Energy Section 2018 Annual Oil and Gas Update

Nnamdi M. Anozie Related Seminars and Products

Partner

White Wiggins & Barnes

Nnamdi Anozie is a partner in the Dallas office of White Wiggins & Barnes LLP.  Nnamdi represents an impressive list of clients, including Fortune 500® companies, government agencies, corporate officers, arts organizations and prominent individuals in a variety of complex business and legal matters.  Nnamdi has litigated matters on behalf of clients engaged in multi-million dollar disputes throughout Texas state and federal courts, and has advised businesses in compliance related matters across the nation and globe.  Nnamdi is recognized by his peers as a Thomson Reuters' Super Lawyers® Rising Star in Texas.
Prior to joining White Wiggins & Barnes, Nnamdi was a trial attorney at one of the top four litigation boutiques in Texas.  Nnamdi is also a former Presidential Management Fellow and has worked closely with executive agencies and policy and research organizations to author and publish regulatory works used as support for federal and state law reform.
Nnamdi also maintains a strong presence within the community. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, JL Turner Legal Association, and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. Nnamdi is a Life Fellow of the DAYL Foundation.
Nnamdi is a proud triple graduate of Howard University.

Christopher B. Bailey Related Seminars and Products

Founding Member

Randazzo, Giglio & Bailey

Chris Bailey is a life-long resident of Lafayette who enjoys a diverse legal practice that focuses primarily on oil and gas transactional and litigation matters.  Chris has also represented clients in real estate  and business transactions and in environmental law related to “legacy” lawsuit defense. He regularly presents papers and speeches to various land professional and division order analysts’ associations on a wide array of oil and gas topics.
Chris received his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2000 and his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans – College of Law in 2004. Throughout both undergraduate and law school, Chris worked as an independent petroleum landman in many of Louisiana’s parishes. He gained experience in all aspects of the land business—from acquisition of seismic permits to leasing of lands explored by such seismic activities. Additionally, Chris researched the indices of many of the conveyance and mortgage offices in Louisiana in preparation for acquiring mineral leases and has prepared abstracts of title and mineral histories.  Chris believes the experience gained while working as a landman has aided in a practical approach to his oil and gas legal practice.

Jamie Bryan Related Seminars and Products

Partner

K&L Gates

Jamie Bryan is a partner in the Fort Worth and Houston offices where she is a member of the oil, gas & resources practice group. Ms. Bryan concentrates her practice on the oil and gas industry in both the upstream and midstream sector and complex multi-district litigation. For the past 18 years, she has focused on a broad range of energy issues including royalty disputes, lease termination issues, surface use issues, municipal ordinances, environmental claims, right to take challenges, and eminent domain. Jamie has tried cases before both juries and the bench on a wide variety of complex oil and gas issues. Jamie maintains a specialized practice in the area of eminent domain, having represented numerous midstream energy clients and other condemning authorities in a variety of matters involving real property acquisitions, easement negotiations, condemnation proceedings, challenges to their right to take, and subsequent trials. She also counsels clients on policy issues, best practices and litigation avoidance.
She is a frequent author and presenter on issues impacting the oil and gas industry, including eminent domain. Ms. Bryan is also active in the Fort Worth Community and focuses on mentoring women in the energy industry.

Mr. Jonathan R. Childers Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann

Jonathan R. Childers is an experienced trial lawyer helping businesses and executives prosecute and defend complex claims in Texas and throughout the United States.  He has a special focus on energy litigation, partnership and business ownership disputes, trade secret litigation, complex financial issues and damages, and high-stakes business torts.  Jonathan litigates and tries cases frequently involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty (often in the finance and oil and gas contexts), theft of trade secrets, tortious interference, and business disparagement. 
His clients primarily comprise Texas businesses and executives, as well as businesses based outside of the state with important business interests at risk here.

Thomas G. Ciarlone Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Director

Kane Russel Coleman Logan

Thomas G. Ciarlone, Jr., focuses his practice on oil-and-gas litigation and general commercial litigation and dispute resolution.  Tom has nearky twenty years of complex litigation experience in trial and appellate courts across the country, and his practice broadly reaches all forms of contentious business disputes.

