Presented by the Institute for Energy Law, this conference has become a must-attend event for energy litigators, in particular oil and gas attorneys. The 15th edition of the Energy Litigation Conference will bring together some of the top in-house and private practice energy litigators to discuss new trends in energy litigation, recent case law of importance to energy litigators, and ways to improve an energy litigation practice.

Conference Co-Chairs

Reid G. Gettys
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Houston, Texas

JoAnn Lee
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Houston, Texas

Stan Perry
Reed Smith LLP
Houston, Texas

Download the Brochure (pdf)
For more details, download the online brochure.

Tuition

Early registration pricing is available through October 13, 2016.

Registration includes the Conference, all meals, and the course material provided online, which may be printed or saved by customer. It does not include printed binder of program material.

$435 - Regular Registration Fee (Regular Price: $495)
$345 - IEL Advisory Board Member (Regular Price: $395)
$345 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee (Regular Price: $395)
$345 - IEL Young Energy Professional Member (Regular Price: $395)
$345 - CAIL Member or Member Employee (Regular Price: $395)
$345 - ABA Section of Litigation Member (Regular Price: $395)
$345 - Government Employee (Regular Price: $395)
$125 - Law Student / Full-time Professor (Regular Price: $125)
$150 - Materials only (Not attending)
$75 - Printed Binder (In addition to registration fee)

Schedule and Faculty

Thursday, November 3

7:30 am

Registration

8:20 am

Welcome, Overview and Introductions

8:30 am

Energy Litigation Update 2016

A review of recent lawsuits and case outcomes of special interest to energy litigators.

Mark D. Christiansen, McAfee & Taft, Oklahoma City, OK

9:15 am

Trying Oil & Gas Nuisance Cases Amid the Hysteria Over “Fracking”

The presenters will discuss jury cases they tried for operators in the Barnett (Mazzone) and the Marcellus (Dillard). They will discuss the legal theories that went to the jury, practical burdens of proof (having to prove the negative in groundwater contamination cases), recent tactics employed by plaintiffs’ counsel generally and to avoid Daubert specifically, how to harness natural occurring substances to defend operators, cross-examining technical experts to make points a jury can understand, whether “empty chair” defenses work in cases that start with multiple defendants, the subjective nature of nuisance damages, and other trial issues.

Stephen C. Dillard, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Houston, TX
Michael J. Mazzone, Haynes and Boone, LLP, Houston, TX

10:15 am

Break

10:30 am

All Fracking is Local: The Clash Between Local Governments and Industry Over Operations

The rise of unconventional exploration and its movement into urban areas have sometimes led to conflicts with local governments and residents, arising from express bans on drilling and fracking or even ordinary zoning ordinances. Two experienced litigators discuss the present legal and social landscape.

Phillip D. Barber, Phillip D. Barber, P.C., Denver, CO
Matt Jones, Liskow & Lewis, Lafayette, LA

11:15 am

What’s On Your Desk and How Can We Help?

This panel will discuss the current trends and hot issues facing in-house counsel in the oil and gas industry and how outside counsel can help them.

Moderator

Lamont Jefferson, Jefferson Cano, San Antonio, TX

Panelists

Kelly Herrera, ConocoPhillips Company, Houston, TX
Marsha L. Montgomery, BP America Inc., Houston, TX
Thomas Neal Nobles, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Houston, TX

12:15 pm

Lunch – Lifetime Achievement in Energy Litigation Award Presentation and Speech

Award Recipient

Daniel M. McClure
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Houston, TX

1:30 pm

Break

1:45 pm

View from the Bench

This panel of judges and an arbitrator will share its perspective on trends in energy litigation and the management and prosecution of energy based proceedings.

Moderator

Jonathan Baughman, McGinnis Lochridge & Kilgore LLP, Houston, TX

Panelists

Hon. S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA
Hon. Donna S. Rayes, 81st District Court, Jourdanton, TX
Hon. Mark Whittington (Ret.), JAMS, Dallas, TX

2:45 pm

Avoiding Litigation: Crash Course in Oil Capital – Lessons Learned and Relearned

A discussion of lessons from the current financial distress among independent oil and gas producers and their capital providers in the historical context of prior industry downturns and prior lessons learned, and forgotten.

Bernard “Buddy” F. Clark, Jr., Haynes and Boone, LLP, Houston, TX

3:15 pm

Break

3:30 pm

Environmental Regulatory Challenges for Oil and Gas Operators

This panel will focus on the myriad of new and ongoing environmental regulatory issues that affect oil and gas operations. The panel will discuss such topics as the EPA’s Methane Rule initiative, air permitting aggregation, fracking rule initiatives, injection well rules to address earthquake hazards, and wastewater discharge standards.

Jennifer A. Smokelin, Reed Smith LLP, Pittsburgh, PA
Danny G. Worrell, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Austin, TX

4:15 pm

Crossing State Lines – the Ethics of Multi-Jurisdictional Practice

The presentation will consider the ethical rules, practical problems, and practice pointers for those who represent clients with operations in multiple states. Issues for both in-house and outside counsel will be considered, including various practice areas and forums germane to the energy industry such as court litigation, alternative dispute resolution, administrative and regulatory practices, and advice and counsel work.

Robert L. Theriot, Liskow & Lewis, Houston, TX

5:15 pm

Adjourn

5:15 pm

Networking Reception

CLE Credit

MCLE Credit

This program is approved by the State Bar of Texas for a total of 6.75 hours, including 1.0 hour of ethics. Course ID Number: 901359766. 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

Hosted Luncheon - $2,500 each
Presentation of the IEL Lifetime Achievement in Energy Litigation Award
Honoring
Daniel M. McClure

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) - $3,000

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

Faculty Dinner (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 dinner
1 complimentary registrant at the Conference
Up to 2 complimentary guests for the dinner
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) - $3,000

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 "Energy Litigation Conference" to receive a reduced room rate of $199 + applicable taxes/night. Nights in our block are: Tuesday 11/1/16, Wednesday 11/12/16 and Thursday night 11/3/16 as long as block is not sold-out; others are offered only as available by hotel. The last day to obtain this special rate is October 16, 2016.

BOOK HOTEL ONLINE

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.

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 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.

15th Annual Energy Litigation Conference