Faculty Roster & Bios
69th Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference February 15 - 16, 2018 Houston, TX
Presented by Institute for Energy Law of The Center for American and International Law 69TH ANNUAL OIL AND GAS LAW CONFERENCE February 15 - 16, 2018 JW Marriott - Galleria | Houston, Texas
Presented by Institute for Energy Law
FACULTY ROSTER
CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS
W. James (J.J.) McAnelly III Kimberly Phillips Bracewell LLP Shell Oil Company 711 Louisiana Street 150 N. Dairy Ashford Rd. Suite 2300 HOU-EPC F-638H Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77079 Phone: (713) 221-1194 Phone: (832) 337-2676 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
JOHN ROGERS AWARD
Dan O. Dinges Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation 840 Gessner Road Suite 1400 Houston, TX 77024
DEANS OF OIL & GAS PRACTICE LECTURE
Professor David E. Pierce Washburn University School of Law 1700 SW College Ave. Topeka, KS 66621 Phone: (785) 670-1676 Email: [email protected] MODULE CHAIRS Paige S. Goodwin Nicholas Leach Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. Chevron Products Co. 1201 Louisiana Street 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, T-3076 Suite 1800 San Ramon, CA 94583-2324 Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (925) 842-1534 Phone: (713) 483-5370 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Anthony Marino Kristi McCarthy Slattery, Marino & Roberts Chevron North America Exploration & 1100 Poydras Street Production Company Suite 1800 1400 Smith Street New Orleans, LA 70163 Office 06065 Phone: (504) 585-7881 Houston, TX 77002 Email: [email protected] Phone: (713) 372-9130 Email: [email protected]
James P. O'Brien Kimberly D. Pilcher Baker & McKenzie LLP Exxon Mobil Corporation 300 East Randolph Street, Suite 5000 22777 Springwoods Village Parkway Chicago, IL 60601 E2.4B.474 Phone: (312) 861-7588 Spring, TX 77389 Email: james.p.o'[email protected] Phone: (832) 624-6474 Email: [email protected]
Katherine Ginzburg Treistman Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP 1301 McKinney Street Suite 4100 Houston, TX 77010 Phone: (713) 658-6400 Email: [email protected]
IEL FORUM MODERATORS
Gabriela B. Boersner Liz Klingensmith Hess Corporation Blank Rome LLP Hess Tower 717 Texas Avenue 1501 McKinney St. Suite 1400 Houston, TX 77010 Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713) 496-6311 Phone: (713) 632-8697 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] SPEAKERS
Nadège A. Assalé Scott T. Baken Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea LLC Jackson Lewis P.C. 1100 Poydras Street 44 South Broadway Suite 2700 14th Floor New Orleans, LA 70163 White Plains, NY 10601 Email: [email protected] Phone: (914) 872-8060 Email: [email protected]
James A. Baker, III Ben Bosell Baker Botts L.L.P. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. One Shell Plaza 1400 Smith Street 910 Louisiana St. Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713) 372-7966 Phone: (713) 229-1234 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
John G. Browning Jamie Lavergne Bryan Passman & Jones, P.C. Winstead PC 1201 Elm St.Suite 2500 300 Throckmorton Street Dallas, TX 75270 Suite 1700 Phone: (214) 742-2121 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Email: [email protected] Phone: (817) 420-8209 Email: [email protected]
Lucia Bustamante Mike Celata Shell Mexico, SA de C.V. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Av. Paseo de Las Palmas No.425 Piso3 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard Torre Optima 3, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec New Orleans, LA 70123-2394 C.P. Email: [email protected] Mexico City, Mexico 11000 Email: [email protected]
R. Blake Chisam Steven Christian Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy,LLP Chevron Services Company, a Division of 1101 15th Street, NW Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Washington, DC 20005 1400 Smith Street Phone: (202) 349-2060 Houston, TX 77002 Email: [email protected] Phone: (713) 372-9148 Email: [email protected]
Mark D. Christiansen Kelly D. Cobb McAfee & Taft Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP 211 N. Robinson10th Floor 4 Houston Center 1331 Lamar Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Suite 1570 Phone: (405) 552-2235 Houston, TX 77010 Email: [email protected] Phone: (281) 605-3100 Email: [email protected] Travis L. Counts Jordan W. Cowman Concho Resources Inc. Greenberg Traurig LLP One Concho Center, 600 W. Illinois Avenue 2200 Ross AvenueSuite 5200 Midland, TX 79701 Dallas, TX 75201 Phone: (732) 818-2301 Phone: (214) 665-3652 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Terry I. Cross Wayne J. D'Angelo McClure & Cross LLP Kelley Drye & Warren LLP 4600 Greenville Avenue Washington Harbour, Suite 400 Suite 126 3050 K Street, NW Dallas, TX 75206 Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (214) 329-1241 Phone: (202) 342-8525 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Susan Llewellyn Deniker Greg Dillard Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP 400 White Oaks Blvd. 1301 McKinney StreetSuite 3000 Bridgeport, WV 26330 Houston, TX 77010 Phone: (304) 933-8154 Phone: (713) 270-3444 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Jeff C. Dodd Mary Lou Fry Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP Statoil Gulf Services LLC 600 Travis St. 6300 Bridge Point Parkway Suite 4200 Building 2, Suite 100 Houston, TX 77002 Austin, TX 78730 Phone: (713) 220-4736 Phone: (512) 682-3078 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Vanessa Garza George Y. Gonzalez Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Haynes and Boone LLP 1400 Smith Street 1221 McKinney Street Room 5164 Suite 2100 Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77010 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Matthew Hendrix Professor Tracy Hester Parsley Energy Inc University of Houston Law Center 303 Colorado Street 4604 Calhoun Road Suite 3000 Houston, TX 77204 Austin, TX 78701 Phone: (713) 743-1152 Phone: (713) 815-9778 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Erin Hopkins Lisa S. Jaubert Baker Botts L.L.P. Stone Energy Corporation One Shell Plaza 625 E. Kaliste Saloom Rd. 910 Louisiana St. Houston, TX Lafayette, LA 70508 77002 Phone: (337) 521-2278 Phone: (713) 229-1402 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Christian F. Johnson Wendy Kirchoff Eni US Operating Co. Inc. Noble Energy 1200 Smith St.Suite 1700 1001 Noble Energy Way Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77070 Phone: (713) 393-6184 Phone: (281) 872-3100 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Demetra Liggins H. Albert Liou Thompson & Knight Jones Day 811 Main StreetSuite 250 717 Texas Avenue Houston, TX 77002 Suite 3300 Phone: (713) 951-5884 Houston, TX 77002 Email: [email protected] Phone: (832) 239-3939 Email: [email protected]
Bryan E. Loocke Randall Luthi Vinson & Elkins LLP National Ocean Industries Association 1001 Fannin Street 1120 G. Street, NW Suite 2500 Suite 900 Houston, TX 77002 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (713) 758-3281 Phone: (202) 347-6900 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Dwayne L. Mason Latasha D. McDade Greenberg Traurig LLP Exxon Mobil Corporation 1000 Louisiana Street 22777 Springwoods Village Pkwy. Suite 1700 E2.4B.481 Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713) 334-3500 Phone: (832) 624-6442 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Anu Mehta Scott M. Nelson Lime Rock Partners Baker McKenzie Heritage Plaza, Suite 4600 700 Louisiana Street 1111 Bagby Street Suite 3000 Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713) 345-2105 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ben Norris Hector A. Pineda American Petroleum Institute Shell Oil Company 1220 L Street, NW 150 N. Dairy Ashford Rd.F-0614H Washington, DC 20005-4070 Houston, TX 77079 Phone: (202) 682-8000 Phone: (832) 337-3010 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
David P. Poole Humberto Quintas Range Resources Corporation BP Energy do Brasil Ltda. 100 Throckmorton Street Av. Tamboré, 448 Suite 1200 Alphaville - Barueri Fort Worth, TX 76102 São Paulo, Brazil 06460-000 Phone: (817) 869-4254 Phone: +55 21 99428 0645 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Tracie Renfroe Mark Rodriguez King & Spalding LLP Vinson & Elkins LLP 1100 Louisana Street 1001 Fannin Street Suite 4000 Suite 2500 Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (713) 751-3214 Phone: (713) 758-3288 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Jason P. Sander John L. Sander LyondellBasell Jackson Lewis P.C. 1221 McKinney Street 666 Third Avenue Suite 700 29th Floor Houston, TX 77010-2045 New York, NY 10017 Phone: (713) 309-7550 Phone: (212) 545-4050 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Patrick Shen Albert K. Shung Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. 1101 15th Street, NW 1201 Louisiana StreetSuite 1800 Washington, DC 20005 Houston, TX 77002 Phone: (202) 223-5515 Phone: (832) 594-9650 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Jonathan J. Spitz Aravind Swaminathan Jackson Lewis P.C. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP 1155 Peachtree Street N.E. 701 5th Avenue Suite 1000 Suite 5600 Atlanta, GA 30309 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: (404) 586-1835 Phone: (206) 839-4340 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Benjamín Torres-Barrón Danielle Valois Baker & McKenzie Abogados, S.C. Trench Rossi Watanabe Edificio Virreyes Av. Rio Branco, 1 - 19° Andar, Setor B Pedregal 24, 12th Floor Centro Empresarial International Rio Lomas Virreyes / Col. Molino del Rey, Mexico Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 20090-003 City 11040 Mexico Phone: +55 21 2206 4912 Phone: +52 55 5279 2979 Email: [email protected] Email: benjamin.torres- [email protected]
Professor Bret Wells Andy West University of Houston Law Center EnerVest, Ltd. 4604 Calhoun 1001 Fannin StreetSuite 800 Houston, TX 77204 Houston, TX 77002-6707 Phone: (713) 743-2502 Phone: (713) 970-1924 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Jeffrey A. Zlotky NGP Energy Capital Management L.L.C. 5221 N. O'Connor Blvd. 11th Floor Irving, TX 75039 Phone: (972) 432-1384 Email: [email protected]
W. James McAnelly III Partner
Houston T: +1.713.221.1194 F: +1.713.222.3241 E: [email protected] W: bracewell.com/mcanelly
About J. J.
W. James (J. J.) McAnelly serves as co-chair of the firm's oil and gas projects practice group. He represents oil, gas and energy industry clients in a broad range of oil and gas transactions, including the purchase, sale and/or financing of exploration and producing properties, processing plants, production and storage facilities and pipeline systems, as well as day-to-day operational representation. He also assists in the formation of joint ventures and partnerships for the funding, acquisition, operation and development of energy projects.
His finance practice focuses on the representation of commercial banks, investment banks and hedge funds in energy lending. He also represents lenders in structured finance and off-balance sheet transactions.
J. J. is nationally recognized by Chambers USA (2010-2017) as a well-regarded upstream oil and deal lawyer and is ranked in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional).
