Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources

Energy and natural resources companies are not just key drivers of the global economy — they are also highly sensitive to changes in global demand, economic and manufacturing trends, conflicting support for traditional, alternative, and renewable sources of energy, and a constantly evolving framework of local, national, and international environmental laws.

The Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources industry group at Jones Walker helps clients find and follow a clear path toward business success. We have worked with clients to address and resolve the challenges energy and natural resources companies face from regulators, law enforcement agencies, municipalities, citizens groups, and private individuals, and partner with clients to achieve an effective balance between the needs of industry, the environment, and end users. Our understanding of the industry is based upon decades of experience in this sector.

We have represented domestic and international clients in matters from the west coast to the east coast and across the Gulf Coast of the United States. Our clients include major oil and gas producers, independent producers, renewable and alternative energy companies, joint ventures, operators, pipeline companies, mining companies, fabricators, service companies, refining and chemical companies, power generation and transmission companies, landowners, royalty interest owners, and financial institutions.

A number of our attorneys have backgrounds in geology, engineering, environmental management systems, architecture, urban and regional planning, and industrial management. Our team includes former government regulators and general counsel for state agencies — including the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), the Louisiana Office of Conservation, and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) — as well as US attorneys and assistant US attorneys, state legislators, and a former governor of Mississippi.

We have deep experience in state environmental statutes as well as applicable federal laws, including the following:

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund)
Clean Water Act (CWA)
Clean Air Act (CAA)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Our Services

We advise clients on the full range of energy and natural resources matters, including complex energy transactions, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, and government relations, as well as compliance with corporate, securities, labor and employment, health and safety, intellectual property, and other laws and regulations.

Oil and Gas
- Upstream, including property and mineral rights, exploration and production both onshore and offshore
- Midstream, including transportation and storage
- Infrastructure, including terminals, facilities, and plants
- Downstream, including refining, processing, and marketing
Energy Transition
- Carbon capture, underground storage, and sequestration
- CO2 pipeline transmission
- Decreasing carbon footprints in existing power plants
Power Generation
Renewable and Alternative Energy
- Ammonia
- Biofuels
- Geothermal
- Hydrogen
- Solar
- Wind, offshore and onshore
Natural Resources
- Mining
- Water

Representative Experience

The world's second-largest copper company, which controls proved and probable reserves of about 35 billion pounds of copper and about 35 million ounces of gold
A mining and minerals company that owns or has stakes in approximately 400 oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in Louisiana and Texas, covering approximately 370,000 gross acres
One of the world's largest mining companies, operating primarily in Australia and North America
The leading provider of mechanical wire line services in the Gulf of Mexico, providing specialized oil field services to oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Gulf Coast
A leading independent power producer with 51 power generation plants including international operations
The production arm of the operator of the largest gas transportation system in the U.S.
A pioneer in arctic drilling, with drilling operations in 54 countries
A regulated utility, providing electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers
An independent oil and gas producer with vast international proved reserves, and a major producer of coal bed methane gas
One of the largest pipeline companies in the world, transporting 3.5 million barrels of crude oil, refined petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gases, natural gas liquids, and chemicals through more than 8,000 miles of pipeline
A gas gathering, storage, processing, and transportation company also engaged in exploration and production
One of the largest fabricators of offshore drilling and production platforms
A major pipeline company with 20,000 miles of gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines throughout the United States and Canada
A large independent exploration and production company engaged, among other things, in developing four deep-water oil and gas projects in the Gulf of Mexico
A provider of integrated environmental and drilling fluid and engineering services to oil and gas drillers
A seabed to surface engineering and construction company
A large independent exploration and production company engaged in owning and operating oil and gas properties in various states in the United States
A seismic exploration company

Related Professionals

name

Grady S. Hurley
title

Partner
phones

D: 504.582.8224
email

Emailghurley@joneswalker.com
name

Marjorie A. McKeithen
title

Partner
phones

D: 504.582.8420
email

Emailmmckeithen@joneswalker.com

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Related Practices

2020 Jones Walker LLP Midstream Oil and Gas Cybersecurity Survey

Jones Walker LLP released the findings of its 2020 Midstream Oil and Gas Cybersecurity Survey, examining cybersecurity preparedness in North America-based independent midstream oil and gas companies.