Based in the energy capital of the world, Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC has substantial experience advising and litigating on behalf of multiple sectors within the energy industry. Our clients have included large integrated international oil and gas companies, upstream oil and gas operators, midstream companies, independents and individual interest owners, refineries, pipelines, offshore drilling companies, and various energy services companies. By representing a variety of companies and interests across the energy sector, we have a practical understanding of exploration, production, distribution activities, and the wealth of products and services the energy industry provides.
Energy Industry Litigation
Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC attorneys have significant experience representing clients as both plaintiffs and defendants in diverse legal matters including class action litigation on behalf of royalty owners, antitrust claims, numerous contract and contract accounting disputes, surface-owner disputes, toxic tort claims, property contamination matters, and various commercial litigation matters. We are able to add significant value to our energy-sector clients by combining an uncommon understanding of the industry with a tested knowledge of difficult and often arcane oil and gas agreements. This allows us to assist energy clients in crafting creative and efficient strategies to maximize success in litigation. In representing diverse energy clients, our attorneys have helped resolve a number of oil and gas contract disputes, involving gas supply contracts, interconnect agreements, processing agreements, gas dedication agreements, gas gathering agreements, and other related contracts. Moreover, our attorneys have been able to obtain early settlements and resolutions for our clients by using legal, technical and industry knowledge to identify key issues quickly and effectively.
Our attorneys have also represented major energy companies in complex CERCLA and other environmental cost recovery actions in mediation, arbitration and litigation in multiple venues. Our in-house experience in the earth sciences and our handling and understanding of complex environmental matters provide us with unique strategies and knowledge relevant to oil and gas disputes.
Energy and Environment
Our firm’s strong national environmental law practice dovetails with many aspects of our energy industry practice. When upstream or downstream activities lead to personal injury, environmental, or property damage claims, our attorneys have the experience to handle these expert-intensive matters and work with engineers, appraisers, toxicologists, risk assessors, economists and forensic environmental scientists to provide superior representation. Our attorneys also advise clients on managing environmental risks and claims by adopting appropriate environmental indemnity clauses, performing appropriate environmental due diligence, ensuring regulatory compliance and developing other preventative and proactive strategies.
Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC’s extensive environmental experience is especially valuable with energy industry diversification and today’s current focus on climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration, renewable fuels and alternative energy sources. Our counsel, many of whom draw from science and engineering backgrounds and prior oil industry experience, are especially well prepared to assess, understand and react to evolving climate change policy as it impacts the energy industry at the national, state and local level.
Regulatory and Transactional Matters
Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC can also advise energy clients in regulatory and transactional matters, capitalizing on our industry knowledge, environmental experience and familiarity with how key risks can evolve into litigation. We have drafted, analyzed and negotiated numerous environmental indemnity provisions in a multitude of contexts, including within the energy-sector. Additionally, our attorneys have provided environmental and other due diligence analysis for upstream and downstream companies contemplating sales and acquisitions. We are able to provide our clients with critical investigative and risk analysis for these important business decisions. On the operational side, our lawyers have assisted various producers, transporters, and gas storage development projects with determination of applicable federal and state permit programs and securing of required approvals, including permits for construction and operation of new air sources, wetlands and water quality certifications, and pipeline construction authorizations, among others. Our experience also extends to counseling lease operators subject to enforcement under the Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Act arising from pipeline leaks and spills.