Education
The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. 1993
The University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A. 1990 – with honors
Noteworthy
Chambers Global, Oil & Gas (Transactional), 2011-2017
Chambers USA, Nationwide Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional), 2010 - 2017; Nationwide Energy & Natural Resources, 2009
The Legal 500 United States, Energy Transactions: Oil and Gas, 2017; Energy: Transactions, 2012 - 2013
Bar Admissions
Texas
We Know Energy® 1 Kimberly R. Phillips Shell Oil Company Global Litigation, Associate General Counsel—Americas Houston, Texas
Kimberly R. Phillips began her legal career as a briefing attorney for the Chief Justice of the Dallas Court of Appeals. From there she pursued a trial and appellate career at a major Texas firm where she made partner in 2001. She became, and remains, Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
In 2006, Kimberly assumed the position of Senior Legal Counsel for Shell Oil Company where she handled complex litigation matters. In 2011, she was promoted to Associate General Counsel—Strategy & Coordination for Shell’s Global Litigation organization. In that role, she managed a global team of 22, responsible for the creation, implementation and continuous improvement of core tools and processes needed to manage Shell’s litigation docket in a consistent and efficient manner globally. In June 2014, Kimberly was promoted to another Associate General Counsel role in the Global Litigation organization where she is now responsible for overseeing all of Shell’s litigation matters in the Americas region. She manages a team comprised of nearly 60 legal professionals, including 35 lawyers who manage litigation in countries throughout the region. Dan O. Dinges Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation Houston, Texas
Dan O. Dinges joined Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation in September, 2001 as its President and Chief Operating Officer, and a member of its Board of Directors. In May, 2002 he assumed his current position as Chairman, President and CEO. Prior to joining Cabot, Dinges held management positions over 20 years with Noble Energy.
In May 2015, Dinges was appointed chairman of the American Exploration & Production Council, a national trade association representing 31 of America’s premier independent natural gas and oil exploration and production companies. Mr. Dinges serves on the board of directors of United States Steel Corporation, American Petroleum Institute, American Exploration & Production Council, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Spitzer Industries, Boy Scouts of America, and Palmer Drug Abuse Program. He also serves on the executive committee of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law and Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Dinges is a member of the All-American Wildcatters. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Petroleum Land Management from The University of Texas.
David E. Pierce Washburn University School of Law Topeka, Kansas
DAVID E. PIERCE is a professor at Washburn University School of Law where he teaches courses in oil and gas law, energy regulation, environmental regulation, property, contracts, and legal drafting. He holds the Norman R. Pozez Chair in Business and Transactional Law. Paige Goodwin Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. Houston, Texas
Paige Goodwin is Assistant General Counsel – Litigation, Labor & Employment, Investigations for Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc., the downstream Americas segment of Total S.A. In this role, Paige manages the company’s disputes, provides counsel on employment and labor union matters, and directs internal and government investigations. Formerly, Paige served as senior attorney for the company’s polymers and specialty resins businesses and logistics group. During her time at Total, Paige has worked on capital projects and joint ventures, as well as intellectual property, finance, benefits, and compliance matters. Paige began her legal career as a litigator at Baker Botts L.L.P. in Houston, where she tried several cases to verdict and gained particular experience in complex commercial litigation, product liability and personal injury lawsuits, and internal investigations. Paige earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was a member of the Law Review and received a certificate in business at the Wharton School.
Nicholas N. Leach Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property San Ramon, California
Nicholas N. Leach is Chief Counsel – Intellectual Property, Downstream, Chemicals & Midstream Law, for Chevron Products Company (a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc.). Chevron’s Intellectual Property Law Groups enhance Chevron’s competitive technology advantage by identifying, securing and protecting Chevron’s IP rights globally, and by advising on IP and information technology risks and coordinating legal support across the enterprise on IP and technology law matters.
Prior to joining Chevron in 2007, Nick was Vice President and Chief Counsel – Intellectual Property of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide. In that role he was responsible for management of Kimberly-Clark's global portfolio of patents, industrial designs, trademarks, trade secrets and proprietary information, oversaw global patent enforcement proceedings and other significant intellectual property matters across all product/technology categories.
In addition to his in-house experience, Nick practiced intellectual property law with Troutman Sanders in Atlanta, Kenyon & Kenyon in New York City, and Morris Nichols in Wilmington.
Nick received his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Nick’s personal interests include traveling, riding motorcycles, scuba diving, and supporting Chelsea FC.
Downstream, Chemicals & Midstream Law Chevron Products Company (a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc.) 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA 94583 Tel 925 842 1534 Mobile 925 549 1481 Fax 925 842 2051 [email protected]
Anthony C. Marino Slattery, Marino & Roberts New Orleans, Louisiana
Biographical Information
Tony Marino is a shareholder at the law firm of Slattery, Marino & Roberts located in New Orleans, Louisiana. He concentrates his practice generally in mineral title examination, the acquisition and divestiture of mineral properties, regulatory matters relating to state waters and federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf. Mr. Marino has represented numerous energy producing companies before the (i) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; and (ii) Bureau of Safety Environmental Enforcement (collectively the federal agencies were formerly known as the Minerals Management Service) in the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska OCS Regions, Department of the Interior, Interior Board of Land Appeals, and other regulatory agencies concerning a variety of matters such as plugging and abandonment liability, bonding, oil spill financial responsibility, royalty valuation, royalty relief and incidents of non-compliance. Mr. Marino received his J.D. degree from Loyola University School of Law and attended the University of New Orleans, where he received his B.A. degree. Mr. Marino is the recipient of the AAPL APEX Educational Award in both 2000 and 2005, and the Corporate Leadership Award from the then Minerals Management Service, Pacific OCS Region in 2004. Mr. Marino is an Adjunct Professor teaching the Mineral Law Course at Loyola University School of Law.
marino.6.5.13
Kristi H. McCarthy Deputy General Counsel
Kristi McCarthy is Deputy General Counsel, Land and Law for Chevron North
America Exploration and Production Company (CNAEP), with direct supervisory responsibility over CNAEP’s legal and land matters as delegated by CNAEP’s Vice President and General Counsel. Ms. McCarthy also manages CNAEP Headquarters Law, the group responsible for managing CNAEP’s major acquisitions and divestitures, providing royalty and compliance advice, and handling critical regulatory issues. She also remotely manages the lawyers that support CNAEP’s Appalachian Mountain Business Unit, located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
Ms. McCarthy began her Chevron career in 2008, when she joined the Litigation Management Unit. In that role, she managed a multitude of complex litigation matters for Chevron. She went on to assume positions of increasing responsibility within CNAEP, serving in multiple managing counsel roles. Prior to Chevron, Ms. McCarthy was in private practice at King & Spalding in Houston, where Chevron was her primary client.
She serves as a management sponsor to Chevron’s Pro Bono Program in Houston and is currently representing an eight-year-old child in an immigration case. Ms. McCarthy also volunteers with The Posse Foundation and Dress for Success. She is a member of the Institute for Energy Law’s Advisory Committee, a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Ms. McCarthy received a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law in 2002 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communication from Baylor University in 1998.
Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company Chevron U.S.A. Inc. 1400 Smith Street, Houston, TX 77002 www.chevron.com
James P. O'Brien Partner Chicago, USA Tel: +1 312 861 7558 Fax: +1 312 698 2324 james.p.o'[email protected]
James P. O’ Brien chairs the Firm’s Global Energy, Mining & Infrastructure
Practice Group. He serves as counsel in major project and infrastructure transactions such as power generation and infrastructure facilities. Both on behalf of project sponsors and lenders, Mr. O’Brien has led moving complex Global areas of practice projects through development, project financing and operation. He has also Banking, Finance & Major Projects been lead counsel on limited recourse project financings, using traditional bank debt, leveraged leases and Rule 144A capital markets issues. And during project development, he has successfully managed complex siting, permitting and transaction issues.
Practice focus Mr. O'Brien's power project work includes fossil-fuel, renewable and waste- derived fuel projects. Amid a changing US energy market, his work has shifted to include acquisition and divestiture of power project assets for both financial and strategic parties. Mr. O'Brien served as outside General Counsel to the largest transmission and distribution utility in Texas, with more than 3 million customers. Mr. O’Brien lectures widely on energy and environmental law, and is the author of over 25 articles on various financing transaction issues.
Representative legal matters • USD515 million acquisition and project financing of Gas-fired Combined Cycle Plant, Hood County, Texas. • Acquisition and project financing of Coal-fired Power Plant, Virginia. • Development and project financing of Gas-fired Peaking Plant, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. • USD7.6 billion ScottishPower Acquisition of PacifiCorp. • USD4 billion TXU Sale of TXU Australia.
Professional honors Recognized in Project Finance Law, Best Lawyers in America, 2014
Professional Associations and Memberships • Federal Energy Bar Association • State Bar of Wisconsin • American Bar Association • American College of Real Estate Lawyers • Chicago Bar Association
Admissions and Education
Baker & McKenzie LLP • Wisconsin~United States (1983) 300 East Randolph Street, Suite 5000 • Illinois~United States (1983) Chicago, IL 60601 • University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D. cum laude, Order of the Coif) United States (1983) • University of Notre Dame (B.S. cum laude) (1980)
Kimberly Pilcher Exxon Mobil Corporation Spring, Texas
Assistant Chief Attorney at Exxon Mobil Corporation in the Labor & Employment Law group for 19 years
BBA – University of Texas at San Antonio
MBA – Our Lady of the Lake University
JD - Southern Methodist University
Kim leads the Labor & Employment law group at ExxonMobil. She first chairs cases in labor arbitration and handles a wide variety of labor and employment matters involving the: National Labor Relations Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disability Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and harassment policy investigations – essentially anything employee related. Prior to her role at ExxonMobil, Kim was in a sales role for over a decade selling credit and mortgage reports to financial institutions. In her spare time, she enjoys golf, running, triathlons, travel and cross stitch. Katherine Treistman Partner Houston T +1 713 658 6470 E [email protected] ...... Katherine Ginzburg Treistman, co-head of Orrick's Global Energy Disputes Group, is an experienced trial lawyer who handles Practice Areas disputes in state and federal courts ● Energy nationwide and in arbitration proceedings. ● Litigation & IP Katherine's practice focuses on complex commercial disputes in ● Complex Litigation & Dispute the energy industry, as well as antitrust, auditor liability, Resolution employment, and other commercial claims. In the energy sector, Katherine has handled numerous complex contractual and other ● Intellectual Property disputes, including successfully defending the former CEO of a ● Employment Law & Litigation global oilfield services company in a multimillion fraud claim against him and the company’s other officers, brought by a leading ● International Arbitration & investment management firm that loaned money to the company Dispute Resolution prior to its bankruptcy filing. She also represented a global, natural gas compression services company in various court proceedings ● Class Action Defense and in a high-profile arbitration related to sales of gas compressors and related contracts.
Notably, Katherine is a member of the Orrick litigation team selected as a preferred provider by ConocoPhillips.
Katherine earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, with Honors, was named to the Order of the Coif and served on the Texas Law Review. She holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Tufts University. Katherine is a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a member of the Association of Women Attorneys and the Houston Trial Lawyers Association. She is fluent in Russian and proficient in Spanish. Admissions ● Texas
Orrick Biography: Katherine Treistman 1
Gabriela B. Boersner Hess Corporation Houston, Texas
Gabriela (“Gabby”) B. Boersner is Vice President and General Counsel E&P, Hess Corporation in Houston, Texas. Mrs. Boersner graduated with a JD equivalent degree, summa cum laude, from Universidad Central de Venezuela (Caracas, Venezuela) in 1999. She later continued her education at the University of Texas at Austin where she obtained an LLM degree. Mrs. Boersner is admitted to the New York State Bar as well as the bar of Caracas, Venezuela. Prior to joining Hess, Mrs. Boersner spent over a decade at Exxon Mobil Corporation. Before that she was employed in the Caracas office of McLeod Dixon (currently, Norton Rose Fulbright). Mrs. Boersner has experience in the areas of oil and gas operations (domestic and international), restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, project finance and MLPs.
