For over 50 years, Carrington Coleman’s Energy practice has advised and represented clients in the vital, dynamic energy sector, primarily oil and gas. Our value proposition is simple – cost-effectiveness, combined with an in-depth, working knowledge of every facet of the industry. Whether a client is acquiring leases, negotiating an exploration agreement, or developing family wealth strategies, if it has to do with energy, our lawyers know it cold – and get it done.

Although we work with a wide range of energy clients, our sweet spot is typically family-owned, independent producers who need trusted outside counsel. Our clients are highly entrepreneurial, unafraid of risk, and more than anything, need to work with lawyers who help make things happen. That’s us – their trusted advisors. Our under-the-hood perspective makes us better draftspeople, better tacticians, and better negotiators. And our energy clients benefit from it, at a reasonable cost.

Market-driven legal thinking

In the energy industry, legal strategies are often based on the market price of a single, highly volatile commodity. We are experienced in helping clients quickly document and lock in complex deals that take advantage of favorable  market dynamics. This might mean helping clients meet their objectives for timing an exit, negotiating swap agreements or other hedged transaction documents, or closing – or not closing – a deal. Our understanding of the realities of the energy business make us the lawyers they choose, trust and rely on.

An Independent, Family-owned Producer

Client Issue: 2 weeks before closing on a billion-dollar Permian Basin asset, our client was sued over preferential rights on leases, jeopardizing the sale.

Approach: Under severe time pressure, the Carrington, Coleman team crafted a complex, innovative escrow arrangement to back up an indemnity to allow the deal to proceed and close.

Outcome: The disposition was successful, and the client ultimately realized the full value of a major asset.

Areas of Focus

  • We negotiate and document both acquisition and disposition agreements.
  • Clients rely on us to develop partnerships of all kinds, including joint development agreements farmout agreements and farmin agreements.
  • On the land management side of the energy business, we negotiate lease purchase and development agreements.
  • Thanks to our deep sector experience, we are skilled at identifying and preparing innovative leasing and lease forms for clients.
  • Clients who need financing turn to us to negotiate the documents for their reserve borrowing-based financing.
  • We advise clients in midstream transactions: pipeline infrastructure from field to hub.
  • Our attorneys represent clients in all forms of oil- and gas-related litigation, arbitration, and disputes, including appellate representation.

Significant Matters

Representative deals

  • Represented client in disposition of over $1B in interests in over 80,000 acres in the Permian Basin.
  • Advised client in the disposition of Permian Basin interests with a value in excess of $900M.
  • Represented oil and gas developer and operator in the divestiture of Eagle Ford interests with a value exceeding $250M.
  • Represented client in its divestment of over $300M in West Virginia energy assets.
  • Represented client in the leasing, development and marketing of Permian Basin assets with a value in excess of $100M.
  • Represented investment group in various volumetric production payment structured financing transactions in Wyoming and Colorado, including one involving over 1,000,000 acres of Wyoming coal bed methane assets.
  • Represented client in the acquisition and financing of extensive secondary recovery energy assets in Ward County, Texas.