When royalties and other mineral interests are hotly contested, Tom is known for his thoughtful treatment—in the courtroom and on the papers—of the many intricacies that drive title controversies and deed-construction cases to successful conclusion. He frequently represents operators in high-stakes lease disputes involving allegations of the underpayment and miscalculation of royalties; violations of continuous drilling and development obligations; and improper deductions for transportation, processing, and other post-production expenses.  His diverse industry background also includes representing operators and pipeline companies in mineral trespass and surface-use disputes, and in related proceedings for emergency and preliminary injunctive relief.

In addition, Tom often assists both operators and oil field service providers with sophisticated matters implicating the breach of supply, service, and confidentiality agreements and the theft and misappropriation of trade secrets.  When mineral owners are impossible to find, or when they finally emerge after long absences, Tom helps oil-and-gas companies establish, administer, and wind down mineral receiverships, to ensure that time-sensitive operations are never impeded by missing or emerging interest owners.  And, in the event business relationships sour, Tom has earned a reputation for diplomatically­­—and, when push comes to shove, aggressively—resolving disagreements among joint interest partners and other collaborators in the oil patch.  Tom’s practical experience in the energy sector is simultaneously broad and deep, encompassing title issues, seismic-related disputes, drilling operations and surface damages, royalty underpayments, offset drilling and development, bad-faith pooling, cessation of production, and lease termination.

Michael H. Cooper Related Seminars and Products

Counsel

Haynes and Boone, LLP

Michael Cooper has significant experience in all aspects of corporate representation, ranging from day-to-day operational issues to major transactions to securities and taxation matters. He has represented clients in numerous industries, with the majority of his practice devoted to the highly-regulated oil and gas energy industry.
Michael is a Certified Public Accountant and the holder of an advanced degree in taxation, which enables him to evaluate the many aspects of sophisticated business transactions.
He has actively participated, as both chief operating officer and general counsel, in the growth of a company from start-up to a half billion dollar public entity. This experience facilitates his understanding of his clients' business goals and makes him particularly effective in helping them to pursue their own growth strategies. Because of his depth of experience, Michael can assist his clients not only with transactional issues, but also with operational and employment issues, risk management, compliance issues, and general corporate matters.

Terry Cross Related Seminars and Products

McClure & Cross

Terry Cross is a founding partner of McClure & Cross LLP, established in 2008, and practices in the Dallas office of that firm. He has 40 years’ experience in providing legal counsel to the oil and gas industry as in-house counsel in a major oil company, partner in a large law firm energy practice and now in the boutique oil and gas firm of McClure & Cross.  He is licensed in North Dakota and Texas and board certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Board of Specialization of the State Bar of Texas.  He regularly teaches Texas Land Titles as Adjunct Professor at SMU Dedman School of Law and is a frequent speaker and author on energy finance, oil and gas law and industry contracts.  He is a member of the joint editorial board for the development of title examination standards established by the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law and Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Sections of the State Bar of Texas. Cross was selected for the 24th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Energy and Natural Resources Law and named the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Natural Resources Law for Dallas/ Fort Worth for 2018.

Scott Deatherage Related Seminars and Products

S Deatherage Law, PLLC

Over the last 30 years of his career, Scott Deatherage has focused his practice on energy, environment, water, and climate change.  As a partner in nationally known large law firms, he has worked with clients to solve regulatory challenges and to capitalize on emerging technologies such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage. More recently he has become an advisor to a startup company applying blockchain and artificial intelligence technology to electricity markets. Scott is always focused on innovation in his practice and seeing what the future holds for his clients, and applying creativity to solve legal issues and advance client goals.
Scott's environmental practice includes representation of landowners, real estate developers, banks, and private equity firms in dealing with soil and groundwater contamination and management of those issues under the Texas Voluntary Cleanup Program and Municipal Setting Designation Program.  He also represents clients in solid and hazardous waste, air emissions, wastewater, wetlands, endangered species, toxic substances and other areas of environmental law.  Scott represents parties in enforcement, permitting, regulatory compliance and compliance auditing, litigation and other forms of dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration. 

