Houston-based BakerHostetler is regularly involved in a broad range of litigation in the oil and gas sector, including lease disputes, breach of contract and title disputes over royalties. The firm’s dedicated energy team is jointly led by L. Poe Leggette, a key contact for issues related to carbon offsets and credits, methane emissions regulation, and carbon capture and storage, and W. Ray Whitman, who also chairs the firm’s litigation group. From Denver, Mark Barron is routinely engaged by major oil and gas producers to handle complex litigation, while recently promoted partner Alexander K. Obrecht focuses particularly on regulatory advice and litigation related to hazardous materials transportation and oil and gas royalties.
Key clients
- CML Exploration, LLC
- Bradford Energy
- Continental Resources
- Western Energy Alliance
- Gunnison Energy Company
- Latam Hydro LLC
- Peregrine Oil & Gas II, LLC
- Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC
- XTO Energy Inc.
- Geokinetics, Inc.
- Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.
- Shell Oil Company
- Trican Well Service LP
- Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
- Devon Energy Corporation
- Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
Work highlights
- Represented Western Energy Alliance in a challenge to the Biden Administration’s cancellation of federal oil and gas lease sales in Q3 and Q4 of 2022, part of the Biden administrations’ moratorium on federal oil and gas leasing.
- Represented Ovintiv USA Inc. in defending an appeal in a trial court win against the federal government for the allowable deduction of market deficiency fees related to the transportation of natural gas liquids.
- Represented Discovery Natural Resources LLC in defending an oil and gas midstream dispute, alleging breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing for certain fees under a gas services agreement.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
L. Poe Leggette, W. Ray Whitman