70th Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference

Overview

Conference Co-Chairs

The 70th edition of the Institute for Energy Law’s Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference will take place in Houston on February 21-22, 2019. This outstanding program brings together legal leaders in the oil and gas industry for excellent educational programming and multiple social and networking opportunities with a diverse audience. Building off the theme of Energy in Transition, Co-chairs Kimberly Phillips (Shell Oil Company) and Mark R. Robeck have developed a unique and exceptional edition of the country’s longest-running oil and gas law CLE conference.

Kimberly Phillips
Associate General Counsel, Global Litigation – Americas
Shell Oil Company
Houston, TX

Mark R. Robeck
Washington, D.C.

IEL Distinguished Leadership in Energy Award Recipient

John B. Hess
Chief Executive Officer
Hess Corporation
New York, NY

John B. Hess is Chief Executive Officer of Hess Corporation. Mr. Hess led the Fortune 500 Company through a strategic transformation from an integrated oil company into a pure play E&P company. Mr. Hess recently served on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board Quadrennial Review Task Force. He is a member of the Board of Directors of KKR & Company and the Board of Trustees at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is also a member of The Business Council, the Trilateral Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the Executive Committee of the American Petroleum Institute. In addition, Mr. Hess serves on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and on the Board of Trustees at the New York Public Library and Mount Sinai Hospital.

Mr. Hess holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.  A member of the Board of Dean’s Advisors at Harvard Business School, he was also Chairman of the Harvard Business School Campaign.

Deans of Oil & Gas Practice Lecturer

David F. Asmus
Sidley Austin LLP
Houston, TX

Download the Brochure (pdf)

For more details, download the online brochure.

Tuition

Advisory Board members should register using the special link sent to them by email.

Early registration pricing is available through January 31, 2019.

• $745.00 - Non-Member Registration Fee (*Member dues begin at $650) (Regular Price: $795.00)
• $535.00 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee (Regular Price: $575.00)
• $535.00 - IEL Young Energy Professional Member (Regular Price: $575.00)
• $535.00 - CAIL Member or Member Employee (Regular Price: $575.00)
• $535.00 - Government Employee (Regular Price: $575.00)
• $150.00 - Full-time Law Student (Regular Price: $150.00)
• $150.00 - Full-time Law Professor (Regular Price: $150.00)
• $225.00 - Materials Only - I will not be attending the conference. (Regular Price: $225.00)

Schedule and Faculty

Thursday, February 21

8:25 am

Welcome and Overview

8:45 am

Industry and Legal Departments in Transition

Vast changes in the oil and gas industry and the practice of law have occurred over the last three decades. Randall Ebner and Charles Matthews will engage in a discussion with David Beck regarding their time as the leader of ExxonMobil’s large legal department, issues they faced, changes in the practice of law and the needs of the industry, and what future changes may be on the horizon for energy attorneys.

Moderator: David J. Beck, Beck Redden LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Randall M. Ebner, Vice President and General Counsel, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Irving, Texas
• Charles W. Matthews, Former Vice President and General Counsel, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Dallas, Texas

10:00 am

Break

10:30 am

Recent Developments in Oil and Gas Law

This session will feature a review of important cases and other developments in oil and gas law over the last year.

• Monika U. Ehrman, Associate Professor of Law, Faculty Director – Oil & Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Center, The University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma

11:15 am

The 2018 Legal Ethics Year in Review: News You Can Use

A wide-ranging one-hour review of the most important developments in legal ethics, the law of lawyering, and attorney-client privilege, especially aimed at the daily work of both in-house lawyers and private practitioners. Practical guidance will be distilled from ethics opinions and case law, all aimed at helping lawyers protect their clients and themselves and practicing more effectively.

• Lucian T. Pera, Adams and Reese LLP, Memphis, Tennessee

12:15 pm

Networking Luncheon

Thursday Afternoon Concurrent Sessions

US Litigation & Dispute Resolution Module

• Liz Klingensmith, Blank Rome LLP, Houston, Texas

1:30 pm

Voir Dire: Thoughts on Questioning, Listening and Introducing Your Case to Potential Jurors

A live demonstration and commentary on voir dire and items of relevance to energy attorneys picking a jury.

• Robert P. Scott, Blank Rome LLP, Houston, Texas
• Mark S. Sobus, J.D., Ph.D., Edge Litigation Consulting LLC, Kingswood, Texas

2:15 pm

Activist Litigation In the Energy Industry

The oil and gas industry faces an onslaught of environmental activism designed to stop development. This session explores legal tips and traps in responding to creative, exhaustive, and sometimes unreasonable efforts by activists to stop developments.