Chance K. Decker Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Gray Reed

Chance Decker focuses his practice on commercial, oil and gas, and employment litigation. Since joining Gray Reed in the fall of 2009, he has obtained favorable verdicts and settlements for the firm's clients through a calculated and aggressive approach to the practice of law.
Chance earned his B.S. in Geography: GIS Specialization from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from University of Houston Law Center where he served as the Notes and Comments Editor for the Houston Law Review.

David Drez Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Wick Phillips

David Drez represents clients in Texas and across the United States in a broad range of commercial disputes. A seasoned trial lawyer, he counsels clients in matters involving royalty disputes, breach of contract, non-compete agreements, fraud, and bankruptcy-related litigation. His experience extends through all phases of litigation at the trial and appellate levels and in industries including energy, real estate, transportation, and construction.
David has earned the respect of his clients and opponents alike for being a dedicated problem solver and determining the best course of action while obtaining the best possible result for his clients. Both straightforward and respectful, David provides honest advice on legal options in the context of a specific dispute. He has built long-term relationships of trust with his clients, balancing overall business goals with strategies for successfully litigating a particular case.

Byron F. Egan Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Jackson Walker LLP

Byron F. Egan is engaged in a corporate, limited liability company, partnership, securities, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and financing practice. Byron has extensive experience in business entity formation and governance matters, M&A, and financing transactions in a wide variety of industries including energy, entertainment, financial, insurance, restaurant, and technology. In addition to handling transactions, he advises boards of directors and their audit, compensation, and special committees with respect to fiduciary duty and other corporate governance issues, special investigation, and other issues.
Byron regularly handles business combinations of corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, including mergers and acquisitions, purchases and sales of stock, and other equity interests, and sales and exchanges of assets. He also handles the related entity governance and structure issues. Byron focuses on the fiduciary duties of directors, officers, managers and controlling entity owners. He also handles the formation and dissolution of corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships.

Michael Goldman Related Seminars and Products

Goldman Law PC

Michael Goldman is an accomplished litigator who represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex environmental disputes throughout the country.   Michael was formerly a shareholder at Guida, Slavich & Flores, PC, an environmental boutique law firm, and for the last 16 years has focused his practice on complex environmental, energy, as well as commercial litigation matters.
When possible, Michael tries to enter into alternative fee arrangements with his clients so that his interests are directly aligned with his clients.  Michael is able to offer such arrangements because he has systemized his practice to spend less time “reinventing the wheel” and to focus on strategies that efficiently impact the outcomes of his clients’ cases.
In addition to his private practice, Michael also periodically teaches courses on Environmental Litigation and Environmental Oil and Gas Law at the Texas A&M University School of Law. Michael has represented individuals and businesses in state and federal courts in many diversified areas.

John Hicks Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Scott Douglass & McConnico

John Hicks’ practice covers all of the firm's practice areas, with a focus on oil & gas litigation and regulation.  John also represents clients in administrative matters before the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Public Utility Commission, and the Texas General Land Office.  In addition, he advises clients on various contract and oil and gas lease issues. John is Board Certified in Oil, Gas & Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
John graduated from the University of Texas School of Law and served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Will Garwood on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  John also served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, on active duty for over ten years and as a reservist for twelve years, retiring at the rank of commander.  John has a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.S. in Engineering-Economic Systems from Stanford University, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Jervonne Newsome Related Seminars and Products

Associate

Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst

Jervonne D. Newsome represents a diverse list of clients, including top Fortune 500® companies, small businesses, corporate officers, and individuals in range of complex civil and business litigation matters such as trusts and estates, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, business torts, trade secret and non-compete disputes, oil and gas, and much more.
Dubbed a “Superstar” by a United States District Court Judge during a moot court competition, Jervonne zealously advocates for her clients by focusing on the client’s specific needs and goals throughout the dispute.  Jervonne’s optimistic approach, unyielding work ethic, and “outside-the-box” litigation strategy is highly esteemed among her clients and has earned her invaluable respect.    When faced with complex issues, Jervonne’s ability to synthesize and create streamlined arguments yields successful results and speedy resolutions. 

