SOHJ attorneys are highly experienced representing energy industry clients as both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of legal matters. We have litigated virtually every type of business matter including contract and accounting disputes, joint operating agreement disputes, gas supply contract disputes, toxic tort claims, mineral interest and royalty disputes, environmental contamination matters, and various commercial disputes, even taking on and defeating class action lawsuits.

Applying industry know-how, legal skill and technical knowledge, we quickly identify the key issues and devise creative strategies to optimize our clients’ success in litigation. In many instances, we have been successful in obtaining early favorable settlements or case dismissals for clients, avoiding the need for protracted and costly litigation.

From the majors to independents, our clients run the gamut. We have acted for exploration and production companies; pipelines; producers; fossil, nuclear, biofuel, and cogeneration power plant operators; oil and gas processors; transporters; distributors; oil field service companies; state-owned energy companies; landowners; trading and marketing companies; service companies that support these activities; and major financial players in the energy industry, such as equity investors and lenders.

SOHJ lawyers have advised and represented major energy companies in complex disputes before international and domestic arbitrations, in federal and state trial and appellate courts throughout the United States, and before federal and state regulatory bodies. With our deep understanding of the regulatory and business aspects of the energy industry, we help navigate clients through government proceedings, investigations and litigation.

Representing clients regarding claims concerning exploration, production, sale, distribution, and marketing of energy products, we have litigated cases involving:

RECOGNIZED LEADERS

Our lawyers are consistently ranked at the top of their profession by peers and ratings publications, including Chambers USA, Texas Super Lawyers, Global Arbitration Review, and Who’s Who Legal. Chambers USA ranks the firm’s Adam Schiffer as one of the top lawyers in Texas for Energy & Natural Resources Dispute Resolution, noting that his peers praised his “smart advice, efficiency and great energy industry insight.” Also of note, in 2010, partners Logan Johnson and Andy Hicks obtained the largest professional negligence verdict in the State of Washington.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:

• Represented the defendant in a conversion and negligence case in which the plaintiff sought approximately $20 million in actual damages and unspecified punitive damages claiming that our client co-defendant produced gas (through casing leaks) from zones owned by the plaintiff. After an 8-week trial, the jury returned a verdict of no liability for our client on all counts.
• Defending an energy company in a $120 million breach of gas sales agreement and fraud action related to the development of a gas field in West Texas.
• Represented a major energy company in a dispute arising under a LNG terminal use agreement, where the amount in controversy exceeded $400 million. We assisted our client in obtaining a favorable settlement of the dispute.
• Represented the plaintiff net profits interest holders in a case related to excessive wastewater disposal charges totaling well in excess of $10 million. The case was favorably settled for our client on the eve of trial.
• Represented a natural gas exploration company in a dispute with a drilling contractor related to damaged drilling equipment. The case settled after we obtained a favorable ruling on a critical venue motion.
• Representing a major energy company in a dispute with a gas processor related to damage caused by contaminated natural gas liquids delivered to our client’s refinery.
• Represented a major energy company in an indemnity dispute related to potential environmental and personal injury liabilities associated with assets the plaintiff calcining company had purchased from our client. We obtained a dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims.

• Representing a major energy company in multiple disputes with surface owners related to our client’s seismic exploration program. These cases have been filed in numerous counties throughout Texas and have involved obtaining temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions to enable our client to complete its seismic operations.
• Representing an oil refiner in multiple disputes with franchisees and marketers.
• Represented a major oil company against groundwater contamination claims asserted by a number of municipalities and private water purveyors in California.
• Represented an oil refiner in a variety of price-fixing and price gouging investigations.
• Representing a Texas-based exploration and production company in a contract dispute involving the mineral estate owners.
• Represented a major oil company against pesticide exposure claims asserted by foreign agricultural workers in cases filed in California and Hawaii.
• Represented an oil-field services company in Texas state court against claims for tortious interference with contract, breach of contract, and fraud.