78th Annual Energy Law Conference
-
Houston, Texas, USA
Registrar: +1.972.244.3403
IEL: +1.972.244.3421
E-Mail: iel@cailaw.org
Overview
As the world’s long running energy law conference, the 77th Annual Energy Law Conference will bring together legal leaders and other professionals in the energy industry for two days of excellent educational programming covering the oil, gas, and renewables sectors of the energy industry. Attended by in-house leaders, experienced energy attorneys in private practice, government attorneys, landmen, non-legal energy professionals, and young energy professionals, this conference also provides opportunities for social and professional networking with distinguished and diverse attendees.
The conference is free for all IEL Advisory Board Members.
Conference Co-Chairs
Kimberly L. Cunningham
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Spring, Texas
Kelly Ransom
Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP
Austin, TX & New Orleans, LA
IEL Distinguished Leadership in Energy Award Recipient
Toby Z. Rice
President and CEO
EQT Corporation
Registration Options
Early registration pricing is available through January 18, 2027.
Registration includes the Conference, the Distinguished Leadership Award Reception and Dinner, meals and the course material provided online, which may be printed or saved by customer.
- $745 - Non-Member Registration Fee (*Member dues begin at $650) (Regular Price: $795)
- $0 - IEL Advisory Board Member
- $555 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee (Regular Price: $585)
- $555 - IEL Young Energy Professional Member (Regular Price: $585)
- $555 - Government Employee (Regular Price: $585)
- $150 - Full-time Law Student
- $150 - Full-time Law Professor
Schedule and Faculty
Thursday, February 18
8:30 a.m. (15 minutes) - Welcome and Overview
8:45 a.m. (60 minutes) - Recent Developments in Energy Case Law
This session will feature a review of important cases and other developments in energy law over the last year.
- Laura Springer Brown, Liskow, New Orleans, LA
- Tyler Weidlich, Beatty & Wozniak, P.C., Denver, CO
9:45 a.m. (45 minutes) - General Counsel Session
- Speakers TBA
10:30 a.m. - BREAK
11:00 a.m. (60 minutes) - Ethics
- Thomas M. Farrell, McGuireWoods, Houston, TX
- Additional Speakers Invited
12:00 p.m. - Networking Luncheon
Concurrent Sessions
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Module
Amy Pharr Hefley, Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, TX and New York, NY
Edward Duhé, Senior Counsel, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Spring, TX
1:30 p.m. (45 minutes) – Federal Forum, Federal Power: Plaquemines Parish, the Defense Production Act, and Energy Litigation
This session examines how the Supreme Court’s 2026 decision in Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish expands the federal-forum analysis for energy disputes. The Court held that federal-officer removal’s “relating to” requirement does not demand that federal duties specifically require, or strictly cause, the challenged conduct. Panelists will connect that broader removal pathway to 2026 Defense Production Act Title III determinations addressing grid infrastructure, large-scale energy infrastructure, LNG, petroleum, and coal. The discussion will focus on federal-forum strategy, evidence of acting under federal authority, contract and operational records, DPA priority orders and incentives, government-contractor defenses, compliance disputes, and state environmental or tort claims. Practical guidance will address removal timing, remand records, jurisdictional discovery, coordination with agencies, and preserving federal defenses while litigating project conduct.
- Kelly Becker, Liskow, New Orleans, LA
- Jim Noe, Holland & Knight LLP, Washington, D.C. and Houston, TX
2:15 p.m. (45 minutes) – Construction Litigation Lessons for Energy Infrastructure
This session provides a practical construction-litigation update for energy projects, focusing on EPC disputes and the recurring fault lines that drive claims, defenses, and expert issues. The discussion will cover delay and disruption, change orders, escalation and supply-chain claims, defects and performance guarantees, liquidated damages, force-majeure and change-in-law provisions, and contractor insolvency. Panelists will address project records, contemporaneous notice, schedule and cost experts, and the evidentiary choices that shape outcomes. The program will draw on arbitration and trial lessons from LNG, petrochemical, power, renewable, and midstream projects, including how owners, contractors, and suppliers can preserve rights and manage claims before they mature into formal proceedings. Emphasis will be placed on practical strategies for project administration, dispute avoidance, and effective presentation of complex technical facts.