A native of Arkansas, Jervonne started her journey to becoming a lawyer while at Arkansas State University where she was the team captain of the moot court team before attending the University of Arkansas School of Law.  After graduating amongst the top of her class from law school, Jervonne clerked for the Honorable Bobby E. Shepherd of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the Honorable Denzil Price Marshall Jr. of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.  Jervonne’s experience at both the district and appellate courts has proved invaluable when it comes to her motion practice, appellate research and writing, oral arguments, and trial strategy with clients.
In 2016, Jervonne had the distinct honor of being asked to serve on an 8th Circuit Court of Appeals panel discussion on the topic of diversity.  Jervonne, joined by one 8th Circuit appellate judge and two federal district judges, offered solutions to issues of race and gender inequality within the legal sphere. 
In addition to practicing law, Jervonne serves her community as a motivational speaker for various outreach and church events where she expounds on numerous topics such as purpose, faith, and destiny. When not in court or speaking, Jervonne enjoys playing the piano. 

William W. Pugh Related Seminars and Products

Shareholder

Liskow & Lewis

Bill Pugh handles complex maritime and energy-related matters for oil and gas producers and other Texas, Louisiana and Gulf region businesses, including contract disputes, insurance disputes and energy transactions.  He has earned a reputation for responsiveness, an ability to translate complicated concepts and for having extensive, pioneering experience analyzing, drafting and reviewing sophisticated energy-related contracts and insurance, indemnity and other contract issues. 

His practice includes master service agreements, onshore and offshore drilling contracts, charters, flight service agreements, onshore and offshore construction contracts and other maritime and energy-related agreements.  He has also helped international and domestic corporations, which often become Bill's long-term clients, integrate their contracts internally and following mergers or assignment of contracts (such as drilling contracts).
"Anti-indemnity statutes vary from state to state," Bill notes, "often with nuanced pitfalls.  One of my jobs is to offer our client ways to maximize its allocation of risk through indemnity and insurance."
Bill was managing partner of the firm’s Houston office and served several terms on Liskow's Board of Directors

Matthew J. Randazzo, III Related Seminars and Products

Founding Member

Randazzo, Giglio & Bailey

Before attending college Matt Randazzo managed his family’s wholesale and retail gasoline distribution business. In less than two and one-half years, Matt graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science (with a strong emphasis on government and business courses) in 1981 from Loyola University and obtained his Juris Doctor Degree Cum Laude from Tulane Law School in 1984.
Matt has served as lead counsel in several complex multi-party oil and gas litigation and arbitration matters in state and federal courts in Louisiana and Texas. Matt has participated in numerous unitization hearings before the Commissioner of Conservation involving oil and gas fields throughout Louisiana.  Matt has recently prepared new oil and gas lease forms for use throughout Louisiana.  Matt has also assisted clients in the formation and permitting of natural gas salt dome storage facilities in Louisiana.  Matt is a frequent speaker on oil and gas, environmental, governmental relations and business topics.  Matt is a Fellow of the Loyola Institute of Politics.  Matt is a trained mediator and is available to serve as an arbitrator or mediator in oil and gas, environmental, insurance or commercial disputes.
Matt’s law practice encompasses all areas of oil and gas and environmental matters from “the cradle to the grave and beyond”:

Charles Sartain Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Gray Reed

In a career spanning more than 30 years, Charles has successfully resolved a wide variety of commercial disputes by utilizing his skills in litigation, arbitration and negotiation. His expertise includes cases involving oil and gas, health care, business torts, noncompetition agreements and theft of trade secrets, contracts, injunctions, employment discrimination and Election Code disputes. He has distinguished himself among his peers for his work ethic and his unyielding attention to the needs of each client. He is the author and editor of Energy & The Law.
Representation of oil and gas producers in disputes involving royalty payments, lease maintenance, oil field operations, natural gas contracts, gas plant accounting, pooling and unitization issues, operating agreements, and land and lease titles.
Representation of mineral and royalty owners in lease negotiations and disputes such as lease termination and royalty payment obligations.