Elizabeth E. Klingensmith Partner 717 Texas Avenue Suite 1400 • Houston, TX 77002 v. +1.713.632.8697 f. +1.713.583.2231 [email protected]
Bar Admissions Liz Klingensmith primarily focuses her corporate litigation practice on oil and gas North Dakota litigation, routinely representing companies both large and small in disputes arising Texas from oil and gas operations and transactions in Texas and North Dakota as well as oil and gas clients in Oklahoma and Louisiana on a pro hac vice basis. U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Texas Ms. Klingensmith has litigated small and large-scale disputes in a wide array of U.S. District Court - industries that includes transportation, construction, banking, real estate, and Northern District of Texas professional services. She has extensive experience handling lawsuits involving claims for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, post-judgment U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas enforcement, theft of trade secrets, breach of employment agreements, conversion, and declaratory judgment. She also regularly counsels clients on U.S. District Court - disputes arising from joint operating agreements, master services agreements, Western District of Texas procurement agreements, lease agreements, exploration and development agreements, joint venture agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and various Education financing agreements. University of Houston Whether in a small town courtroom or before an arbitration panel comprised of Law Center, JD industry experts, Ms. Klingensmith comes prepared with an understanding of the Rice University, B.Mus law and facts, and a full appreciation of her clients’ business objectives. She capably Rice University, BA simplifies complex issues into a persuasive story whether for judge, jury, or mediator. As a result, she has distinguished herself as a trusted advisor and zealous
advocate for her clients. She approaches each dispute with an eye towards facilitating early resolution, but when the time comes to go to trial, she fiercely and fearlessly advocates on her clients’ behalf. Ms. Klingensmith frequently speaks on a variety of litigation law topics and authors articles for national audiences on topics related to oilfield services, oil and gas litigation, and energy litigation. During law school, she served on the editorial staff for the Houston Journal of International Law. Representative Matters . Successfully facilitated a settlement agreement between a working interest owner and operator involving an alleged misappropriation of funds from a joint account. . Provided trial consulting services for numerous cases in Oklahoma involving claims by landowners related to an alleged failure to further develop a stacked play. . Assembled and led a litigation team in responding to voluminous discovery requests on behalf of a third-party to bankruptcy proceedings, including the collection, processing, review, and production of electronically-stored information.
. Tried to jury verdict a contract dispute arising between former executives and a successor-in-interest following a merger involving compensation and benefits. . Successfully obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of an employer against a former employee in a dispute arising from the misappropriation of trade secrets. . Successfully tried a commercial lease dispute to favorable judgment for a former tenant. . Successfully secured a take-nothing judgment after a bench trial against an engineering firm related to the procurement and commissioning of an inoperable vapor recovery unit. . Arbitrated a multimillion dollar dispute arising from a failed Deepwater development project in the Gulf of Mexico against a foreign corporation and domestic subsidiaries. . Obtained a favorable arbitration award on behalf of a pipeline company against a large valve manufacturer for damages, costs, and attorney’s fees incurred as a result of an inline inspection tool becoming lodged in a defective valve. . Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of the former owners of a waterflood project related to alleged violations of Texas Railroad Commission Rules concerning injection wells. . Successfully mediated an oil and gas arbitration dispute to a favorable settlement on behalf of an investment banker related to the rendition of financial advisory services in connection with the acquisition of oil and gas interests. . Litigated a dispute that concerned the construction of various provisions in a series of oil and gas leases, including continuous operations and horizontal severance clauses. . Advised a non-operating working interest owner on issues with an operator arising from a joint operating agreement and participation agreement. . Advised a non-operating working interest owner on a dispute arising from inadvertent assignments of oil and gas interests outside an area of mutual interest. . Successfully mediated a settlement of a construction dispute in an arbitration arising from procurement issues. . Successfully arbitrated a non-subscriber claim arising from a workplace injury. . Prosecuted code violations and misdemeanors for the City of Houston Municipal Courts as a volunteer prosecutor.
Community Service & Affiliations Ms. Klingensmith is passionate about engaging young and diverse professionals in the energy industry and currently serves as the chair of the Young Energy Professionals (“YEP”) Committee for the Institute for Energy Law. Prior to leading the YEP Committee, she co-chaired the ABA Section of Litigation Energy Litigation Committee. Over the years, Ms. Klingensmith has been involved with the United Way through the Women’s Initiative and Young Leader programs, the Houston Bar Association Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, and the Association of Women Attorneys as the 2014 Judicial Reception Chair. Ms. Klingensmith is a Houston Young Lawyers Foundation Fellow, Class of 2010.
Nadège A. Assalé Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea LLC New Orleans, Louisiana
Ms. Assalé is a Special Counsel with the Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea Law Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. She concentrates her practice in the areas of Oil & Gas law and Energy Law, including title examination, the acquisition and disposition of Oil and Gas properties, and general commercial transactions. She advises Upstream and Midstream companies on a broad range of legal, commercial, and Federal and State regulatory compliance matters in support of energy resource exploration, development and production. She regularly represents clients before Federal and State agencies such as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA), and the Louisiana Mineral and Energy Board. She also has subject matter expertise in rendering legal opinions on complex mineral and surface titles in Louisiana and on the Outer Continental Shelf. Prior to joining the Bradley Murchison Law Firm, Ms. Assalé was a Member of the Slattery, Marino & Roberts Law Firm in New Orleans. She also worked for several years as a Commercial Representative/Landman with Shell Exploration & Production Company, overseeing the governance and prosecution of a number of Oil and Gas contracts and agreements related to Shell’s assets in the Gulf of Mexico (Offshore, Shelf and Deepwater, US), and in Canada (Onshore, Alberta Province - Southern Alberta, and Offshore, Nova Scotia Province - Sable Island), as well as the divestiture of assets in said regions. Ms. Assalé is a graduate of the Loyola University College of Law (New Orleans) where she received her J.D. in Civil Law (Magna Cum Laude), and the University of Oklahoma where she received her B.B.A in Energy Management and Finance Minor (Special Distinctions). Ms. Assalé is a native French speaker from Côte d’Ivoire. Scott T. Baken Principal, White Plains Office Jackson Lewis P.C. (914) 872-6868 [email protected]
Scott T. Baken is a Principal with the national workplace law firm Jackson Lewis P.C., headquartered in the firm’s White Plains, New York office. Mr. Baken received a B.S. degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in 1981, and a J.D. degree from the Fordham University School of Law in 1984.
A member of the Bar of New York State, Mr. Baken is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Western and Northern Districts of New York, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Northern District of Illinois and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Circuits.
Mr. Baken is a senior trial lawyer who has defended numerous jury and bench trials alleging employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract and tort theories of recovery in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Mr. Baken also defends employers in administrative proceedings before fair employment practice agencies, lectures and advises clients on subjects such as sexual harassment, age discrimination, reductions in force and the implementation of preventive personnel practices designed to increase productivity, enhance morale and ensure compliance with the many federal, state and local laws that impact the workplace.
Mr. Baken is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society whose members are selected on the basis of their effectiveness, accomplishment in litigation and trial work, and ethical reputation. In December 2016, Mr. Baken received the Judge Learned Hand Award from the American Jewish Committee (Westchester/Fairfield Region). This award is presented to an outstanding leader in the legal profession who exemplifies the high principles for which Judge Learned Hand was renowned.
Mr. Baken is also the co-coordinator of Jackson Lewis’ Reduction in Force practice. In this capacity, Mr. Baken works with experienced Jackson Lewis attorneys situated throughout the country who utilize an interdisciplinary approach to providing advice and counsel on the cutting edge of the reduction in force and workplace reorganization issues facing employers today. These attorneys specialize in: (1) disciplines such as employee benefits, employment and benefits-related litigation, labor relations and immigration law; (2) compliance with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) and similar state laws; and (3) conducting statistical disparate impact analyses.
Jackson Lewis regularly assists both union and non-union employers in managing their staffing needs in a professional and empathetic manner designed to ease the transition of departing employees and enhance the morale and productivity of remaining employees. Our firm experts partner with clients in planning and implementing reductions in force, workforce reorganizations and voluntary attrition programs occasioned by corporate transactions, cost-saving programs and other business initiatives. Fully cognizant of the confidential and time-sensitive nature of these programs, Mr. Baken and his team draw on the breadth of their expertise and experience to respond rapidly and effectively to the multiplicity of issues confronting the employers they serve. James A. Baker III Baker Botts, L.L.P. Houston, Texas James A. Baker, III, has held senior government positions under three U.S. presidents. He served President George Bush as the nation's 61st Secretary of State from January 1989 through August 1992, a period when the United States confronted the unprecedented challenges and opportunities of the post–Cold War era. Mr. Baker served as the 67th Secretary of the Treasury from 1985 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. He served twice as White House Chief of Staff -- from 1981 to 1985 under President Reagan and from 1992-1993 under President Bush. His record of public service began in 1975 as Under Secretary of Commerce to President Gerald Ford. Long active in American presidential politics, Mr. Baker led presidential campaigns for Presidents Ford, Reagan, and Bush over the course of five consecutive presidential elections from 1976 to 1992.
A native Houstonian, Mr. Baker graduated from Princeton University in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in History. After two years of active duty as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, he entered The University of Texas School of Law at Austin and graduated with honors in 1957. Mr. Baker is a senior partner in the law firm of Baker Botts L.L.P. He is Honorary Chairman of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University and serves on the board of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In recent years, he has served with former Congressman Lee Hamilton as co-chairmen of the Iraq Study Group, with President Jimmy Carter as co-chairmen of the Commission on Federal Election Reform and with the late Secretary of State Warren Christopher as co-chairmen of the National War Powers Commission. He and his wife, the former Susan Garrett, reside in Houston, and have eight children and 18 grandchildren.
Ben Bosell Chevron U.S.A. Houston, Texas
Ben Bosell presently serves as Senior Counsel for Chevron U.S.A. Inc. in its Houston office. He has worked exclusively in oil and gas law since graduating law school in 2005. Prior to joining Chevron in 2012, Ben worked at a few law firms, starting in Midland, Texas and most recently at Fulbright & Jaworski. His practice has been devoted to working a broad spectrum of upstream and midstream matters. At Chevron, Ben has been more focused on upstream matters in the Permian Basin, in both Texas and New Mexico, working on acquisitions and divestitures, swaps, JV agreements, water agreements (supply, disposal, recycling), dispute resolution, public lands issues, leasing and other mineral owner agreements, ESA issues, and regulatory counseling. He is active in several trade associations and is currently the chair of New Mexico Oil and Gas Association’s legal committee. Ben holds a B.A. in International Economics and Finance from Austin College, a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and a M.P.Aff. also from U.T. Austin. He was certified in 2010 as a specialist in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Texas. He is licensed to practice law in Texas (2005), New Mexico (2006) and Pennsylvania (2012).
John G. Browning Shareholder Passman & Jones, P.C. Dallas, Texas
John Browning is a shareholder in the Dallas, Texas firm of Passman & Jones, P.C., where he handles civil litigation in state and federal courts, in areas ranging from employment and intellectual property to commercial cases and defense of products liability, professional liability, media law, and general negligence matters. Mr. Browning has extensive trial, arbitration, and summary judgment experience and has represented companies in a wide variety of industries throughout Texas. Mr. Browning received his Bachelor of Arts with general and departmental honors from Rutgers University in 1986, where he was a National Merit Scholar and member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1989. He is the author of the books The Lawyer’s Guide to Social Networking, Understanding Social Media’s Impact on the Law, (West 2010); the Social Media and Litigation Practice Guide (West 2014); and two forthcoming books, including a book on legal ethics and social media for the ABA. Mr. Browning is also a contributing author to seven other books, the author of over 25 published law review articles; and the award-winning writer of numerous articles for regional and national legal publications. His work has been cited in over 250 law review articles, practice guides in 11 states, and by courts in Texas, California, Maryland, Tennessee, and Florida. He has been quoted as a leading authority on social media and the law by such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Law 360, Time Magazine, The National Law Journal, the ABA Journal, WIRED Magazine and Inside Counsel Magazine, and he is a recurring legal commentator for the NBC, CBS, and FOX news stations in Dallas. He serves as Chair of the Texas Bar Journal Board of Editors, as a member of Professional Ethics Committee of the State Bar of Texas, and is a frequent speaker at CLE seminars and legal symposia all over the country.