• Amy L. Barrette, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Bill Leone, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, New York, New York

3:00 pm

Break

3:15 pm

The Range War Between Wind Farms and Oil & Gas Operations

This session will feature a discussion on clashes between wind and oil and gas development and the potential for litigation.

• Wyatt D. Swinford, Elias, Books, Brown & Nelson, P.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

4:00 pm

Regulatory and Legal Issues Relating to Federal Lands (Onshore and Offshore)

This session will focus on federal policy, regulation, enforcement, and litigation as to royalties, including shifting policies and regulatory schemes under the current administration and enforcement actions related to federal royalties.

• David Carsey, Senior Counsel, Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company, Houston, Texas
• L. Poe Leggette, BakerHostetler, Houston, Texas
• Jasper Mason, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Houston, Texas

4:45 pm

Adjourn 1st Day

US Transactional Module

• Sharon O. Flanery, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Charleston, West Virginia
• Joseph Ope, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Spring, Texas

1:30 pm

Globalization and Energy Contracts

Are energy companies contractually prepared to deal with the effects of the ever changing landscape of trade wars, tariffs and sanctions? This discussion will summarize the latest trends in tariff increases affecting the industry, address how to respond to those increased tariffs, and touch on structuring agreements in advance to deal with sanctioned entities and country concerns, including a decision by a JV partner to sell its interest to a sanctioned entity.

• Eric R. McClafferty, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, Washington, D.C.

2:15 pm

The New PSA

A review of changes to purchase and sale agreements occurring as a result of the major entry of private equity into the industry, including change of focus in negotiations and changes to the forms themselves – e.g., impact on relative importance/emphasis of title and environmental review procedures, representations & warranties, and post-closing indemnity obligations versus representation & warranty.

• Jeffrey S. Muñoz, Latham & Watkins LLP, Houston, Texas
• Steven P. Otillar, White & Case LLP, Houston, Texas
• Amy Springs, Senior Vice President and Associate Counsel, EIG Global Energy Partners, Houston, Texas

3:00 pm

Break

3:15 pm

Innovations in Collaboration v. Collusion in the Oilfield

Analysis of recent innovations and developments in collaboration in the oilfield, with a focus on three industry areas—joint bidding, local area midstream and take-away services (gas gathering and processing), and incident response (offshore, deepwater)—reviewed in the context of anti-competition laws and recent case law.

• David Bertoch, Executive Counsel, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Spring, Texas
• Thomas Fina, Baker Botts LLP, Washington, D.C.
• Morgan F. Frontczak, Senior Antitrust Counsel, Shell Oil Company, Houston, Texas

4:00 pm

Blockchain and Smart Contracts

A high level overview of blockchain and smart contracts, with a discussion on the potential evolution of the technology and its impact on various areas, including the legal and energy industries.

• Shawnna M. Hoffman-Childress, Global Cognitive Legal Co-Leader, IBM, Orlando, Florida
• Daniel Nossa, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, The Woodlands, Texas

4:45 pm

Adjourn 1st Day

IEL Distinguished Leadership in Energy Award Reception and Dinner

6:15 pm

Reception

7:15 pm

Dinner Honoring John Hess, Chief Executive Officer, Hess Corporation

• Petroleum Club of Houston
  1201 Louisiana St.
  Houston, Texas

Friday Morning Concurrent Sessions

Transformational Technologies Module

• Peter Hays, King & Spalding LLP, Houston, Texas

9:00 am

Developments in Unconventional Resources Research & Development

This presentation will discuss recent major technological trends in the international oil and gas industry with a focus on innovation in shale development and its relationship to the future of the economy and the environment.

• Robert L. Kleinberg, Ph.D., Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy of the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, New York, New York

9:45 am

Advances in Procurement, Collaboration, and Standardization

This panel will focus on the current, powerful research, development and procurement trends in the oil and gas industry driven by a broad movement towards efficiency. This trend has a number of starting points, including establishment of the post-Macondo joint-response protocol, focus on IRR and the benefits of process management in shale drilling, and the severe oil price downturn of 2014-15. The panel discussion will range from current innovations in data, improved drilling and investment in infrastructure in the heart of the Permian Basin, to the learnings and unforeseen consequences arising out of the joint-response protocol established post-Macondo in the ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico, to the standardization and collaboration revolution currently impacting the global supply chain management functions of supermajors.

Moderator: Peter Hays, King & Spalding LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Chuck Keierleber, Director of Integrated Planning, Occidental Oil & Gas Corp., Houston, Texas
• Sandeep Khurana, Senior Project Manager, Granherne, A KBR Company, Houston, Texas
• Alton Payne, Chief, Standards Development Section, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Houston, Texas

10:30 am

Break

Regulatory Module

• Greg Dillard, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Houston, Texas

9:00 am

Embracing Complexity: 2018 Regulatory Trends in Energy

These are times of uncertainty between energy companies and their regulators. The presenters will discuss challenges and changes at the Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and EPA. As these agencies continue to focus on operational integrity and reliability amongst and between utilities and refineries and petrochemical companies, the presenters assess what companies are doing to meet those expectations.

