Jackson Walker has been a leader in energy law for more than 100 years. Indeed, one of the firm's founding partners, A.W. Walker, Jr., was responsible for developing many of the fundamental concepts of modern oil and gas law. Today, we represent clients involved in every segment of the energy industry, and we have a thorough understanding of how each segment functions as a part of the overall value chain.
Our deep experience and long history of providing cutting-edge legal advice to the energy business has led companies worldwide to select Jackson Walker as their counsel of choice on complex legal matters involving the energy and natural resources industry and related service and supply sectors.
The quality and depth of Jackson Walker's energy practice has received national recognition from a number of sources. In the 2012-2013 edition of the U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" rankings, Jackson Walker received a "Tier One" national ranking in Oil and Gas Law and Natural Resources Law. The firm regularly receives Tier One metropolitan rankings in Houston for Oil and Gas Law, Natural Resources Law, and Derivatives and Futures Law; in Dallas for Oil & Gas Law; and in Austin for Energy Law.
The firm's energy practice has also been recognized in several other legal guides and directories, including:
Jackson Walker energy partners were recognized in the 2012 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business guide. Patrick Cowlishaw and Kathleen LaValle were both ranked for "Energy: State and Regulatory & Litigation." Partner Daniel Vineyard was also ranked for his Superfund practice, and partner Mike Nasi has previously been ranked for his Environmental practice.
The Best Lawyers in America 2012 listed 16 Jackson Walker partners among its top lawyers in a number of energy-related practice areas, including Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law, Natural Resources Law, Derivatives and Futures Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Environmental Law, and Regulatory Enforcement
The skill and expertise of our attorneys enables us to provide high levels of service to our energy clients in a broad range of diverse specialties such as bankruptcy, tax, regulatory, litigation, environmental, intellectual property, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and any number of other practice areas. Jackson Walker began by providing legal services to the energy industry, and we remain committed to continuing and expanding upon that tradition.
Please review the links at the left for descriptions of the specific areas of expertise within our energy practice. For more information on any of our Energy practice areas, please contact our Energy section leaders:
 Mike Pearson 1401 McKinney Street, Suite 1900 Houston, Texas 77010 713.752.4311 mpearson@jw.com |  Paul Vrana 777 Main Street, Suite 2100 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.334.7233 pvrana@jw.com |
- Acquisitions & Dispositions
- Bankruptcy
- Commodities and Derivatives
- Eagle Ford Shale & Other Plays
- Electric Power
- Environmental
- Finance
- Hard Minerals
- Intellectual Property
- International
- Land Use and Municipal Law
- Litigation
- Pipelines/Midstream
- Regulatory and Governmental Affairs
- Renewable Energy
- Tax
- Upstream Oil and Gas
Commodities and Derivatives
Jackson Walker has extensive experience in trading financial products and physical energy commodities under highly structured as well as standardized master agreements commonly used in the energy industry, including but not limited to the Master Agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (the "ISDA"), the Master Power Purchase & Sale Agreement published by the Edison Electric Institute (the "EEI"), and the Base Contract for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas published by the North American Energy Standards Board (the "NAESB").
Electric Power
Jackson Walker represents clients across the U.S. who are involved in virtually every aspect of the conventional and renewable sectors of the electric power industry. Because of the breadth of our experience, our clients have asked us to assist them with a broad range of matters – power plant development, permitting, construction and operations, fuel supply, wholesale and retail power trading and marketing, power transmission projects, environmental and other regulatory concerns, taxation and tax incentives related to power assets and revenues, and, when the need arises, litigation.
Pipelines/Midstream
Jackson Walker represents clients in every stage of the chain of gathering, treating, processing, storing, and transporting oil, gas, and hydrocarbon products. Our multi-disciplinary approach has enabled us to assist our clients in all phases of project finance and construction, as well as the acquisition and disposition (pursuant to both asset- and equity-based transactions) of processing plants, gathering systems, and crude oil, product, and gas pipelines, including issues concerning tax, environmental, intellectual property, employment, bankruptcy, and regulatory matters.
Upstream Oil and Gas
Jackson Walker's upstream oil and gas clients include both U.S. and non-U.S. major and independent oil and natural gas companies, the entire spectrum of oilfield service companies, and institutional and individual mineral and land owners. We also represent financial institutions, investors, private equity funds, and other providers of financing and investment vehicles to participants in the upstream oil and gas business. Our practice has been nationally recognized as one of the top practices in this area of law, receiving a "Tier One" national ranking in the U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" guide.
