Baker Botts L.L.P. stands out for its expertise in handling high-value litigation proceedings including litigation related to production sharing agreements, joint operating agreements, and gas gathering and processing agreements. An array of clients encompassing multinational corporations, service companies, pipelines, and major trade organizations routinely engage the team for advice on environmental contamination, emergency response, force majeures, and disputes related to energy shortages and price increases. Practice co-head William Kroger is noted for his track record in handling major oil and gas, power, and renewable energy disputes throughout the US, while fellow co-head Louie Layrisson has considerable expertise in commercial disputes in the oil and gas sectors, and Jason Newman is a specialist in disputes arising from horizontal development in all parts of Texas and throughout the United States. Other key contacts include Tina Nguyen, who frequently represents oil, gas, and renewable clients on pricing disputes and nuisance claims, and Benjamin Gonsoulin, whose broad practice spans energy litigation, environmental contamination claims, and toxic tort claims. Lawyers are based in Houston.

Houston-based Gibbs & Bruns LLP offers a boutique litigation practice which consistently handles complex business and commercial litigation in the energy sector, where it represents major energy industry companies on a variety of contentious matters, including oil and gas contract and royalties disputes as well as force majeure disputes. Long-standing experience in high-end commercial litigation matters, founding partner Robin Gibbs commands the practice together with litigation expert Kathy Patrick, noted for her prowess in environmental and energy litigation, and Barrett Reasoner, also well-versed in energy litigation proceedings. Other names to note include force majeure disputes specialist Brian Ross, and oil and gas litigation experts Mark Giugliano and Sam Cruse.

King & Spalding LLP fields a robust team of experienced litigators regularly entrusted by leading energy companies and oil and gas operators, including Chevron and Shell, for advice on a range of high-value, complex litigation proceedings. These span litigation related to climate change, energy transition/carbon neutrality, and environmental justice. From the Houston office, managing partner Tracie Renfroe brings great experience in high-stakes environmental disputes and toxic tort litigation, an area in which San Francisco-based Charles Correll is also well-versed, representing domestic and international companies in complex commercial, mass tort and environmental disputes. Spanning catastrophic injuries, environmental contamination, and oil and gas–related disputes, Elizabeth Taber is another key contact, while Andrew Stakelum is noted for handling onshore and offshore litigation on behalf of energy companies operating on the Gulf Coast.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s energy litigation team of experienced lawyers based in Texas and Washington DC assists major oil and gas operators, energy corporations and renewable energy companies in energy-related litigation before US state and federal courts, appeals courts and international tribunals. The team is also particularly active in administrative and regulatory proceedings before the European Union and other international governing bodies. From the Houston office, Anna Rotman regularly appears before state courts, federal courts and arbitrations throughout the US in restructuring-related disputes, and has recently conducted complex high-stakes plaintiffs litigation alongside Jeremy Fielding from the Dallas office. Other notable names include Washington DC’s Daniel Donovan and Ragan Naresh, who routinely handle large class actions in the oil and gas sector.

Praised as a ‘leader in oil and gas litigation’, where it advises on high-profile cases, royalty disputes and class actions, Bracewell LLP boasts an impressive client base, including some of the oil and gas industry’s leading players such as Chevron and Apache. Stephen Crain heads the firm’s litigation group and continues to assist a range of energy sector clients. Recently promoted to partner, commercial litigator Drew Taggart routinely assists multinationals, mid-sized companies and small start-ups with complex oil and gas litigation proceedings. The team also includes commercial litigator William Moss, currently representing mining property owner 3S Real Estate Development in a dispute with the mining lessee and oil and gas operator regarding the validity of four oil and gas leases covering over 30,000 acres of land. Lawyers mentioned are in Houston.

Holland & Knight LLP’s team has significant experience in representing oil and gas operators, national oil companies and service providers in a range of energy-related disputes, including oil and gas class actions, oil and gas lease disputes, royalty litigations, and toxic tort disputes in the oil and gas industry. The team is jointly led by Austin-based Juan Alcalá, who focuses on complex litigation involving Latin America, and Dallas-based Greg Binns, known for his expertise in oil and gas and energy-related litigation, including well allocation, title issues and joint operating agreements. Other key contacts in the Dallas office include Craig Haynes, who is routinely retained by major oil and gas companies and facility owners for royalty disputes, class actions and price disputes, and Gregory Curry, whose extensive practice includes royalty disputes, title issues and joint operating agreement claims.