Representation of citizens, candidates, and political parties in disputes involving election procedures, city charter requirements, and election code violations.
Prosecution and defense of commercial disputes such as breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate governance, fraud, and debt collection in state and federal courts and before arbitration panels.

Arbitration and litigation of healthcare contract suits involving dissolution of medical practices and disputes between providers and payers involving claims processing, reimbursements, utilization review, coverage and regulatory issues.
Arbitration and litigation of employment related disputes such as theft of trade secrets and breach of non-competition agreements, and employment discrimination. 

Ryan Sears Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Gray Reed

Ryan Sears focuses his practice on the representation of clients in the energy industry, primarily on upstream and midstream transactions. He represents energy clients, both domestic and international, in a variety of matters relating to the exploration for and production of oil and gas. In addition, he has assisted common carrier pipeline clients with construction and start-up activities.
Admitted in Texas and Oklahoma, Ryan is an active member of the Houston, Dallas and Oklahoma Bar Associations. 
Ryan earned his law degree, with honors, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Jason A. Schumacher Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Locke Lord LLP

Jason Schumacher is a Partner in the Dallas and Houston offices of Locke Lord LLP. Jason primarily is a transactional and project attorney, where his practice focuses on serving clients in the energy industry and the oil and gas sector. He has vast experience in mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and divestitures, joint development projects, operational affairs, project development for energy facilities and financing arrangements for energy and oil and gas companies. His clients include private and publicly-traded U.S. and Chinese companies, energy holding companies and oil and gas service companies, as well as mineral interest owners, lenders, private equity firms and other financial institutions.
Jason has documented and closed transactions totaling billions of U.S. dollars and has documented joint venture arrangements and energy facility projects involving committed aggregate expenditures in the billions. Clients call on him frequently when they are involved in disputes, litigation, arbitrations and mediations involving questions pertaining to energy and oil and gas holdings and operational disputes.

S. Jordan Smith Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Jackson Walker LLP

S. Jordan Smith concentrates his practice in the areas of energy, natural resources, real estate and general corporate transactions, with an emphasis on negotiating agreements pertaining to upstream exploration and production activities. Jordan advises oil and gas clients on a wide range of issues, including title issues, water rights issues, horizontal drilling under special field rules and lease development obligations.
In addition, he has experience in a variety of business transactions, including the acquisition and development of real property, corporate mergers and reorganizations, asset sales and acquisitions and project financing. Jordan works as a strategic partner with his clients to provide proactive legal solutions to accomplish their business objectives, address specific challenges, meet critical deadlines, and maximize financial results

George Snell Related Seminars and Products

Snell Law Firm

George A. Snell III was reared in Pampa, Gray County, Texas

1972 – graduated from Baylor with BA and JD (law) degrees and practiced law in Amarillo since
1986 – started speaking for AAPL, NADOA and NALTA for conventions, seminars and certification purposes        
1989 – formed title attorney network, now 21 states, to write on comparative oil and gas law;  2011 AAPL’s Comparative Oil and Gas Law book
1992 – a founder and still member of State Bar of Texas’ Title Standards Joint Editorial Board
Has continued to speak at oil and gas title related events all over the country for more than 30 years.

Paul Yale Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Gray Reed

Paul Yale is Board Certified in Oil, Gas & Mineral Law, Paul Yale is a partner and the energy practice area head for Gray Reed & McGraw. Paul has decades of legal experience working in both the domestic and international oil and gas industry, 27 years of which was spent with ExxonMobil Corporation and its predecessor companies. His practice focuses on both domestic and international upstream oil and gas transactional, title, and dispute resolution matters. He is licensed in multiple US jurisdictions and has extensive experience in practically all major US oil and gas basins, offshore as well as onshore. Paul has received certifications in both Mediation and Commercial Arbitration (Domestic and International) from the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center at the University of Houston Law Center.