Energy Litigation 101 Conference

Overview

A new conference designed for newer (0-10 year) attorneys and those looking to begin representing clients in energy litigation matters, in particular oil and gas matters. This program complements the 17th Annual Energy Litigation Conference the next day, which focuses on issues geared to all attorneys, but especially for very experienced energy litigators.

Conference Co-Chairs

Tuition

• $190 - Regular Registration Fee
• $150 - IEL Advisory Board Member
• $150 - IEL YEP Member
• $150 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee
• $150 - CAIL Member or Member Employee
• $150 - In-House Counsel
• $150 - Government Employee
• $50 - Law Professor
• $75 - Full-time Student

Register for the 17th Annual Energy Litigation Conference on November 8 at the J.W. Marriott Galleria at the same time for only an additional $250.

Schedule and Faculty

7:45 am

Registration

8:35 am

Welcome and Introduction

8:45 am

Traditional Oil and Gas Litigation Dockets: What’s Going On?

An overview and discussion of recent trends in royalty litigation, lease disputes, and joint operating/joint venture disputes.

Moderator: Louis “Louie” Layrisson, Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Raj Duvvuri, Senior Counsel – Litigation, Marathon Oil Company, Houston, Texas
• Ken Moursund, Senior Counsel, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, The Woodlands, Texas
• Michael V. Powell, Locke Lord LLP, Dallas, Texas

9:45 am

What an Energy Litigator Needs to Know About the Science and Technology of the Industry

A look into the technical and operational aspects that underpin energy clients’ business and disputes.

• John A. Connor, P.E., P.G., BCEE, President, GSI Environmental Inc., Houston, Texas
• Danielle “Danny” Kingham, P.G., Senior Hydrogeologist, GSI Environmental Inc., Houston, Texas
• Lisa Molofsky, P.G., Geologist, GSI Environmental Inc., Houston, Texas
• Shawn Paquette, Vice President and Principal Environmental Engineer, GSI Environmental Inc., Houston, Texas

10:30 am

Break

10:45 am

Oil and Gas Agreements: The Building Blocks for Energy Litigators

An overview of the common agreements governing the oil and gas business—leases, division orders, surface use agreements, production sharing contracts, JOAs, gathering agreements, transaction structures—and how they give rise to litigation.

• David F. Asmus, Sidley Austin LLP, Houston, Texas
• Hal Fiske, Senior Counsel, International, ConocoPhillips Company, Houston, Texas

11:30 am

Understanding the Ins and Outs of Environmental Litigation Related to the Energy Industry

This panel will discuss the specialty area of environmental litigation and regulatory actions affecting the energy industry. Topics discussed will include climate change litigation, coastal erosion litigation, air and water claims, and claims under the Endangered Species Act.

Moderator: J. Scott Janoe, Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Tracie J. Renfroe, King & Spalding LLP, Houston, Texas
• Rebecca K. Skiba, Assistant General Counsel – Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, Marathon Oil Company, Houston, Texas
• Julie S. Stanger, Senior Counsel, Litigation Management Unit, Chevron Upstream, Houston, Texas

12:30 pm

Lunch – On Your Own

2:00 pm

Best Practices in Energy Arbitration

Join experienced energy arbitrators Hugh Hackney, Cecilia Morgan and Mark Whittington of JAMS for a substantive briefing on the arbitration process, with a specific focus on the energy industry. This program will provide significant value to newly admitted and experienced attorneys, including litigators, transactional attorneys and in-house counsel. Topics covered will include: an analysis of why arbitration (and mediation) continues to grow exponentially in the energy industry; essential guidance for drafting and interpreting arbitration clauses, including an analysis of form arbitration clauses in oil and gas contracts (AIPN, IADC, AAPL); keys to an effective arbitration process (pre-hearing preparation, the efficient hearing, awards); and, the ethical obligations arbitrators and advocates during the arbitration process. Current trends in energy arbitrations will also be discussed, with a particular focus on the oil and gas industry.

• Hugh E. Hackney, JAMS, Dallas, Texas
• Cecilia H. Morgan, JAMS, Dallas, Texas
• Hon. Mark Whittington (Ret.), JAMS, Dallas Texas

2:45 pm

Motion Practice: Using Movement, Posture, and Other Nonverbal Communication to Sway the Fact-Finder

Explore with us as we demonstrate verbal and nonverbal skills to better relate to judges and juries in complex cases, including:

• Shedding the lawyer persona in favor of an authentic, relatable approach
• Being tough on the facts but soft on the witness
• Commanding the courtroom with nonverbal signals

• Deborah D. Kuchler, Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Janika D. Polk, Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Monique M. Weiner, Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC, New Orleans, Louisiana

3:45 pm

Break

4:00 pm

An In-House View of Energy Litigation

Moderator: Michael P. Lennon, Jr., Mayer Brown LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Veronica Foley, Sr. Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Precision Drilling Corporation, Houston, Texas
• Lauren Ford, General Counsel, Alta Resources, Houston, Texas
• Walter R. Mayer, Deputy General Counsel, Halcon Resources Corporation, Houston, Texas
• Scott C. Weatherholt, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc., Tulsa, OK

5:00 pm

5:15-6:45 pm

101 Conference and Young Energy Professionals Reception

• Dean’s Downtown, 316 Main, Houston

CLE Credit

This program is approved by the State Bar of Texas for a total of 6.25 hours, no ethics. Course ID Number: 174022830. 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, Louisiana, 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. Attorneys filing by self-submission in certain states may be required to pay an additional fee. IEL conferences are typically accredited by all mandatory CLE states.

Other Information

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