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP’s energy litigation lawyers are routinely engaged by a wide range of domestic and international clients, including major oil companies, pipelines, and energy traders, in high value energy disputes and litigation. Commercial litigation specialist Melanie Rother leads the team and regularly represents major clients, including Occidental Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum, and Shell, in complex litigation before state and federal courts throughout the US. Experienced litigator Daniel McClure is a go-to choice for commercial litigation, including class actions, royalty disputes, and contract disputes, while San Antonio-based Jeffrey Webb represents upstream, midstream, downstream, oilfield services, and retail companies, particularly in traditional oil and gas disputes. Other key contacts include Reagan Brown, whose extensive practice includes commercial litigation, royalty disputes and serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation, and energy litigation expert Carter Dugan. Lawyers are in Houston unless otherwise stated.

Reed Smith LLP remains highly active, working with several major oil and gas producers and contractors both in the United States and around the world, particularly in Latin America, in a variety of oil and gas-related litigation. These range from royalty class actions and lease disputes to idle minerals law disputes and pipeline and natural gas storage disputes. Pittsburgh-based Nicolle Snyder Bagnell is known for assisting natural gas companies in lease disputes, royalty class actions, condemnation, and contractual matters, while the ‘extraordinary’ José Astigarraga heads the firm’s international arbitration practice in Miami and regularly handles major oil and gas disputes. The Houston team also includes Stan Perry, whose practice focuses on toxic tort, product liability and mass tort litigation, and Francisco Rivero, known for his expertise in cross-border commercial disputes and international arbitrations, especially in Latin America.

Washington DC-based Steptoe LLP stands out in the market for its team’s expertise in representing major pipeline companies before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and appellate courts, while also handling a number of energy-related litigation on behalf of natural gas pipeline companies, ranging from pipeline transactions, pipeline safety and accident response, to FERC enforcement issues. Here is practice head Daniel Poynor the key contact, while Joshua Runyan notably focuses on litigation related to the construction, operation, and maintenance of large pipeline projects on federal, state, local, tribal, and private land. Co-head of the firm’s commercial litigation group, Jennifer Quinn-Barabanov concentrates her capabilities on commercial and class action disputes, where she acts for public utilities, pipelines, and other energy companies. Monique Watson has left the firm.

In addition to handling complex service disruption cases across the southern states related to the Winter Storm Uri, the Houston-based team Susman Godfrey LLP maintains a leading role in domestic and international energy disputes, which include disagreements between service providers and operators, midstream disputes and litigation in the power sector. In the Texas office, former managing partner Neal Manne is best known for representing Chevron in its climate change litigation, while Geoffrey Harrison regularly serves as lead counsel to Apache Energy in multi-million dollar litigation. Erica Harris focuses her skills on contractual disputes and environmental class actions, while Lexie White is known for recently co-counselling Chevron. The team also includes Bill Merrill, who recently won a defense victory in a gas royalty class action brought against Apache in the Southern District of Texas.

Vinson & Elkins LLP‘s energy litigation team continues to enjoy a leading position in the oil and gas litigation industry, advising clients across the country on a range of matters including energy contract and royalty disputes, class actions and oil and gas transportation disputes. Matthew Stammel heads the energy litigation department in Dallas, and is the point of contact for a number of oil and gas companies and private equity firms on complex disputes. From Houston, fellow co-head Jim Thompson advises on the full spectrum of energy-related litigation in several state and federal courts. The team also includes Houston’s Nicholas Shum, whose broad practice spans energy litigation and contract disputes involving upstream, midstream and oilfield service companies, and Stephanie Noble, known for her considerable experience in commercial litigation in state and federal courts throughout the US.

Arnold & Porter‘s global energy practice is recognized for advising a wide range of oil and gas clients, including upstream, midstream, and downstream companies, oilfield service companies, private equity and investment firms, on the full spectrum of litigation. Christopher Odell commands the firm’s Houston office and is well reputed for his broad litigation experience in the energy and transportation sectors, where he recently led a number of transportation-related mass tort cases. Katherine Ginzburg Treistman‘s broad practice extends to commercial litigation in the energy, technology and financial services sectors, while Denver-based Colin O’Brien focuses on breach of contract, class actions and energy litigation. The team also includes Ryan Hartman, a former vice president of BP. All attorneys are based in Houston unless otherwise noted.