Jamie Lavergne Bryan Shareholder
Commercial Litigation; Energy Industry; Energy Law; Environmental Law Jamie Bryan maintains a diverse litigation practice focusing on energy- related litigation, eminent domain and complex business disputes. Jamie has tried cases before both juries and the bench on a wide variety of complex oil and gas issues ranging from lease termination to violations of the Texas Securities Act, and often handles royalty litigation, oil and gas auditing issues, disputes arising from oil and gas audits, and eminent Fort Worth domain right to take challenges. Jamie has appeared before numerous 817.420.8209 Direct courts within the State of Texas in cases related to eminent domain, 817.420.8201 Fax auditing, lease termination, surface development, municipal regulation, and [email protected] operational issues.
University of Houston Law Representative Experience Center . J.D., 2000 . Worked with clients through all phases of litigation including . cum laude receiverships, trial, post-judgment enforcement, and appeals. . Member, University of . Represented the American Petroleum Institute as amicus curiae Houston Law Review before the Texas Supreme Court in Tomas Chapa Yzaguirre, et. al. (1998-2000) v. KCS Resources, Inc. and Coastal Oil & Gas Corp. v. Coates Texas A&M University Energy Trusts. . B.S., Bioenvironmental Sciences, 1996 . Defense of oil and gas producers in royalty litigation. . Alpha Delta Honorary . Defense of oil and gas producers in ground water contamination Fraternity litigation. Admitted to Practice . Defense of oil and gas producers in hydraulic fracturing cases. . Texas, 2000 . Defense of oil and gas producers in Texas state courts concerning . Pennsylvania, 2011 surface damages caused by drilling operations. . U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit . Defense of oil and gas producers in Texas state courts concerning . U.S. District Court for the title issues. Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas . Defense of oil and gas producers in Texas state courts concerning auditing and payment disputes. . Prosecution of inverse condemnation cases for projects against municipalities. . Defense of oil and gas producers in lease termination cases. . Maintains specialized practice in the area of eminent domain, representing midstream energy clients and other condemning authorities in a variety of matters involving real property rights acquisitions, easement negotiations, condemnation proceedings, right to take challenges and subsequent litigation.
Awards & Recognition . Recognized in the "We’ve Come a Long Way – Celebrating Top Women in the North Texas Oil & Gas Industry" exhibit, Hamon Oil and Gas Resource Center at the Dallas Public Library, 2017 . Women in Energy Law Award, Texas Lawyer, 2016 . Winning Women In Texas, Texas Lawyer, 2011 . Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2014-2017 . 40 Under 40, Fort Worth Business Press, 2010 . Tarrant County's Top Attorneys, Fort Worth, Texas, 2011-2017 . AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
1 SHELL MEXICO
Lucia Bustamante,
Head of Government Relations
Background
Lucia started her career as a Research Assistant for Standard Poor’s in Mexico City. She joined BP in Mexico in 1999, where she had various commercial and corporate affairs responsibilities. In 2006, Lucia was transferred to Houston with BP. There, she held several positions within the BP America Government Relations team. Among other activities throughout this period, Lucia was actively involved in the response of the “Deepwater Horizon” incident in 2010, acting as spokesperson and liaising with various government, community and NGO stakeholders in nine counties in Florida.
She joined Shell in 2012 as Head of Government Relations, where she has lead various advocacy efforts in and around Energy Reform; and collaborates actively in various task forces within the Association of Hydrocarbon Producers (AMEXHI).
Lucia was born and raised in Mexico City. She holds a Bachelor´s Degree in Business Administration and a Master´s degree in Finance, both from Anahuac University. Lucia also has a Political Analysis diploma from the Center for Economic Research and Docency (CIDE), as well as a Leadership diploma from Rice University in Houston.
Michael A. Celata
Regional Director Gulf of Mexico Region Bureau of Ocean Energy Management U.S. Department of the Interior
Mike Celata, BOEM Gulf of Mexico Region Director, leads all leasing, regulatory oversight, and resource management functions for offshore energy and marine minerals development on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico OCS and for oil and gas and G&G permitting activities on the U.S. Atlantic OCS. He has worked for the Department of Interior for 28 years. During tenure, he has played key leadership roles in advancing geological and geophysical survey activity along the Atlantic coast, developing and implementing worst case discharge reviews, implementing financial risk operations, and developing the geological interpretive tools system. He holds a B.A. in geology and physics from Bowdoin College and attended the Boston College Master of Science Program, where he was a seismological research assistant.
The Gulf of Mexico OCS is the primary offshore source of hydrocarbons for the United States, generating approximately 97 percent of all offshore oil and natural gas production accounting for 17% of total U.S. crude oil production and federal offshore natural gas production in the Gulf accounts for 5% of total U.S. dry production. Blake Chisam PARTNER
R. Blake Chisam is Fragomen’s Chief Audit and Privacy Officer. In this role, Blake oversees the firm's audit and risk management activities, as well as the firm's privacy program. Resident to the firm’s Washington, DC office, Blake’s practice focuses on risk management and compliance, along with government strategies.
Blake was previously senior counsel to the immigration E [email protected] subcommittee for the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, 1101 15TH STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, DC 20005, UNITED STATES where he worked on policy and oversight issues related to T +1 202 349 2060 employment-based immigration, international law, border F +1 202 371 2898 security, immigration enforcement, refugee issues, naturalization and citizenship. In addition to his former role with the House Judiciary Committee, Blake served as Staff Director and Chief Counsel for the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics Committee) from 2009-2011, and counsel to the Ethics Committee Chair and Senior Policy Advisor to Representative Zoe Lofgren in 2009. During his tenure, Blake directed an unprecedented number of complex Congressional ethics investigations and served as lead counsel in high-profile House ethics disciplinary hearings.
Prior to his government service, Blake practiced immigration and nationality law in the private sector. His practice focused on advising organizations with respect to immigration-related policy, employment issues and other related matters. Blake is a sought-after speaker and guest lecturer and has published many commentaries on immigration law including a book, Immigration Practice, which he co-authored. In 2000, he was awarded the Meritorious Public Service Award by former Attorney General Janet Reno.
https://www.fragomen.com/people/blake-chisam
Steven L. Christian Chevron Houston, Texas
Steven Christian is Senior Counsel within Chevron’s Intellectual Property Law Group. Steve provides intellectual property-related legal support for Chevron’s upstream operations in Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East, as well as intellectual property and strategic contract-related legal support for Chevron’s Energy Technology Company.
Mark D. Christiansen McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Mark Christiansen’s practice involves the representation of oil and gas producers, purchasers and other sectors of the energy industry primarily in litigation matters. He is Co-Leader of the Energy and Oil & Gas Practice Group in the law firm of McAfee & Taft, and works from the firm’s Oklahoma City office.
For the past 3 years, Mark has served on the national Advisory Board for Energy Law 360. He serves on the Board of Trustees, and on the Executive Committee, for the Dallas-based Center for American and International Law. Mark also served in 2011 - 2013 on the Executive Committee for the Board of Trustees for the Denver-based Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.
Since 1997, he has been listed in Best Lawyers in America under the practice areas of Natural Resources and Energy Law. Since the inaugural listings of Oklahoma lawyers in these two publications, Mark has been listed in Oklahoma Super Lawyers on the list of the Top 50 lawyers in the State of Oklahoma and on the list of top attorneys in the area of Energy and Natural Resources Law, and in the Chambers USA Directory's listing of leading Oklahoma attorneys in the area of Energy and Natural Resources Law.
Mark served as the Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Litigation Committee of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) from 2001–2003. For over 20 years, he has served as lead editor and co-author of annual energy litigation updates in the United States for the Year in Review publication of ABA SEER, and is lead editor for a similar annual energy litigation update published by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Journal.
Some of Mark’s other publications include: Co-Author (with Prof. David Pierce), “When the Horizontal and Vertical Collide: Frac Hits and Operator Quest for Détente,” 61 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute 12 (2015); Author of Chapter titled "Oil and Gas Royalty Class Action Lawsuits," in the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section's Book titled A Practitioner's Guide to Class Actions (2nd Ed. 2017); Author, "The Top Ten Recent Court Decisions Challenging the Oil and Gas Industry," 58 Oil & Gas Instit. Chapt. 4, at 87 (2007); Co-Author, "A Different 'Slant' on JOAs," 57 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute 25 (2012); "Class Actions Pushed to the Extreme--Will Class Action Plaintiff Lawyers Be Permitted to Re- Zone Our Courts for Tract Housing?” 24 Journal of Land, Resources and Environmental Law 77 (2004); “A Landman’s Guide to Drafting Provisions for the Allocation of Gas Marketing-Related Costs Under the Oil and Gas Lease,” 45 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute 21 (1999); and Co-Author, “COPAS for Landmen and Lawyers,” 48 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute (2002).
KELLY COBB PARTNER
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP 4 Houston Center 1331 Lamar, Suite 1570 Houston, TX 77010 [email protected] T +1 281 605 3100
ABOUT Kelly is a Partner at Fragomen’s Houston office, where she represents clients across a variety of industries, including the international energy sector, manufacturing, information technology, finance and shipping. She guides corporations in the development and implementation of strategic immigration policies and advises U.S. and international clients on immigration issues related to corporate restructuring including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and start- ups. Kelly has a broad range of experience in all areas of employment immigration, including nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, labor certifications, and family-based cases and citizenship.
Kelly has in-depth experience working within Houston’s international energy sector, primarily focusing on large volume corporate immigration, including management of both U.S. immigration and global migration. She has more than 15 years of experience counseling clients in U.S. Outer Continental Shelf compliance, particularly focusing on assisting international corporations in vessel exemptions, specialist work authorizations and crew member exemptions.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE Represented U.S. and global corporations in obtaining work authorizations for entire vessel crew and specialists assigned to the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf
Managed PERM labor certification programs for large engineering and information technology companies
Advised U.S. and international clients on immigration implications for complex corporate restructuring
Partnered with clients to proactively address the issues related to maintaining and deploying an international workforce
AWARDS Listed in Chambers USA (Chambers and Partners), 2006-2008, 2017 Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2010-2018 Listed in The Legal 500 United States (Legalease Ltd.) 2013 as a “Recommended Attorney” Listed as a “Top Rated Immigration Attorney” in Texas Super Lawyers (Thompson Reuters), 2009-2013, and as a “Rising Star,” 2005-2007
1 Travis L. Counts Concho Resources Inc. Midland, Texas
Travis L. Counts is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Concho Resources Inc. He joined Concho in 2013. Before joining Concho, Travis served as Vice President, Legal and Deputy General Counsel of Halcón Resources Corporation and as Associate General Counsel – Corporate of Petrohawk Energy Corporation. Prior to joining Petrohawk, Travis practiced at the Hinkle Elkouri Law Firm L.L.C., where he ultimately became a member.