- Kelly B. LaPar, Senior Counsel, NRG Energy, Inc., Houston, TX
- James R. Old, Jr., General Counsel, Zachry Industrial, Inc., San Antonio, TX
- Amy K. Wolfshohl, Porter Hedges LLP, Houston, TX
3:00 p.m. - Break
3:15 p.m. (45 minutes) – Power Litigation 2027: Grid Growth, Reliability, and the Next Wave of Disputes
This session looks ahead to the power disputes likely to develop by 2027 as explosive load growth—particularly from data centers—tests ERCOT and power markets across the United States. It will examine interconnection queues, cost allocation, co-location arrangements, curtailment, reliability obligations, transmission buildout, storage participation, and evolving market rules. Panelists will consider challenges to agency authority and tariff or rulemaking decisions, as well as regulatory, contract, and appellate litigation involving utilities, generators, developers, large loads, and grid operators. The discussion will connect immediate ERCOT controversies to national developments, including disputes over who bears upgrade costs, how capacity and ancillary services are valued, and how market design responds to rapid electrification. Practical takeaways will address forum selection, administrative records, emergency relief, and preserving claims as projects move from planning to operation.
- David Applebaum, Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, TX
- Meredith Berger Chambers, Van Ness Feldman LLP, Houston, TX
- Paul Suskie, Executive Vice-President Regulatory Policy, General Counsel, SPP, Little Rock, AR
4:00 p.m. (45 minutes) – Don’t Say Daubert: Rule 702 and the New Expert-Evidence Gatekeeping
This session examines how the 2023 amendment to Federal Rule of Evidence 702 is changing expert-evidence practice, with particular attention to the requirement that proponents demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the rule’s admissibility requirements are met. It will address the reliable application of methods to the facts, the judge’s gatekeeping responsibility, and the distinction between admissibility and issues properly left to the factfinder—not a reflexive treatment of serious methodological flaws as weight-only matters. Panelists will discuss developing appellate decisions and practical motion practice in energy disputes, including experts on engineering, causation, valuation, damages, and industry custom. The session will offer guidance on disclosures, Rule 702 admissibility challenges, hearings, and preserving arguments for appeal.
- Lee Mickus, Evans Fears Schuttert McNulty Mickus LLP, Littleton, CO
- Jason Levin, Alston & Bird LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Morgan Hollins, White & Case LLP, Houston, TX
Mohammed Diwan, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Spring, TX
1:30 p.m. (45 minutes) – The Next Wave of Energy M&A: Who’s Buying, Who’s Selling, Who’s Partnering and What’s Getting Done?
- Speakers Invited
2:15 p.m. (45 minutes) – After the Midterms: What Changes for Energy Deals?
- Speakers Invited
3:00 p.m. - Break
3:15 p.m. (45 minutes) – Drafting for the Dispute: What Litigators Wish Deal Lawyers Knew
- Speakers Invited
4:00 p.m. (45 minutes) – The Human Side of Energy Transactions: Managing Stakeholders Beyond the Contract
- Speakers Invited
4:45 pm - Adjourn 1st Day
IEL Distinguished Leadership in Energy Award Reception and Dinner
Honoring
Toby Z. Rice
President and Chief Executive Officer
EQT Corporation
Pittsburgh, PA
Lakeside Country Club
6:15 p.m. - Reception
7:15 p.m. - Dinner – Honoring Toby Z. Rice
Friday, February 19
Concurrent Sessions
Luís Miranda, Miranda & Associados, Houston, TX
Shaden Newton, Executive Counsel, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Spring, TX
9:00 a.m. (45 minutes) – Tariffs, Sanctions, and Energy Disputes: Legal Risks in a Fragmented World
The increasing use of tariffs, economic sanctions, export controls, and investment restrictions has transformed the legal and commercial landscape for the global energy industry. As geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation continue to reshape cross-border trade and investment, energy companies, investors, and governments face heightened risks of contractual disputes, regulatory enforcement actions, and international arbitration. The panel will explore the legal implications of these developments, examining how businesses can navigate evolving compliance obligations, allocate geopolitical risk in commercial arrangements, and resolve disputes arising from rapidly changing regulatory and trade regimes.