Houston-based BakerHostetler is regularly involved in a broad range of litigation in the oil and gas sector, including lease disputes, breach of contract and title disputes over royalties. The firm’s dedicated energy team is jointly led by L. Poe Leggette, a key contact for issues related to carbon offsets and credits, methane emissions regulation, and carbon capture and storage, and W. Ray Whitman, who also chairs the firm’s litigation group. From Denver, Mark Barron is routinely engaged by major oil and gas producers to handle complex litigation, while recently promoted partner Alexander K. Obrecht focuses particularly on regulatory advice and litigation related to hazardous materials transportation and oil and gas royalties.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP routinely handles litigation in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, including disputes related to oil and gas leases, mass claims for catastrophic events at refineries, midstream issues related to gas supply, and disputes concerning pipeline construction. The Houston office’s energy team is led by Meghan McElvy, whose broad practice includes oil and gas leases’ disputes, joint operating and development agreements, and royalty obligations, and Jeff Davis, who handles oil and gas disputes related to catastrophic personal injury, accidental death, and disputes related to royalties and mineral interests. Further key contacts here are Stephen Fernelius, an expert in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage disputes, and Jim Collura, recognized for his prowess in handling disputes in the construction and oil and gas sectors.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP represents midstream pipeline and gas companies, independent power producers and independent transmission companies in complex FERC enforcement and litigation cases. In the Washington DC office, William Hollaway is noted for his expertise in the areas of energy regulation and transactions, including a number of proceedings at FERC. He is regularly assisted by Washington DC’s Janine Durand, who advises on high-value energy litigation and transactions. Another key contact in the oil and gas litigation space is Dallas-based Trey Cox, who recently led a dispute between Florida Gas and Texas Brine following the collapse of the Bayou Corne salt mine.

Texas-based Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. houses a team of experienced oil and gas litigators who regularly represent major industry players, including Chevron, BP and Shell, in a variety of litigation proceedings in state and federal courts, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations. These include cases arising from operating agreements, lease termination disputes, royalty disputes, and midstream disputes. Craig Stahl is the key contact, handling complex commercial litigation throughout the United States, including most of the oil-producing states between the Gulf of Mexico and the Canadian border. Co-chair of the firm’s litigation practice, Michael Mazzone is regularly retained by numerous energy companies in environmental contamination, indemnification, and toxic tort cases, as well as construction and real estate disputes, while Jeffrey Kuehnle focuses on advising major integrated oil and gas companies, independent private companies, and equity investors in oil and gas-related litigation, including lease termination, development, and royalty disputes. David Ammons is experienced in class actions, multidistrict litigation, and environmental and toxic tort litigation, and Houston-based Garrett Martin and D.J. Beaty are also recommended. Michelle Scheffler has left the practice.

Houston-based boutique firm Hogan Thompson Schuelke LLP is well reputed for handling an array of oil and gas, shale and royalty disputes, routinely representing both plaintiffs and defendants in the energy sector in state and federal court proceedings and arbitration cases. The team includes firm founders Christopher Hogan and Samantha Thompson, known for conducting high-profile litigation related to oil and gas encroachments, property and royalty payments, and James Schuelke, a key contact for construction, forest carbon credits, property, and petrochemical litigation.

Alongside its expertise in handling major catastrophic litigation cases, McGuireWoods LLP stands out for its team’s focus on complex regulatory matters, internal investigations, and royalty litigation. Charlottesville’s Brian Jackson acts as a key contact for a range of energy clients in catastrophic events across the United States and has considerable experience with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration corrective action orders and NTSB investigations of these events. Pittsburgh’s Greg Krock is well-versed in contract disputes, toxic tort cases and royalty litigation, an area in which Charlottesville’s Jonathan Blank is also particularly active. From the Pittsburgh office, Anthony Carna chairs the firm’s oil and gas practice, routinely handling disputes arising from oil and gas leases and pipeline right of way agreements.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP fields a robust team of experienced energy litigators across the United States, routinely engaged by major oil and gas industry clients in a number of upstream, midstream and downstream disputes in the energy space. These include class actions such as toxic torts and major disasters, partnership disputes, natural gas royalties and other environmental claims. Washington DC’s Brad Fagg co-heads the energy litigation practice, advising on complex contractual and regulatory disputes as well as government and internal investigations. Fellow co-chair Michelle Pector is based in Houston and has considerable expertise in litigation related to severe weather events, trade secret disputes and business fraud. The team also includes head of the environmental practice in the Los Angeles office James Dragna and Princeton’s John McGahren, who leads the firm’s litigation practice.