Travis holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Tulane University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and as a member of the Order of the Coif.
Jordan W. Cowman Greenberg Traurig LLP Dallas, Texas
Jordan W. Cowman Co-Chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice’s International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies group. He focuses his practice on transnational projects and transactions, international agreements, public international law and policy, and corporate compliance. He has a broad range of international experience representing and advising governments and international agencies on policy issues, as well as multinationals in industries including: logistics, technology, transportation, energy, defense, manufacturing, retail, banking, food, aviation, chemical, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing and private equity.
Jordan represents a broad range of organizations in all facets of management-side labor and employment law. During more than two decades of practice, he has gained a national reputation for his practical, solution-oriented approach to employment law issues.
Jordan handles diverse employment matters, including employment discrimination and wrongful termination cases, wage and hour compliance, labor arbitration cases, non-competition cases, and internal corporate investigations. He also counsels employers concerning day-to-day human resources issues as well as myriad legal requirements in the workplace, particularly related to significant operational changes such as mergers, acquisitions, business relocations or reductions in force.
Concentrations
Corporate compliance Cross-border transactions International regulatory Labor & employment Privacy and data security Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
Terry I. Cross McClure & Cross LLP Dallas, Texas
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.
WAYNE J. D’ANGELO PARTNER WASHINGTON, D.C. | (202) 342-8525 [email protected]
Wayne advises heavily regulated companies and industries on environmental, health, safety and natural resources matters. Wayne routinely works with clients on regulatory and compliance issues arising under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), as well as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Education Compensation, and Liability (CERCLA). As co-chair of the firm’s Energy George Mason University School of Law J.D. practice, Wayne advocates for the energy companies and trade
University of Scranton associations on a wide range of regulatory compliance, natural resource B.A. extraction and land-use matters. Wayne also represents a number of heavily regulated stationary source industries like steel mills, chemical Bar Admissions companies and other manufacturing facilities in rulemaking and District of Columbia compliance matters under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA and New Jersey other federal and state statutes. Courts Wayne is highly valued by clients and colleagues alike for developing a U.S. Supreme Court sophisticated understanding of his clients’ operations and for using that U.S. Court of Appeals–District of Columbia Circuit knowledge for credible, well-informed and effective advocacy. He approaches each new matter with enthusiasm, disciplined analytical skills, U.S. Court of Appeals–Third Circuit a diligent work ethic and a fanatical focus on details, deadlines and client U.S. District Court–District of Columbia communication. Wayne’s ability to break down both the legal and technical issues of a given matter helps him to consistently craft effective and persuasive arguments. Wayne’s approach to advocacy is tenacious, whether the task involves extensive research or action-oriented diplomacy in driving an argument toward the right conclusion.
Wayne advocates for heavily regulated industrial clients through all aspects of the federal rulemaking process, including, where necessary, litigation. As a result, Wayne is frequently involved in the coordination of the firm’s legal, government relations, public relations and economics teams to develop effective, multifaceted responses to proposed regulations. Wayne also counsels clients regarding their strategic planning and compliance matters, as well as advising on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, OSHA regulations and environmental regulations pertaining to waste.
Susan Llewellyn Deniker Member Steptoe & Johnson PLLC 400 White Oaks Boulevard Bridgeport, WV 26330 304-933-8154 [email protected]
Susan Llewellyn Deniker focuses her practice in the areas of labor and employment law, litigation, and education law. Her practice includes state and federal court cases, as well as cases before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the West Virginia Human Rights Commission, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Deniker is leader of Steptoe & Johnson’s Labor and Employment Practice Group.
Ms. Deniker is a member of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, National Association of College and University Attorneys and National School Board Association Council of School Attorneys. She is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in the areas of labor and employment law. Ms. Deniker received her law degree from William & Mary where she participated in the William & Mary Law Review. She graduated summa cum laude from Frostburg State University.
Ms. Deniker is a frequent speaker and presenter for clients and industry groups on various employment law issues and topics.
Greg Dillard Partner [email protected] Houston p +1.713.270.3444
Practices Greg Dillard advises energy and chemical companies on safety, health and Environmental and environmental (SHE) issues, focusing on major accident response, including upstream, Workplace Safety midstream and downstream process safety management (PSM) incidents and workplace Energy Litigation fatalities. Greg is co-chair of Katten’s Major Accident Response practice, and after incidents, Greg works closely with the general counsel and senior company executives to Major Accident and provide strategic guidance. In addition, he frequently provides on-site tactical support, Incident Response working with regulators. Greg’s practices also entails litigating subsequent regulatory Workplace Safety and enforcement cases, including OSHA, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement OSHA (BSEE), EPA, and state agencies. Greg also routinely supervises internal company Environmental Crimes investigations and trains companies on all aspects of safety and health compliance law to and Internal help prevent incidents. Investigations Environmental Civil Greg has a wide range of litigation experience, having represented clients before Litigation administrative law judges in both state and federal courts. He successfully tried a 20-day OSHA trial, resulting in a dismissal of all 42 willful citations and a decrease in penalties Environmental Regulatory and from $2.9 million to $35,000. Permitting Greg is co-chair of Katten's Process Safety Advocacy group, which focuses exclusively Environmental and on effective advocacy for oil, gas and chemical companies related to the proposed Workplace Safety revisions to the PSM rules under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. As co- Coalitions chair, Greg works to influence OSHA as it continues its efforts to reform the current PSM Construction standard, including development of strategy, meeting with regulators and drafting Employment Law and comments to OSHA. Litigation Recognition Monitorships Legal 500, 2016, 2017
Education Houston Business Journal, 2016 Who's Who in Energy JD, The University of Chambers USA - Ranked In, Recognized Practitioner, 2016, 2017 Texas at Austin
School of Law
BS, Georgetown University – School of Foreign Service
1 US_130034793v1_299000-04441 0/0/0000 0:00 AM
Jeff Dodd Andrews Kurth Kenyon L.L.P. Houston, Texas
Jeff Dodd is a partner with Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP. He is both a corporate and securities partner and the Co-Chair of Andrews Kurth Kenyon’s IP and Technology practice. On his corporate side, Jeff has represented public and private companies, investors, and financing sources, including many in the energy industry. On his IP and Technology side, Jeff has extensive experience in a variety of domestic and international licensing and other information- related transactions and cybersecurity and privacy matters. He is a co-author of Modern Licensing Law (Thomson-West) and co-author of Drafting Effective Contracts (Wolters Kluwer) (forthcoming). He is a frequent speaker and author. See https://www.andrewskurth.com/people- JeffCDodd.html
Mary Lou Fry Statoil Gulf Services LLC Austin, Texas
Mary Lou Fry is the Lead attorney for the team providing legal support to Statoil’s U.S. upstream development and production business (Bakken, Eagle Ford and Appalachia). She recently relocated to Statoil’s Austin office from Houston. Prior to joining Statoil in May 2011, she served as the General Counsel for Torch Energy Advisors. Before Torch she was in the legal department at Shell and was an attorney at Mayer Brown. She also served on the board of the Houston Bar Association Oil and Gas Section and is involved in several other industry and community organizations. She received an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Kentucky and a law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1983.
Vanessa Garza Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Houston, Texas
Vanessa is Senior Counsel in Chevron’s Litigation Management Unit supporting the company’s upstream and corporate business clients in North America. Vanessa has been with Chevron since 2008 and prior to that was in private practice for eight years at Vinson & Elkins LLP. Vanessa manages a wide range of disputes at Chevron but her particular areas of focus are in royalty disputes, class actions and employment litigation. Vanessa also conducts internal investigations on behalf of the company and routinely advises her business clients on pre- litigation disputes and risk management. Vanessa graduated cum laude from Amherst College in 1996 and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1999.
THE HAYNES AND BOONE TEAM
ARS George Y. Gonzalez Partner [email protected]
Houston 1221 McKinney Street T +1 713.547.2011
Suite 2100 F +1 713.236.5497 Houston, Texas 77010
George Y. Gonzalez is a trusted advisor to clients in the energy, oil Practices and Industries and gas, midstream, upstream, downstream, power, water, food and Oil and Gas beverage, construction, infrastructure, real estate, healthcare and Energy, Power and Natural technology industries. A partner in the Energy, Mergers and Resources Acquisitions and International Practice Groups in the Houston office Mexico Energy Reform of Haynes and Boone, he counsels U.S. and international businesses Midstream in general corporate law with an emphasis on mergers and Mergers and Acquisitions acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate control matters, securities, Joint Ventures privately held companies and international legal issues. Corporate George counsels public and private corporations and other Power and Renewables businesses on their corporate, partnership or other limited liability International structure; provides guidance on day-to-day operating and Latin America and the Caribbean transactions strategies; and negotiates combination, service Mexico agreements, public private partnerships (P3), and other transactions. Brazil George has negotiated on behalf of clients in Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain Spain and Venezuela, among other countries. Additionally, he has Franchise and Distribution participated in panel discussions regarding business developments in Project Finance and Development Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Canada, Venezuela, Chile and the Andean Finance regions. George studied for a year as a Rotary Graduate Scholar in U.S. Inbound Investment 1991 at the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. Family Office George has written and presented material on a variety of topics Education and Clerkships including Mexico energy reform, NAFTA, and private equity J.D., Harvard Law School, 1994, opportunities within the U.S. Hispanic market. Executive Editor, Harvard International Law Journal In 2010, George was nationally recognized as One of the Top 100 B.A., Rice University, 1990 Influential Hispanics in the U.S. in Hispanic Business magazine's Rotary Scholarship, Pontificia October issue. He was honored by Chambers Latin America (2015- Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 2018) and Chambers Global (2015 and 2017), Chambers & Partners, 1991; Valparaíso, Chile in the Latin America Corporate M&A category. In 2016, Chambers Bar Admissions USA, Chambers & Partners, honored George for Latin American Texas Investment in Texas. He was also recognized in Latin Lawyer 250 (2016), Law Business Research Ltd., for his leading legal work in the Languages energy industry. Specifically, clients describe George as a “lawyer Spanish who works at a high level, with understanding of both business and legal issues, giving practical and pragmatic advice” (Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners, 2016).
1 Matthew Hendrix is Corporate Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Parsley Energy, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin. In this role, Mr. Hendrix leads Parsley’s legal efforts relating to the acquisition, divestiture, and exchange of oil and gas properties. He is also heavily involved in the company's equity and debt offerings, corporate finance transactions, SEC reporting and compliance, corporate governance, and board and other corporate-level
matters. Matthew Hendrix Before joining Parsley in 2016, Mr. Hendrix spent several Corporate Counsel and years as an associate at globally recognized law firms in Assistant Secretary Los Angeles, Singapore and Houston, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets Parsley Energy, Inc. and corporate governance. In 2015 and 2016, he was Austin, Texas named a “Rising Star” in the Texas legal market by Super Lawyers.
Mr. Hendrix holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from
the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Arts in International Relations and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School.
Tracy Hester University of Houston Law Center Houston, Texas
Tracy Hester is a lecturer at the University of Houston Law Center, where he teaches environmental law, climate change, emerging technologies, and statutory interpretation courses at the University of Houston Law Center. His research focuses on the innovative application of environmental laws to emerging technologies and risks, such as climate engineering, genetic modification, nanotechnologies, wind and other renewable energy projects, and on novel compliance and liability issues. Professor Hester also writes on the application of environmental criminal laws to disasters and accidental releases.