- Imad Khan, Winston Taylor LLP, Houston, TX
- Freddy Sourgens, James McCulloch Chair in Energy Law, Tulane Law School, New Orleans, LA
- Additional Speaker Invited
9:45 a.m. (45 minutes) – Navigating and Structuring Critical Issues in Production Sharing Agreement Negotiations
This panel will explore the key legal, commercial, and strategic considerations that shape successful Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) negotiations for international conventional and unconventional projects. Drawing on their experience, speakers will examine critical PSA provisions such as risk allocation, fiscal terms, local content obligations, stabilization mechanisms, and dispute resolution. Speakers will also explore how changing investment strategies are reshaping expectations around fiscal structures, operational flexibility, and the allocation of risk. Attendees will gain practical insights into structuring balanced agreements that align host government objectives with investor expectations in an evolving global energy landscape.
- Emily Alderden, Assistant General Counsel, Oxy, Houston, TX
- Steve Otillar, White & Case LLP, Houston, TX
- Mayda Prego, Senior Counsel, MEA & International A&D, ConocoPhillips, Houston, TX
10:30 a.m. - Break
10:45 a.m. (45 minutes) – The Economics of Project Success: Understanding Value, Risk, and Returns
In an increasingly complex and capital-intensive energy landscape, project success requires the effective integration of commercial, technical, and risk management considerations throughout the project lifecycle. This panel will examine the key factors that shape investment decisions and drive successful project outcomes, including value creation, risk allocation, governance, and execution strategies for long-term performance.
- Ajey Chandra, Chief Executive Officer, Baker & O’Brien, Inc., Houston, TX
- Laurent Elizabe, Commercial Senior Expert & Technical Team Lead, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Spring, TX
- Erik Mielke, Senior Vice President, Corporate Research, Wood Mackenzie, Houston, TX
11:30 a.m. (45 minutes) – From Wildcat to Cash Flow: De-risking Frontier Plays for Top-Tier Returns
Frontier energy opportunities offer significant upside potential, but require careful management of geological, commercial, political, and operational risks. This panel will examine strategies for de-risking exploration and early-stage development projects, with a focus on attracting investment, enhancing project bankability, and positioning frontier plays to deliver sustainable long-term value.
Moderator: Eduardo Canales, Mayer Brown LLP, Houston, TX
- Kate Evans, Managing Counsel, Legal International, Woodside Energy, Houston, TX
- Matt Johnson, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, Hunt Oil Company, Dallas, TX
- Laura Monter, Business Development Advisor, Shell USA, Inc., Houston, TX
Daniella D. Landers, Beusa Energy, The Woodlands, TX
Roy Prather, Beveridge & Diamond PC, Baltimore, MD
9:00 a.m. (45 minutes) – The New Energy Reality: Managing Growth, Reliability, and Decarbonization
- Speakers Invited
9:45 a.m. (45 minutes) – Regulatory Reset: Key Developments from PHMSA and FERC
- Speakers Invited
10:30 a.m. - Break
Energy and Technology Module
Kathryn Hutchins, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, Houston, TX
Christopher Porter, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, Houston, TX
Speakers and sessions to be confirmed.
10:45 a.m. (45 minutes) – Topic TBA
Topic and speakers to be confirmed.
11:30 a.m. (45 minutes) – Topic TBA
Topic and speakers to be confirmed.
12:15 p.m. - Luncheon
12:55 p.m. (20 minutes) - IEL Legends Award Presentation
1:15 p.m. (40 minutes) - Deans of Oil and Gas Practice Lecture
- Patrick S. Ottinger, Of Counsel, Ottinger Hebert, LLC, Lafayette, LA.
1:55 p.m. - Break
2:05 p.m. (60 minutes) - Topic TBA
Topic and speakers to be confirmed.
3:05 p.m. (60 minutes) - Topic TBA
Topic and speakers to be confirmed.
