling Equipment Co. Holdings Inc. of Spring. The deal is valued at a minimum of $87.5 million.

Jared D. Nielsen, of Jared D. Nielsen & Associates in Tomball, represents Integrated Drilling Equipment, according to a spokesman for Jones Day. Nielsen did not return a telephone call seeking comment.