Prior to joining the University of Houston, he was a partner at the law firm of Bracewell LLP for 17 years where he headed its Houston environmental practice group. He was named to the Council of the American Bar Association’s Section on Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER) in 2001, elected to the American Law Institute in 2004, and admitted to the American College of Environmental Lawyers in 2014. Hester was the past chair of SEER’s Congressional Relations Committee and its Environmental Enforcement and Crimes Committee, and is now the current co-chair of its new Law Professors Committee.
Erin Hopkins
Erin Hopkins Erin Hopkins is a member of the firm's Global Projects Practice, in Houston. His practice focuses on complex commercial matters in the energy industry, including the acquisition and divestiture of energy companies and assets and joint venture arrangements. His experience includes drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, joint venture agreements and various ancillary transaction documents. EXPERIENCE
• Public energy company - divestures of domestic oil and gas assets valued at over $2.5 Billion SENIOR ASSOCIATE • Private equity energy fund - investment in and formation of portfolio One Shell Plaza companies with aggregate equity commitments of over $1.0 billion 910 Louisiana Street Houston, Texas 77002-4995 • Private equity backed U.S. Company - acquisition of Eagle Ford United States of America upstream and midstream assets valued at $800 million +1.713.229.1402 +1.713.229.2702 fax • Private equity investor in an asset-based JV investment for the [email protected] development of Utica assets
EDUCATION AND HONORS • Privately held corporation - formation of drilling partnership with private equity fund to develop oil and gas assets in the Permian basin J.D., Washington University School of • Private equity backed U.S. company - joint venture to develop North Law, 2010 Texas oil and gas assets B.A., Saint Thomas University, 2007 • Private equity backed U.S. Company - acquisition of South Texas oil COURT ADMISSIONS & and gas assets valued at $300 million AFFILIATIONS • Private equity backed U.S. Company - acquisition of certain oil and gas assets in Alberta Canada State Bar of Texas • Private equity backed U.S. Company - acquisitions of certain Marcellus
Shale assets, including pipelines
• Private equity backed UK Company - acquisition of various U.S. based assets
BAKER BOTTS 1
Lisa Shelton Jaubert Stone Energy Corporation Lafayette, Louisiana
Lisa Shelton Jaubert has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Stone Energy Corporation, an offshore exploration and production company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, since May 2013. She previously served as Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary since joining Stone Energy in July 2012. Prior to joining Stone Energy, Ms. Jaubert was Counsel with Latham & Watkins, LLP, where she was a specialist in mergers and acquisitions, finance and other energy related transactions. Ms. Jaubert also served over five years as Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary with Mariner Energy Inc., through its merger with Apache Corporation. Prior to moving in-house with Mariner Energy in 2005, Ms. Jaubert enjoyed over 25 years in private practice. She was a founding member of the Schully, Roberts Slattery Jaubert & Marino PLC, a boutique law firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, specializing in energy law, and through which she served as an outsourced general counsel for many smaller E&P companies. Prior to founding the Schully Roberts law firm, Ms. Jaubert was a partner or associate in three other law firms with national energy practices.
Christian F. Johnson Eni US Operating Co. Inc. Houston, Texas
Christian F. Johnson (“Chris”) currently serves as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Eni US Operating Co. Inc. Chris joined Eni in 2008 and was promoted to General Counsel in 2017. As Eni’s chief legal officer in the U.S., Chris directs the company's legal affairs and serves on the company's Executive Team. Chris has extensive experience in matters involving all facets of onshore and offshore shelf and deep-water projects in support of exploration and production operations in North America. Immediately prior to moving in-house, Chris was with the law firm of Brown McCarroll L.L.P. where he practiced in both the transactional and litigation sections.
Chris received his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 2000. He received his B.A. degree in History from The University of Texas in 1996. Chris is admitted to practice law in Texas and before various Federal Courts. He is also a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
Wendy Kirchoff Noble Energy Houston, Texas
Wendy Kirchoff is a Manager of Environmental and Regulatory Policy at Noble Energy, an American independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Houston, TX. As part of Noble’s Environmental, Health, Safety and Regulatory (EHSR) Department, Wendy is responsible for identifying changing public policies related to state and federal environmental and safety regulations, provide strategic planning and engagement with policymakers to facilitate Noble’s interests and commitment to Energizing the World, Bettering People’s Lives. Wendy directly supports Noble’s Texas, Gulf of Mexico and Midstream Business units on matters related to the EHSR policy landscape. She also advised Noble’s past operations in the Marcellus region. Prior to joining Noble Energy five years ago, Wendy began her policy career in Washington D.C. working seven years as legislative staff in the U.S. Congress, most recently as the Legislative Director for Congressman Dan Boren of Oklahoma, followed by two years advocating for the industry as the Director for Federal and Legislative Affairs at the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). Wendy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Science at Texas A&M University.
DEMETRA L. LIGGINS
Partner, Thompson & Knight LLP 811 Main Street, Suite 2500, Houston, TX, 77002 713.951.5884, Fax: 832.397.8052 [email protected]
Demetra Liggins is a Partner in Thompson & Knight’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice Group. She has 15 years of experience in business finance and restructurings for a variety of public and private companies, including extensive work for energy industry clients. Demetra helps navigate clients through complex corporate reorganization, distressed acquisitions, and in-court and out-of-court restructurings. She is highly regarded for her ability to quickly and efficiently help clients assess the effects of a bankruptcy on their corporate and financial transactions.
Albert Liou Jones Day Houston, Texas
Albert Liou is a partner in the Houston Office of Jones Day, practicing intellectual property law with an emphasis on patent litigation. In his ten years of practice, he has represented companies in the software, computing, automotive, chemical, and energy industries on litigation matters in federal district courts and appellate courts and in patent post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Albert also regularly advises clients on non-litigation matters relating to trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, licensing, and open source software. Albert is licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Albert has been recognized as a "Rising Star" by Texas Super Lawyers every year since 2013. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association and is the President of the Asian American Bar Association of Houston. Albert received a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2008 and a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice University in 2002.
Brian Loocke Vinson & Elkins LLP Houston, Texas
Bryan Loocke is a partner with Vinson & Elkins’ Energy Transactions & Projects practice. Bryan focuses on complex oil and gas transactions on behalf of public and private clients in the domestic U.S., with a particular emphasis on acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures in unconventional oil resource plays and the Gulf of Mexico. Representative transactions include the negotiation of drilling participation agreements, farmouts, operating agreements, gathering and transportation agreements, rig agreements, production payments, preferred equity investments and traditional and mezzanine financings. Prior to joining Vinson and Elkins, Loocke practiced at Bracewell & Giuliani. Bryan received his J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from St. Edward's University.
US 5409438v.1
Randall Luthi National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) Washington, D.C.
Randall Luthi has been the President of the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) since 2010. An attorney and rancher from Wyoming, Luthi has an extensive background in both government service and the private sector. Among his government service, Luthi most recently served as the Director of the Minerals Management Service at the Department of the Interior from 2007 to 2009. Between 1995 and 2006, Luthi served in Wyoming’s House of Representatives. He was the Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives between 2005 and 2006.
Dwayne L. Mason SHAREHOLDER
HOUSTON 1000 Louisiana Street Suite 1700 Houston, TX 77002 +1 713.374.3601
Intellectual Property Litigation | Intellectual Property & Technology | Education | Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care | Life Sciences & Medical Technology | Trial Practice
Dwayne L. Mason serves as the head of the Texas Intellectual Property Litigation Practice. Dwayne’s practice focuses on patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and technology-based commercial litigation. Dwayne also manages patent and trademark portfolios, and assists companies in protecting and commercializing their intellectual property.
Dwayne has litigated numerous intellectual property disputes in various state and federal district courts, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal and 5th Circuits, and in domestic and international arbitration proceedings before the American Arbitration Association and International Chamber of Commerce. His technology experience includes pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, nanotechnology, hydrocarbon and chemical processing, power, oil and gas production, seismic equipment and data processing, process control, software and business methods.
Dwayne writes and lectures frequently on intellectual property matters and has authored articles on many intellectual property law topics. Dwayne is a Founding Barrister for the Houston Intellectual Property American Inn of Court and has previously served on the editorial board of Nanotechnology Law and Business. Prior to practicing law, Dwayne was a Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and focused on the engineering, design, and construction of refineries, chemical plants, power plants, and oil and gas production and processing facilities.
He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal and 5th Circuits and several U.S. District Courts.
Concentrations
Intellectual property development, acquisition, litigation, transactions, protection, enforcement and counseling Biosciences Energy Pharmaceutical and medical device Clean technology and alternative energy development, acquisition, protection, licensing and enforcement
© 2017 Greenberg Traurig, LLP www.gtlaw.com
Latasha D. McDade Exxon Mobil Corporation Spring, Texas
Latasha McDade graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA in Business Management in 2001. She attended law school at South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. After graduation from law school in 2004, she joined Exxon Mobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”) in the Litigation Section of the Law Department. Throughout her career, Latasha has worked in various roles at ExxonMobil gaining experience in litigation and upstream commercial transactions. She also did a rotation at ExxonMobil’s refinery in Beaumont, Texas serving as site counsel. She currently practices in the Labor and Employment Section where she provides day-to-day advice and counsel on matters such as collective bargaining agreement interpretation/grievances, arbitrations, discipline, medical certification, performance management, contractor arrangements, employee investigations, and anti-discrimination laws (ADA, ADEA, Title VII, FMLA, NLRA,). She also focuses on employee issues associated with global outsourcing, divestments, and reductions in force. Latasha is also an avid community volunteer and sports fan (Go Texans, Go Rockets, Go Astros!).
Anu Mehta Lime Rock Partners Westport, Connecticut
Anu Mehta joined Lime Rock in 2012 as a Vice President and is now a Director and the firm’s Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Currently based in Houston, he plays a lead role in the legal aspects of Lime Rock’s global fund management, portfolio company negotiation and structure, and regulatory compliance efforts. Prior to joining Lime Rock, Anu worked at Vinson & Elkins LLP, King & Spalding LLP, and Latham & Watkins LLP where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity fund formation, and general corporate and transactional matters. Anu is a graduate of Stanford University (A.B.) and Harvard Law School (J.D.).
Scott M. Nelson Partner
Houston, USA Tel: +1 713-427-5027 [email protected]
Scott Nelson has significant experience with domestic and international labor and employment matters, as well as complex commercial litigation. Texas Monthly Global areas of practice magazine has recognized Mr. Nelson as a Texas Super Lawyer and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization has board certified him in labor and employment law. Labor and Employment Legal 500 has recognized him as a leading U.S. lawyer in Labor & Employment Litigation Litigation and also in Workplace & Employment Counseling. In addition to representing a wide variety of clients, he serves as the Firm's lawyer for internal employment law matters within its North America operations. He frequently speaks on employment and general litigation issues and has published numerous articles.
Practice focus On the litigation side, Mr. Nelson has prevailed for clients in a wide variety of cases before trial courts, appellate courts, arbitrators, and government agencies. He has litigated all major types of employment law claims, wage and hour claims, ERISA claims, whistleblower claims, complex traditional labor law (union-related) matters, non-compete and trade secrets cases, class actions, collective actions, and complex commercial litigation matters. On the advice side, Mr. Nelson is a trusted, regular advisor to many clients on compliance and strategy issues. He also frequently manages international legal matters for global clients. In addition, he supervises internal company investigations and is often asked to train groups of executives. Mr. Nelson is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is also a Mensa life member.