• Blaise Benoit, Senior Attorney, SemGroup Corporation, Houston, Texas
• Amy L. Hoff, Caldwell Boudreaux Lefler PLLC, Houston, Texas
• Tim McKone, Head of North American Commodities Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer for Citigroup Energy, Inc., Citigroup, Houston, Texas

9:45 am

Federal and State Safety Enforcement: OSHA and Emerging State Approaches

As the Trump administration continues an uncertain regulatory enforcement agenda, what future trends will affect the regulated oil and gas community? Regarding the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard, risk management program (RMP), and other safety regulations, this panel will discuss expected focuses of future enforcement. The panel will also review how regulatory revisions by certain states, such as California and Washington, may impact future enforcement at the national level.

• Mark Briggs, Area Director, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Houston, Texas
• Scott A. Elliott, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Houston, Texas
• Nicholas Graham, Motiva Enterprises LLC, Houston, Texas

10:30 am

Break

Friday Mid-Morning Concurrent Sessions

Trading Module

• Suzanne L. Kupiec, EY, Houston, Texas

10:45 am

Trading Update

This session will look at the current state of the oil and gas trading industry as well as how it’s evolved and where it might be heading. The panelists will discuss the “fundamentals” of trading the products as well as the form contracts that have been developed, the impact of block chain technology, and key provisions that may be the subject of negotiation.

Moderator: Suzanne L. Kupiec, EY, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• J. Robert “Bo” Collins Jr., Co-Founder and Managing Member, Lone Star Capital, Houston, Texas
• Nisha Desai, Managing Director, Aurora Clean Energy Partners, Houston, Texas
• Cliff Woodard, Global Controller for Koch Supply & Trading, Koch Industries, Inc., Wichita, Kansas

11:30 am

AI for Internal Risk Management

This session will look at regulatory enforcement for energy traders inside, and outside, the US, including the use of artificial intelligence to monitor traders’ activities.

Moderator: Michael D. Barrett, EY, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Troy Martin, Director of Compliance and Chief Operating Officer, Swytch, Austin, Texas
• Tom Nuelle, Global Head, Ethics & Compliance - IST, BP, p.l.c., London, United Kingdom

International Module

• Thomas J. Moore, Mayer Brown LLP, Houston, Texas

10:45 am

Exporting North America’s Shale Revolution: Creating a Fertile Legal and Policy Environment

North America’s “Shale Revolution” has been brought about by the use of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling that has enabled the U.S. and Canada to significantly increase their production of hydrocarbons, particularly from tight oil and gas formations.

Prospective shale deposits exist in many parts of the world, but their development has significantly lagged behind North America.

The panel will discuss the existing policy and legal landscapes in North America and the most promising shale basins elsewhere and what needs to be done to begin to bridge the gaps between the two.

Moderator: Norman Nadorff, Tauil & Chequer Advogados (Associated with Mayer Brown LLP), Adjunct Professor, University of Houston Law Center and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Owen L. Anderson, Professor and Distinguished Oil and Gas Scholar, Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy Law & Business, University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
• Susan Sakmar, Visiting Assistant Professor, Andrews Kurth Energy Law Scholar, University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas
• Harry W. Sullivan, Jr., Assistant General Counsel, Kosmos Energy Ltd., Executive Professor, Texas A&M School of Law, Adjunct Professor, SMU Dedman School of Law, Dallas, Texas

IEL Forum Module

• Kevin Corcoran, LL.M. Energy, Mills Shirley LLP, Houston, Texas
• Brian Carmichael, Managing Counsel – U.S. Upstream and Trading Litigation, Shell Oil Company, Houston, Texas

10:45 am

IEL Forum

An unscripted opportunity to discuss current issues in energy practices.

Moderators:

• Kevin Corcoran, LL.M. Energy, Mills Shirley LLP, Houston, Texas
• Brian Carmichael, Managing Counsel – Upstream and Trading Litigation, Shell Oil Company, Houston, Texas

Friday Afternoon Schedule and Faculty

12:15 pm

Deans of Oil and Gas Practice Lecture and Luncheon

Ten Cases that Surprised the Oil & Gas Industry

• David F. Asmus, Sidley Austin LLP, Houston, Texas

1:45 pm

Artificial Intelligence: Ethics Issues

This program explores the ethics implications of relying on artificial intelligence to provide or assist in providing legal advice. First, the program will cover general issues, including: unauthorized practice of law and multijurisdictional rules' application; lawyers' duty of competence; the conflicts of interest, fee/expense, privilege and work product implications of lawyers working with third party AI providers or consultants; lawyers' ability to limit their liability; discoverability and ownership of AI material. Second, the program will address AI issues transactional lawyers may face, including ethics rules governing lawyers' reaction to transactional adversaries' AI - induced substantive mistakes or typographical errors; and ownership of AI material after corporate transactions. Third, the program will cover AI issues litigators may face, including bars' and courts' handling of ghostwritten pleadings; AI use in discovery, jury selection and judge assessment; and lawyers' duty to disclose AI-compiled bad facts and bad law.

