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Vault Law Resource Center

Energy, Oil, & Gas

Overview

Energy attorneys advise companies through transactions involving the development, acquisition, and disposal of oil, gas, and other energy assets. In addition to normal corporate issues, energy attorneys deal with varied bodies of law, including mineral and property rights, eminent domain, environmental regulation, and sometimes even maritime law (offshore drilling or wind farms). Oil and gas production and pipelines are highly regulated industries, so energy attorneys must keep up on regulations and keep their eyes on complicated rules for every transaction. Increasingly, energy assets have become commoditized, so some lawyers in this area focus on the complicated financial transactions surrounding energy assets, including derivatives, hedges, and swaps. This practice area is heavily focused in Texas, while the more regulatory and financial-oriented areas are in Washington, DC, and New York. Energy companies have large in-house practices, and attorneys in this field can have many in-house opportunities.

Top Ranked Firms


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Practice Area Q&A’s

A&O Shearman

Sara Douki & Domingo Rios Rivera

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Bracewell

Ben Martin & Shannon McKay

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Bracewell

Janie Callaway

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Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Cheryl S. Phillips

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"Given the ongoing energy transition, we have to be extremely adaptable and often have to come up with new and original transaction structures in order to meet client needs and incorporate new or evolving technologies. Staying current on market and industry trends can be
challenging, but it’s also what keeps our practice exciting!"

— Janie Callaway , Bracewell LLP

"A basic course in oil and gas law and, if available, an advanced course in oil and gas contracts would be helpful to someone wishing to enter this practice area. Courses in business organizations, secured transactions, corporate securities, and federal income tax are also recommended."

— Cheryl S. Phillips , Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Advice from Vault Law

Practice Area Insights: The Types of Deals That Energy, Oil & Gas Attorneys Handle

Practice Area Insights: The Types of Deals That Energy, Oil & Gas Attorneys Handle

By Vault Law Editors

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In Demand and Emerging Practice Areas

In Demand and Emerging Practice Areas

By Peter Horvath

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