Education and admission
− Creighton University School of Law: J.D., cum laude, 1996 − Creighton University: B.S.B.A. Finance, magna cum laude, 1993 He is admitted to practice law in: − U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern, & Western Districts of Texas − United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, & Tenth Circuits Baker & McKenzie LLP Bank of America Center − United States Supreme Court 700 Louisiana, Suite 3000 Houston, TX 77002 United States
Baker & McKenzie LLP is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.
Ben Norris Senior Counsel American Petroleum Institute Washington, DC
Ben serves as Senior Counsel in API’s Office of General Counsel, where he advises the Institute and its members on state and federal legislative, regulatory, and litigation matters affecting the oil and gas upstream sector. His portfolio includes hydraulic fracturing, upstream environmental issues, liquefied natural gas and gas markets, and international trade. He also advises the Institute on state and local ballot measure campaigns and political and election law issues.
Prior to joining API in 2011, Ben was an associate in the energy and environmental practice group at a Washington, DC law firm. While at the firm he represented one of the principal defendants in the Deepwater Horizon incident and oil spill before multiple Congressional committees, the Presidential Oil Spill Commission, and in the multi-district litigation in New Orleans, LA. He also represented clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of State, and the U.S. Congress.
Before attending law school, Ben worked as a speechwriter for Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England at the Pentagon and in the natural gas markets reporting division of a major industry trade publication.
Ben received a BA in Political Science and English from Rice University in Houston, TX, and a JD from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where he served as Articles Editor of the Washington University Law Review.
Hector Pineda Head of Legal - US & Assoc. General Counsel – Downstream Shell Oil Company Houston, Texas
Hector Pineda was appointed Shell Oil Company’s Head of Legal for the United States in 2016. Hector is accountable for consulting with the US Legal management team on country-wide legal and reputational issues, consulting with Shell Oil’s US Country Chair, and creating a sense of community and teamwork for all US based legal staff. In addition, Hector was recently named Associate General Counsel – Downstream for the US, Central & South America. In his 23 years with Shell’s legal department, Hector has supported major Upstream and Downstream business segments in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. Outside of Shell, Hector serves as Executive Committee Vice Chair of the Institute for Energy Law. He also serves as a Director of Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston, a charitable organization providing comprehensive medical services to Houston's homeless population and as a Director and Executive Committee member of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Hector is a native of New Orleans and obtained his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and law degree from Tulane University Law School. Hector and his wife are the proud parents of two sons.
David P. Poole Ranger Resources Corporation Fort Worth, Texas
David P. Poole, is Senior Vice President – General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC), a Fort Worth, Texas based oil and gas exploration and production company. David joined Range in June 2008 as its first General Counsel. Prior to joining Range, from May 2004 until March 2008 he was with TXU Corp., serving last as Executive Vice President – Legal, and General Counsel. Prior to joining TXU, Mr. Poole spent 16 years with Hunton & Williams LLP and its predecessor, Worsham, Forsythe & Wooldridge as an associate, partner and managing partner of the Dallas office. David graduated from Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering and received a J.D., magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law where he was on the Law Review.
Humberto Quintas BP Energy do Brasil Ltda. São Paulo, Brazil
Humberto Quintas initiated his activities in 2001, as a lawyer with ExxonMobil’s Upstream in Brazil. In 2005 Humberto left Exxonmobil to join the Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute (IBP), providing legal assistance to the oil companies acting in Brazil.
In 2006 Humberto joined Devon Energy Corporation as General Counsel for Brazil, position that he occupied up to 2011, when he became Legal Director and Vice-President for BP in Brazil and Uruguay, position that he occupies since then.
Humberto Quintas holds a degree in English and in Law (J.D.) from PUC-Rio University and a post-graduation in Petroleum Management from the IBP. He is also a journalist. Humberto is the author of the book “History of Petroleum – In Brazil and in the world” and currently chairs the Legal Subcommittee of the IBP and is the secretary for the Oil and Gas Commission of the IBA. He has supported the legal efforts associated to drilling more than 60 deepwater wells, and has worked with multiple accesses, M&As and finance operations in Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico and other jurisdictions.
Tracie J. Renfroe
Partner
Environmental
Houston: +1 713 751 3214 [email protected]
Tracie Renfroe has a national trial practice focusing on toxic tort, environmental, product liability and commercial disputes. As Managing Partner of King & Spalding’s Houston office and a partner in its Energy, Environmental and Product Liability practices, Tracie represents clients in the energy and manufacturing sectors around the country in civil jury trials, class actions and arbitrations in federal and state courts, as well as in international arbitration of high-stakes environmental disputes. She is skilled at presenting complex scientific and technical issues to judges, juries and arbitration panels. She has also tried numerous conspiracy, securities fraud, breach of contract and professional liability cases. Tracie has received recognition from Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, ILO Client Choice Awards, Corporate Counsel and Super Lawyers: Texas.
Education Baylor University (J.D., 1985); Baylor University (B.A., cum laude, 1982)
BIOGRAPHY
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D., 1995 Rice University, B.A., Psychology, 1992 Admitted to practice: Texas; all Texas courts; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas; Fifth and Tenth U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal
Other Language: Fluent in Spanish
Recognition
Selected to the Texas Super Lawyer list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2014−2017 MARK C. RODRIGUEZ © PARTNER, ENERGY LITIGATION The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Commercial Litigation, 2014—2017; Energy Law, 2014—2017 1001 Fannin Street Suite 2500 Legal 500 U.S., Energy Litigation Law, 2011 and 2012 Houston, TX 77002
+1.713.758.3288 Activities +1.713.615.5314 State Bar of Texas Oil and Gas Pattern Jury Charge [email protected] Committee (2011–current)
State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Mark is a trial attorney with nearly 20 years of experience Section Council (2011–2014) representing energy industry clients in a broad range of Institute of Energy Law Advisory Board lawsuits and arbitrations, including royalty disputes, class actions, disputes under operating agreements, and other Member: American Bar Association; Energy Litigation energy-related contract disputes. Committee, American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation; Houston Bar Association In addition, he represents clients in administrative proceedings, audits, and investigations involving claims by state agencies and the federal government concerning royalties, civil penalties, notices of noncompliance, and the False Claims Act. Mark also counsels clients with regard to the calculation of federal and private royalties, including issues related to the handling of post-production costs. His nationwide energy practice includes lawsuits, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings in or involving Texas, Alaska, Colorado, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming. Additionally, Mark represents clients in appeals before the Department of the Interior Office of Hearings and Appeals, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
Confidential and Proprietary ©2017 Vinson & Elkins LLP velaw.com 1
Jason P. Sander LyondellBasell Houston, Texas
Jason Sander presently serves as Senior Counsel for LyondellBasell in its Houston office. While in law school Mr. Sander worked as a patent agent for ExxonMobil before graduating from the University of Houston in 2004. Prior to joining LyondellBasell in 2013, Jason worked in Houston at the law firms of Gardere and most recently Greenberg Traurig. Utilizing his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, Mr. Sander’s practice has been devoted to working on a broad spectrum of intellectual property matters from patent prosecution and enforcement to client counseling and licensing. At LyondellBasell, Jason is charged with the company’s intellectual property supporting the polyolefins and licensing business for the Americas. In this role he focuses on patent and trademark strategy including portfolio management, enforcement and licensing. Mr. Sander served as a pro bono coordinator for LyondellBasell from 2014-2017, and is proud that the company was awarded the 2016 Pro Bono and Commmunity Leadership Legal Department of the Year by the Texas Lawyer, as well as the 2017 Magna Stella pro bono award by the Texas General Counsel Forum. Jason presently serves as the Tax and Compliance Director for the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association (“HIPLA”), and is a barrister as well as an assistant group leader within the The Honorable Nancy F. Atlas Intellectual Property American Inn of Court.
John L. Sander Jackson Lewis P.C. New York City, New York
John L. Sander is a Principal in the New York City, New York, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is also co-leader of the International Employment Issues Practice Group, and Chairman of L&E Global, the international alliance of employers’ counsel. His practice focuses on cross-border labor and employment matters for our multinational clients. He is also Adjunct Professor of Law in Global Labor and Employment Law at Cornell Law School. Before joining the firm, Mr. Sander served in senior in-house roles for more than 16 years at Merck & Co., Inc. and its predecessor, Schering-Plough Corporation. At Merck, he was Vice President and Associate General Counsel, leading the team responsible for labor and employment law matters outside the U.S. Before the merger of Merck and Schering-Plough, he was Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Schering-Plough, where he managed the employment law group, responsible for labor, employment, and immigration counseling and litigation within the U.S. and globally. At Schering-Plough, he also at various times served as head of commercial litigation (responsible for product liability, Lanham Act, a wide variety of general commercial litigation and international arbitrations) and as general counsel to the consumer healthcare and generic divisions of the Company, as well as managed the compliance and corporate security functions within the law department. Before joining the Schering-Plough law department, he was a litigator at Cahill, Gordon & Reindel and Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker.
Mr. Sander has substantial experience in international dispute resolution processes and their reform. He has served as Vice Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Commission on Arbitration, and was a member of the Drafting Sub-Committee responsible for the 2011 revision of the ICC Rules of Arbitration. He has also served as a member of the ICC Working Group in the Role of In-house Counsel in International Dispute Resolution. He is currently a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and the USCIB Arbitration Committee.
Mr. Sander is a frequent speaker and panelist at seminars sponsored by the Practising Law Institute, Association of Corporate Counsel, International Bar Association, Association of the Federal Bar of the State of New Jersey, American Conference Institute, New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association and others on a variety of topics including international arbitration, employment law, product liability, consumer fraud claims, class actions, protection of trade secrets, e-discovery, and conduct of internal investigations. He is an author of and contributor to numerous articles and publications on cross-border employment law. While attending law school, he served as Article Editor of the Cornell Law Review. After law school, he clerked for the Hon. Joseph L. Tauro of the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts.
Patrick Shen PARTNER
Patrick Shen is a partner in Fragomen's Government Strategies and Compliance Group. He works with employers of all sizes across many sectors to establish and maintain compliant corporate immigration programs.
Before rejoining Fragomen, Patrick was appointed by the President and confirmed unanimously by the United States E [email protected] Senate as Special Counsel for Immigration-related Unfair
1101 15TH STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, DC Employment Practices in the U.S. Justice Department. He 20005, UNITED STATES previously served as Policy and Planning Director of U.S. T +1 202 223 5515 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Chief F +1 202 349 2078 Immigration Counsel of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Patrick is a frequent lecturer at various trade and bar association conferences, and has authored numerous articles on immigration enforcement at the worksite.
Patrick was an adjunct associate professor at American University Washington College of Law, and volunteers at his local fire department in Maryland. Prior to his career in law, Patrick was a sports reporter in Taiwan.
For more information about Patrick Shen, please visit http://www.fragomen.com/ourprofessionals
https://www.fragomen.com/people/patrick-shen
Albert K. Shung Total Petrochemicals and Refining USA, Inc. Houston, Texas
Albert currently serves as Assistant General Counsel, IP of Total Petrochemicals and Refining USA, Inc., representing Total SA’s US Refining and Petrochemicals operations. The US operations include 12 industrial sites, 1,600 employees and generate approximately $1 billion of annual revenue. Prior to Total, Albert held in-house counsel roles at Chevron and BP. Albert’s current practice encompasses all areas of intellectual property law, including licensing, technology transactions, freedom to operate, patent portfolio management, and patent preparation and prosecution.