• Thomas E. Spahn, McGuireWoods LLP, Tysons, Virginia

2:45 pm

A Look Inside the Energy Company Legal Department

This panel of senior industry lawyers will address the concerns of general counsel in operating legal departments in the energy industry and provide advice and guidance regarding new and reliable legal strategies and the professional challenges they face.

Moderator: Mark C. Rodriguez, Vinson & Elkins, LLP, Houston, Texas

Panelists:

• Gabriela (“Gabby”) B. Boersner, Vice President & General Counsel E&P, Hess Corporation, Houston, Texas
• Danielle Hunter, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary, C&J Energy Services, Inc., Houston, Texas
• Chris P. Vice, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Motiva Enterprises LLC, Houston, Texas

3:45 pm

Adjourn

Hotel Information

The cost of housing is not included in tuition. However, rooms (in limited number) have been reserved at the JW Marriott Hotel - Galleria, 5150 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056. Registrants should call 1.713.961.1500 and advise them they are attending the "IEL – Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference" to receive a reduced room rate of $209 ++ per night. The last day to obtain this special rate is January 29, 2019. Room block available from February 19–22.

BOOK HOTEL ONLINE

CLE Credit

Sponsorship Opportunities

IEL Distinguished Leadership in Energy Award Reception and Dinner - $6,000 each (Limited to 13) - SOLD OUT
The Petroleum Club of Houston
February 21, 2019

• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and Internet announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website.
• Recognition at the reception and dinner.
• 4 complimentary registrants at the Conference.
• Up to 6 guests at the reception and dinner.
• One reserved table at the dinner, if desired.
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the Conference.

Advisory Board Dinner Headline Sponsorship - $5,000 (Only 1 Allowed) - SOLD OUT
Houston Country Club
February 20, 2019

• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed and/or emailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through web announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• Recognition at the reception & dinner
• 3 complimentary registrants at the Conference.
• Up to 3 guests at the Advisory Board Dinner
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the conference.

Conference Binder Sponsor - $4,500 (Only 1 Allowed) - SOLD OUT

• Single page company/firm advertisement on the back of the conference material binder that will be distributed to all registrants
• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed and/or emailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through web announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• Recognition on the conference website and via social media
• 2 complimentary registrants at the conference, including the IEL Distinguished Leadership in Energy Award Reception and Dinner
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the conference

1st Day Morning Break Sponsor - $4,000 (Only 1 Allowed) - SOLD OUT

• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and Internet announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website.
• Recognition at the break, including from podium
• 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference.
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the Conference

1st Day Afternoon Break Sponsor - $4,000 (Only 1 Allowed) - SOLD OUT

• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and Internet announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website.
• Recognition at the break, including from podium
• 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference.
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the Conference

2nd Day Morning Break Sponsor - $4,000 (Only 1 Allowed) - SOLD OUT

• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and Internet announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website.
• Recognition at the break, including from podium
• 2 complimentary registrants at the Conference.
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the Conference

70th Annual Commemorative Backpack Sponsor - $10,000 (Only 1 Allowed) - SOLD OUT

• Name/Logo, along with IEL’s logo, on backpack distributed to all attendees containing conference binder and information
• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed and/or emailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through web announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• 3 complimentary registrant at the Conference.
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the conference.

Networking Luncheon - $3,000 each
February 21, 2019

• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and Internet announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website.
• Recognition at the luncheon.
• 1 complimentary registrant at the Conference.
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the Conference.

Deans of Oil and Gas Practice Lecture Luncheon - $3,000 each
February 22, 2019

• Recognition in the Conference brochure, which will be mailed to several thousand interested counsel and business leaders and will reach many thousands more through email and Internet announcements.
• Company/firm logo prominently displayed in the Conference brochure and final program.
• Company/firm logo on the Conference website, with link to company/firm website.
• Recognition at the luncheon.
• 1 complimentary registrant at the Conference.
• An opportunity to display company/firm materials at the event or at the Conference.

Exhibitor - $2,000 each
February 21-22, 2019

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

Other Information

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.