A critical ruling gave Chevron the go-ahead for a $53 billion acquisition of Hess, access to one of the biggest oil finds of the decade, and a big win

Chevron will proceed with its $53 billion acquisition of Hess after it prevailed in a landmark legal battle against larger rival Exxon Mobil to gain access to the largest oil discovery in decades off the coast of Guyana.

Chevron Corp. won its arbitration battle with Exxon Mobil Corp. and has closed its $53-billion deal to buy Hess Corp. more than 20 months after the takeover was announced.