Albert received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, an M.S. in Bioengineering from Rice University, and his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law, with honors. He and his wife of 16 years are the busy parents of four children.
Jonathan J. Spitz Principal Atlanta
P 404-586-1835 F 404-525-1173 [email protected]
Biography Education
Emory University Jonathan J. Spitz is a Principal in the Atlanta, Georgia, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is School of Law Co-Leader of the firm’s Labor and Preventive Practices Group and a member of the Firm’s J.D., 1993
Advisory Committee. Tufts University B.A., 1990 Mr. Spitz lectures extensively, conducts management training, and advises clients with respect to legislative and regulatory initiatives, corporate strategies, business ethics, social media issues and the changing regulatory landscape. He understands the practical and Admitted to Practice operational needs of clients, helping design pragmatic strategies to minimize labor relations 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals risk and maximize performance. He has represented management in dozens of counter- 2005 organizing drives and participated in countless unfair labor practice proceedings, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals discrimination charges and other matters before the National Labor Relations Board, the 2000 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other federal and state administrative agencies, as well as in collective bargaining, arbitration and in employment litigation before 5th Circuit Court of Appeals 2015 state and federal courts. Mr. Spitz regularly counsels employers in employee relations and discipline and discharge matters, mergers, acquisitions and restructuring, and assists 6th Circuit Court of Appeals 1998 employers in drafting employment policies and in complying with the Family and Medical Leave Act, drug testing laws and regulations, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other U.S. Court of Appeals, federal and state employment laws. DC Circuit 2002 Mr. Spitz has been quoted by the press on many labor matters, including the National Labor Georgia - M.D. Ga. Relations Board's recent initiatives on protected concerted activity and expedited election 2003 procedures. He has extensive experience assisting employers in creating union and litigation Georgia avoidance strategies suitable to the individual organization, values and industry. He regularly 1993 leads teams conducting multi-facility labor vulnerability assessments and advises employers in responding to corporate campaigns and demands for card check and neutrality.
Aravind Swaminathan Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Seattle, Washington
Data is igniting a global, technological revolution. Increased collection, use, storage, and transfer of data has shifted the paradigm of innovation – and created a global security problem. Fortune 500 companies with large quantities of data, cities with vulnerable infrastructure, and every institution in between must manage that risk, without encumbering progress or technological advancement. To do so, they turn to Aravind Swaminathan, global co-chair of Orrick’s award-winning Cyber, Privacy, and Data Innovation team.
As a strategic cybersecurity advisor, Aravind collaborates with his clients to proactively plan for a crisis and develop strategies to protect their business and brand. He guides everyone from large public company financial institutions to start-up technology companies to critical infrastructure providers through incidents, and develops business- and brand-centric tactics to mitigate and manage risk. He has directed more than 150 cybersecurity and data breach investigations, including those with national security implications. With extensive trial and litigation experience, he also defends his clients when cyber, privacy, and payments issues lead to regulatory investigations by the SEC, DOJ, FTC, and state Attorneys General and other litigation, including class action litigation and shareholder derivative suits.
Aravind’s background as an Assistant United States Attorney and Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section gives him first-hand understanding of federal agencies that allows him to swiftly navigate the system, partner with investigators and find creative solutions for his clients. As a federal cybercrime prosecutor, Aravind investigated and prosecuted a broad array of cybercrime cases, including hacking, phishing, trade secrets theft, click fraud, cyber threats, and identity theft. Aravind also led the cybercrime outreach program, where he worked with members of the Department of Justice, state and federal regulators, law enforcement and other organizations on cybersecurity and related privacy issues.
Aravind is a sought-after speaker by Boards of Directors and industry professionals on cybersecurity issues, including threat landscapes, incident response plans, compliance, and brand/reputational risk management.
As part of his work to protect communities, he collaborates with pro bono clients like PISCES, an organization which facilitates information sharing between state and local agencies to improve threat intelligence and protect critical government services. During his time as federal prosecutor in the Complex Crimes Unit, he also investigated and prosecuted a wide array of white-collar crimes, including investment schemes, corporate fraud and embezzlement, securities fraud, tax evasion and the nation’s largest bank failure. Aravind has represented clients in a broad array of civil litigation as well, including securities and shareholder derivative litigation, consumer class action litigation, trade secret litigation, and other complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts, arbitration and mediation, and in proceedings against the SEC and DOJ. Benjamín Torres-Barrón
Partner
Mexico City, Mexico (T) + 52 55 5279 2979 [email protected]
Benjamín leads Baker McKenzie's Energy, Mining & Infrastructure Practice Group in Mexico. He is highly regarded lawyer by IFLR and also listed as a recommended lawyer by Who’s Who Legal for oil, gas, and project finance in Mexico and was named by LEGAL 500 and Chambers Latin America as one of the country's leading lawyers in the energy and natural resources area. For several years, he has been acknowledged by Petróleo & Energía as one of the 100 leaders in Mexico's energy industry and serves in its Editorial Board. Benjamin is nowadays the Vicepresident of the Energy Committee in AmCham Mexico. In addition, he has worked as professor of the Master's Degree in Energy and Sustainability Law at Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León Related local practices and of the Diploma Degree in Energy Law at Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juarez. He has served at the Editorial Board of Reforma newspaper, Energy, Mining & Infrastructure and is a member of Potentia (private oil and energy business club). He is also a Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals member of the Advisory Board of GRI, Chair of the Mexican Chapter of ISME (International Society for Mexican Energy) and a member of Association Real Estate & Infrastructure of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN). Environmental & Climate Law Renewable Energy & Clean Technology Practice focus Information Technology & Benjamin handles all legal matters related to the development and Communications construction of real estate, mining, infrastructure, and major projects. His career includes advising clients on the development and construction of projects Insurance relating to oil, natural gas, water, waste, railroad, ports, airports, highways, LPG, LNG, biofuels, energy efficiency, electricity, and public bids called by Pemex, Global areas of practice CFE, and other Mexican governmental entities. He has represented clients before the regulatory authorities and agencies in matters regarding permitting Environmental & Natural Resources for energy projects; advised clients on maritime and navigation matters, due Real Estate diligence, development, drafting and negotiation of contracts and financing, as well as regulatory issues in connection with the sale, acquisition, leasing, Environmental subleasing, rights of way, construction, maritime transportation, trusts, Energy, Mining & Infrastructure insurance, utilities, environmental and ejido matters in connection with Information Technology & energy, hospitality (tourism), residential, mining, and industrial projects. His Communications professional expertise also includes project financing, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions. Insurance Professional affiliations
Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) Editorial Board for the Petróleo & Energia Magazine Vicepresident of the Energy Committee of the American Chamber in Mexico Languages (Chair). English Fundación Paso del Norte para la Salud y Bienestar (Honorary Board Member) Spanish Education and admission
Admission Mexico (1998) Baker & McKenzie Abogados, S.C. Edificio Virreyes Education Pedregal 24, 12th floor Universidad Corporativa Union Fenosa (Diploma in Power Distribution and Generation Business) (2003) Lomas Virreyes / Col. Molino del Rey 11040, Club Superior de la Energia (Energy Business Course) (2003) Mexico City Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M.) (2001) Tecnológico de Monterrey (MCL) (1998)
Baker & McKenzie Abogados, S.C. is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.
Danielle Valois Trench Rossi Watanabe Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Danielle Gomes de Almeida Valois has built, for the past 17 years, a law practice focused on oil and gas domestic and multi-jurisdictional projects. Her oil and gas experience extends to all legal aspects involved in a development project, including the structuring of financial arrangements, drafting and negotiation of EPC and Operation and Maintenance Agreements, as well as representation of clients in construction disputes. Mrs. Valois has also a vast experience in representing NOCs, IOCs and oil and gas services providers in M&A deals. Mrs. Valois is listed as a leading individual in Oil & Gas at Chambers & Partners and is recognized by several Law Directories such as IFLR 1000, Latin Lawyer, Women in Law and Who is Who Legal. She also serves as the Leading Young Negotiator Representative for the LA Chapter of the Association of International Petroleum negotiators (AIPN); Danielle is a founding member of the Brazilian Arbitration Committee. Mrs. Valois graduated in 2000 from the Universidade Cândido Mendes School of Law. Joined the firm in 1999 in the Oil & Gas Practice Group.
BRET WELLS, J.D., C.P.A. University of Houston Law Center Houston, Texas E-mail: [email protected]
BRET WELLS is an associate professor of law with the University of Houston Law Center and teaches in the area of Oil and Gas Law and also teaches in the federal tax area.
Professor Wells has written on oil and gas issues with a particular focus on the legal challenges raised by today’s development in unconventional shale formations. His recent scholarship on oil and gas matters includes the following: Allocation Wells: Lessor’s Remedies for Multi-Tract Horizontal Wells Drilled Without Pooling Authority, 68 BAYLOR L. REV. 1 (2015); The Dominant Mineral Estate in the Horizontal Well Context: Time to Extend Moser Horizontally, 53 HOUS. L. REV.193 (2015); and Please Give Us One More Oil Boom – I Promise Not to Screw it Up This Time: The Broken Promise of Casinghead Gas Flaring in the Eagle Ford Shale, 9 TEX. J. OIL, GAS & ENERGY LAW 319 (2014). Prior to joining the University of Houston Law Center, Mr. Wells was an executive officer in one largest oilfield service companies in the world with operations in over 60 countries.
Professor Wells holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law (cum laude, 1989). Mr. Wells also holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from Southwestern University (summa cum laude, 1987). He is licensed to practice law and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas.
J. Andrew West Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary EnerVest, Ltd.
Andy West is Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of EnerVest, Ltd., an oil and gas private equity firm with over $7 billion in assets under management and over 40,000 wells across 14 states. In this capacity, he oversees EnerVest’s legal department and the corporate governance of EnerVest’s more than 100 affiliates and subsidiaries. Andy is also the General Counsel of EV Energy Partners, L.P., EnerVest’s publicly traded master limited partnership.
Prior to this role, Andy served as Vice President & Associate General Counsel of EnerVest, Ltd., where his primary focus was the acquisition and divestiture of EnerVest’s upstream oil and gas assets and other commercial transactions. Before joining EnerVest, Andy was Senior Counsel at HighMount Exploration & Production LLC. He also practiced at two major international law firms, where he represented domestic and international energy companies in a wide array of complex transactional and regulatory matters.
Andy has a B.A. with University Honors from Brigham Young University, an M.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Duke University School of Law. He is an active member of various professional legal associations and has published and presented on topics concerning the oil and gas industry.
ENERVEST, LTD. 1001 FANNIN STREET, SUITE 800 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-6707 713.659.3500 FAX 713.659.3556 WWW.ENERVEST.NET Jeffrey A. Zlotky NGP Energy Capital Management, L.L.C. Irving, Texas
Jeffrey A. Zlotky serves as a Partner and General Counsel of NGP Energy Capital Management, L.L.C., a leading private equity firm in the natural resources industry that manages a family of investment funds with cumulative committed capital of more than $20 billion since inception. He applies his broad experience in the energy and private equity industries to the structuring and execution of transactions on behalf of both NGP and its portfolio companies. Prior to joining NGP, Mr. Zlotky spent his entire professional career with the global law firm of Thompson & Knight LLP, where he was a partner in their Corporate and Securities practice group, with an emphasis on energy finance and private equity. During his tenure, Mr. Zlotky served in a variety of management positions with the firm, including as its global Managing Partner from 2009 to 2012. He has received numerous accolades for his professional expertise on best lawyer lists on the national, state and local level. Mr. Zlotky received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law.