4:05 p.m. Adjourn
Sponsorship Opportunities
IEL Leadership Award Reception and Dinner Sponsor - $6,500 (limited to 14)
February 18, 2027 | Lakeside Country Club
Honoring
TBA
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition at the reception and dinner
- 3 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- Up to 5 additional guests at the reception and dinner
- One reserved table at the dinner (for the above eight individuals or others registered for conference), if desired
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
Conference Notepad Sponsor - $6,250 (exclusive) - SOLD
- Notepads with company/firm logo provided by Sponsor placed on conference tables for attendees
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
Seat Covers Sponsor - $7,000 (exclusive) - SOLD
- Seat Covers with Company/Law Firm Logo provided by Sponsor placed on Conference chairs
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
Wi-Fi Sponsor - $7,000 (exclusive)
- Name/logo reflected in Wi-Fi access code
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
Lanyard Sponsor - $6,250 (exclusive) - SOLD
- Name/logo on lanyards provided by Sponsor distributed to all attendees
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
Conference Materials Sponsor - $6,250 (exclusive)
- Single page company/firm advertisement showing through back of packet containing Conference related material
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
Advisory Board Reception - $5,000 (limited to 3)
February 17, 2027 | Location to be announced
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition via signage at the reception
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- Up to 4 additional guests at the Advisory Board Reception
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
Charging Stations Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive)
- Name/logo displayed at charging stations
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
1st Day Morning Breakfast Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive)
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition from podium at the start of the program
- Recognition via signage at the breakfast
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
1st Day Morning Break Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive)
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition from podium immediately before or after the break
- Recognition via signage at the break
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
1st Day Afternoon Break Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive)
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition from podium immediately before or after the break
- Recognition via signage at the break
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
2nd Day Morning Breakfast Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive)
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition from podium at the start of the program
- Recognition via signage at the breakfast
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
2nd Day Morning Break Sponsor - $5,000 (exclusive)
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition from podium immediately before or after the break
- Recognition via signage at the break
- 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
2nd Day Luncheon & IEL Legends Presentation Sponsor - $3,750 each
February 19, 2027
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition from podium at Luncheon
- Recognition via signage
- 1 complimentary registrant at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
1st Day Networking Luncheon Sponsor - $3,250 (limited to 6)
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- Recognition via signage at first day networking luncheon
- 1 complimentary registrant at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
Exhibitor (Non-Law Firms Only) - $3,000 each
- Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference program and Conference break slides
- Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website
- 1 complimentary registrant at the Conference, including the Awards Reception and Dinner
- An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the Conference
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Licia Maria (Lilly) Hogarth, CAIL Sponsorship Director, at 972.244.3424 or lhogarth@cailaw.org.
Hotel Information
The Westin Houston, Memorial City
945 Gessner Road
Houston, Texas 77024
- Start Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2027
- End Date: Sunday, February 21, 2027
- $219.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book: Tuesday, January 26, 2027
Other Information
Press Policy
All IEL conferences are held under the Chatham House Rule. Participants, including journalists, are free to use any information received, but comments may not be attributed to any speaker identifi ed by name or affiliation.
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Registration for or attendance at this event acknowledges consent to be recorded or photographed. We reserve the right to use any photograph/video taken at our events, without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. We may use the photograph/video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, annual reports, newsletters, etc. To ensure the privacy of individuals, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject.
Visa Information
If you require a letter of invitation to obtain a visa for this conference, payment of the registration fee must first be made. If you apply and do not receive a visa, please send us a copy of the rejection letter from the consulate, and we will cancel your registration and issue a refund. Please email iel@cailaw.org for more details.
Nondiscriminatory Policy
The Center for American and International Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status in educational activities, scholarship programs or admissions.
Privacy Policy
We do not sell or rent information to any outside parties. By providing your information, you will receive postal and electronic communications from the Institute for Energy Law (IEL) of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) in accordance with CAIL's Privacy Policy. If we co-sponsor a program with another organization, information may be shared between the parties. All such co-sponsors will be identified on the event details and registration page. At any point, you can opt-out or unsubscribe by selecting either link at the bottom of each email or call us at 972.244.3400.