Houston-based Reynolds Frizzell LLP continues to act for a host of oil and gas industry plaintiffs and defendants in complex litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations. These range from contract disputes and business torts to class actions, multidistrict litigation and partnership disputes. The team includes Chris Reynolds, noted for his focus on commercial and business litigation and arbitration, and Jean Frizzell, whose practice includes complex commercial litigation, with particular expertise in securities matters, energy disputes, and contract and fiduciary duty claims.

Washington DC-based Venable LLP‘s robust energy practice continues to provide comprehensive regulatory and litigation advice on a range of oil and gas related matters, including crude oil, petroleum product, and NGL pipeline cases before the FERC. Practice head Richard Powers is noted for his deep experience in administrative, judicial, and transactional matters in the oil and gas industry. Steven Adducci is another key contact, routinely advising on regulatory and litigation matters in crude oil and petroleum products before FERC and state regulatory commissions, while Matthew Field is recognized for his expertise in complex proceedings including challenging the rates of a major refined petroleum products pipeline in the US. Also of note is Gregory Wagner, whose broad practice ranges from litigation to regulatory advice, including on natural gas infrastructure development.

In addition to its expertise in carbon sequestration cases, New Orleans-based Jones Walker LLP‘s energy, environment and natural resources team is actively involved in a variety of regulatory enforcement proceedings and energy development and financing projects. Jonathan Hunter handles complex litigation proceedings, particularly on behalf of offshore oil and gas companies, as well as government investigations and transactions. The team is jointly led by carbon capture and sequestration expert Marjorie McKeithen and Grady Hurley, known for his specialization in toxic torts, explosions, and multi-party commercial litigation in state and federal courts.

K&L Gates represents midstream and upstream clients in a wide range of judicial and administrative proceedings related to crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids royalty payment issues, as well as disputes over gas sales contracts, personal injury, municipal regulation of oil and gas development and storage rights disputes. Jeffrey King is based in Fort Worth and act for a number of oil and gas producers, gas marketing companies and pipeline companies in complex litigation before federal and state courts. Another key member is Elizabeth Tiblets, an expert in putative class action litigation, who handles disputes over non-payment of royalties, title issues and a wide range of other contractual matters. Dallas’ Chris Brown and Pittsburgh’s Thomas Ryan are also recognized as experts in oil and gas litigation. Jamie Lavergne Bryan has left the firm.

White & Case LLP‘s litigation team is led by New York’s Glenn M. Kurtz and advises a range of oil and gas industry players on complex litigation in both federal and state courts. As of January 2023, the team includes Houston’s Andrew Zeve, Sean Gorman, and Christopher Dodson, all noted for their expertise in handling high-value oil and gas-related litigation. From Washington DC, Claire DeLelle continues to litigate for a number of high-profile corporate and sovereign clients.

The Houston-based team at Winston & Strawn LLP continues to handle a wide range of cases, including breach of contract, class actions, and enforcement actions. The firm’s energy and infrastructure industry group is jointly led by Mike Pikiel and Rich Shutran, both based in New York, and Houston’s Mike Blankenship, while Denise Scofield chairs the firm’s litigation department, consistently representing energy clients in complex litigation, internal investigations and other commercial and environmental matters. Further key contacts within the team are oil and gas litigation expert Paula Hinton and Casey Berger, whose focus is on securities, antitrust, consumer fraud and class actions. Counsel Brandon Duke is noted for assisting oil and gas clients with a variety of transactional disputes, contractual indemnities, and industry standard compliance. All practitioners are based in Houston unless otherwise stated.