6th Oilfield Services Law Conference

Overview

Highlights

• Emerging Issues in the Oilfield: Coping with the Criminalization of Oil & Gas Operations
• Doing Less with Less – Creative Steps to Survive Turbulent Markets
• M&A and Capital Markets Update: The Continuing Impact of Low Commodity Prices on Market Activity, and Opportunities for the Future
• Litigation Update: Recent Developments Affecting Oilfield Services Companies

Download the Brochure (pdf)

For more details, download the online brochure.

Conference Co-Chairs

David Baay
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
Houston, Texas

Natalia G. Shehadeh
Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer
Weatherford
Houston, Texas

Tuition

• $495 - Regular Registration Fee
• $395 - IEL Advisory Board Member
• $395 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee
• $395 - IEL Young Energy Professional Member
• $395 - CAIL Member or Member Employee
• $395 - Government Employee
• $125 - Law Student / Full-time Professor

Schedule and Faculty

Tuesday, October 11

7:30 am

Registration

8:20 am

Welcome, Overview and Introductions

Conference Co-Chairs

• David Baay, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, Houston, TX
• Natalia G. Shehadeh, Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, Weatherford, Houston, TX

8:30 am

M&A and Capital Markets Update: The Continuing Impact of Low Commodity Prices on Market Activity, and Opportunities for the Future

The cyclical downturn has significantly reduced M&A and capital markets activity in the oilfield services space. In this presentation, the speakers will review recent commodity price activity and discuss possible outlooks for the timing and shape of the recovery. The speakers will also review recent M&A and capital market transactions and the prospects for a future pickup in activity, as well as how leverage, shareholder relations and other issues might affect how you and your Board should address transactions in the current environment.

• C. Timothy Fenn, Latham & Watkins LLP, Houston, TX
• Adam Peakes, Tudor Pickering Holt & Co., Houston, TX

9:15 am

Domestic versus International Contracting Standards in the Oilfield Services Space

The speakers will discuss key comparative aspects of drafting and interpreting domestic and international oilfield service contracts, including the impact on domestic contracts from newly expanded federal offshore and environmental regulations and state anti-indemnity statutes and the impact on international contracts – especially as to the challenge of structuring a true “Global Master Services Agreement” – from dispute resolution issues and the expansion of express contractual obligations on oilfield service companies to adhere to operational, environmental protection and anti-bribery/corruption regulations and statutes under international joint operating agreements like the AIPN Model Form JOA.

Moderator

• Robert (Bob) P. Thibault, Haynes and Boone, LLP, Denver, CO

Panelists

• Josh McMorrow, General Counsel – North America; Global Head of Litigation, Weatherford, Houston, TX
• Eden P. Sholeen, Assistant Chief Attorney, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, Spring, TX

10:00 am

Break

10:15 am

No Risk Rules for Reductions-in-Force

Downsizing and reductions-in-force remain a fact of life in the industry. Making the right choices on employment challenges can be the difference between millions in liability or millions in savings. Rachel Steely will discuss RIF hot topics such as the WARN Act, must-have severance provisions and the protection of trade secrets and client relationships from departing employees.

• Rachel Powitzky Steely, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, Houston, TX

11:00 am

Litigation Update: Recent Developments Affecting Oilfield Services Companies

This presentation will address key cases and issues involving and affecting oilfield services companies.

Moderator:

• David Baay, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, Houston, TX

Panelists:

• Brendan D. Cook, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Houston, TX
• Cortlan H. Maddux, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., Houston, TX

11:45 am

Doing Less with Less – Creative Steps to Survive Turbulent Markets

Continued softening of commodity prices has created new challenges for in-house lawyers at oilfield services companies. Despite resource and budget constraints, not to mention an increasingly stringent regulatory regime, expectations for high-quality, rapid legal and compliance support remain. Our panel of in-house experts will provide practical tips on how to “stand and deliver” in the face of these challenges.

Moderator

• J. Kevin Blodgett, Managing Director, Morae Legal Corporation, Houston, TX

Panelists

• David Isaac, Senior Vice President Human Resources, Safety and General Counsel, Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc., Houston, TX
• John Sardar, Chief Compliance Officer, Noble Energy, Inc., Houston, TX

12:15 pm

Halftime: Reflections from a Cross Country Sabbatical and Parallels to the Shale Revolution

• David C. Baldwin, SCF Partners, Houston, TX

1:30 pm

Current compliance matters keeping OFS Chief Compliance Officers Awake at Night

Robust panel discussion moderated by Nathaniel B. Edmonds with Paul Hastings LLP, and attended by the Chief Compliance Officers and Compliance Counsel of the top four multinational oil field services companies (Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and Weatherford) discussing current compliance program trends and enforcement-landscape complexities.

Moderator

• Nathaniel B. Edmonds, Paul Hastings LLP, Washington, D.C.

Panelists

• Jay G. Martin, Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer & Sr. Deputy General Counsel, Baker Hughes Inc., Houston, TX
• Natalia G. Shehadeh, Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, Weatherford, Houston, TX
• Jeffery Spalding, Vice President & Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Halliburton, Houston, TX
• James Prince, General Counsel, Compliance – Government Affairs, Schlumberger, Houston, TX

2:15 pm

Emerging Issues in the Oilfield: Coping with the Criminalization of Oil & Gas Operations

From the Deepwater Horizon Task Force to the Black Elk indictment, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has increasingly sought to hold not just companies, but also individual employees, criminally liable following incidents involving environmental damage or personal injury. Moreover, the recent Yates Memo confirms the DOJ will continue to emphasize pursuing individual convictions as a primary method of pursuing corporate wrongdoing. In light of these recent developments, this Program will address best practices for dealing with the Government in the aftermath of an incident, internal investigation considerations in the wake of the Yates Memo, best practices for assessing and enhancing compliance issues prior to an incident, and other related issues.

• Christopher J. Bellotti, Halliburton, Houston, TX
• Matthew S. Chester, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, New Orleans, LA
• Kerry Miller, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, New Orleans, LA
• Carter Williams, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, Houston, TX

3:15 pm

Break

3:30 pm

Tips For Dealing with Your Business Partner’s Impending Bankruptcy

This presentation will offer practical tips on preparing yourself for your contract counterpart’s or other business partner’s bankruptcy filing. The speaker will also give an overview of general bankruptcy principles geared towards the non-bankruptcy lawyer.

• Omar J. Alaniz, Baker Botts L.L.P., Dallas, TX

4:15 pm

Preserving Attorney-Client Privilege in Cross-Border Matters and Related Regulatory and Compliance Issues (Ethics)

Protecting the confidentiality of your legal advice is not just your responsibility as an employee, but also as a lawyer. But when confidential information crosses international borders, legal professional privilege can be limited or lost altogether. This practical session, filled with real-world examples, will help you avoid the pitfalls suffered by other in-house counsel (some of whom only first learned about this issue after a dawn raid by competition authorities outside the U.S. or a discovery request by a clever plaintiffs' lawyer in the U.S.).

• Jordan W. Cowman, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Dallas, TX

5:15 pm

Networking Reception

Speaker

• Mark Prescott, Prescott Legal Search, Houston, TX

CLE Credit

MCLE Credit

This program is approved by the State Bar of Texas for a total of 7.0 hours, including 1.0 hour of ethics. Course ID Number: 901359140. Credit hours for other states will vary and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.

For this conference, IEL will directly apply (if requested) for course accreditation in the following states: California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Some of these states may not approve a program for credit hours before the program occurs. Attorneys may be eligible to receive CLE credit through reciprocity or attorney self-submission in other states. IEL conferences are typically accredited by all mandatory CLE states.

Sponsorship Opportunities

For information regarding Sponsorship Opportunities for this conference, email ccle@cailaw.org.

Hosted Luncheon - $2,500 each

• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• Recognition at the conference, including orally and via signage at the luncheon
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference
• Up to 2 complimentary guests for the luncheon
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Breakfast – (Exclusive) - $2,500

• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• Recognition at the conference, including at main program and via a sign at the breakfast
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference
• Up to 2 complimentary guests at the networking reception
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Networking Reception - $2,000 each

• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• Recognition at the conference, including at the main conference and via signage at the reception
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference
• 1 complimentary guest at the networking reception
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Wi-Fi Sponsor (Exclusive) - $2,500

• Name reflected in wi-fi access code
• Prominent recognition on the conference background slide
• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• 1 complimentary registrant at the conference
• Up to 2 complimentary guests at the networking reception
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

Canvas Bag – $2,500 each (Only 3 Allowed)

• Name/Logo on one side of canvas bag
• Recognition in the conference brochure, which will be mailed and emailed to thousands of interested counsel and business leaders
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the conference program
• Recognition on the conference website
• 1 complimentary registrant at the Conference.
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference.

Exhibitor - $1,500 each
(Non-law Firms only)

• Space to display company/firm materials at the conference.
• Name/logo on Conference website with link to company page

Hotel Information

The cost of housing is not included in tuition. However, rooms (in limited number) have been reserved at the Hilton Houston Post Oak, 2001 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056. Registrants should call 1.800.245.7299 and advise them of room block "IEL - Oilfield Services" to receive a reduced room rate of $199 + applicable taxes/night. Nights in our block are: Monday 10/10/16 and Tuesday night 10/11/16; other nights are offered only as available by hotel. The last day to obtain this special rate is September 23, 2016.

BOOK HOTEL ONLINE

Other Information

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