Biography
Jordan Smith is a recognized leader in energy transactions, advising exploration and production companies, terminal and logistics operators, private equity funds, and financial institutions on complex upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas deals, as well as on the energy and infrastructure transactions supporting the rapid growth of data centers. Named to the Legal 500 Elite for Energy Litigation & Transactions (2025, Inaugural Edition), the Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers for Energy Finance (2025), and The Best Lawyers in America for Oil and Gas Law (2025–2026), Jordan brings deep sector knowledge and a deal-oriented approach to every engagement. He is a partner in Jackson Walker’s nationally ranked Energy practice group, which holds a Tier One national ranking in U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” for oil and gas energy law.
His practice centers on negotiating and structuring sophisticated energy finance and acquisition transactions, with particular depth in alternative capital deployment strategies — including DrillCo transactions, volumetric production payments, equity joint ventures, and farmout arrangements — as well as traditional acquisitions, divestitures, and corporate reorganizations. He routinely represents private equity sponsors and institutional investors deploying capital into upstream and midstream assets and advises E&P companies across the full lifecycle of their operations, from joint development and title diligence through asset dispositions and corporate mergers.
Jordan also has significant experience representing owners and operators of downstream and logistics assets, including marine, rail, and pipeline-connected bulk liquids terminals on the Texas Gulf Coast. He negotiates and drafts terminal services, storage, and throughput agreements for crude oil, refined products, feedstocks, intermediates, and NGLs, covering receipts and deliveries by vessel, barge, pipeline, rail, and truck. His work in this area addresses dedicated tank and capacity arrangements, minimum volume and revenue commitments and deficiency mechanics, fee and escalation structures, product quality and commingling, measurement and loss allowances, title and custody, marine terminal regulations, and the allocation of liability, indemnity, and insurance risk. He also advises on related pipeline, interconnection, and transportation agreements and on the development of new tankage, dock, and rail facilities to serve refiners, integrated oil companies, and commodity traders.
He also advises developers, operators, investors, energy suppliers, and landowners on data center projects and the energy infrastructure that powers them. His work in this area includes site acquisition and land assembly, power and natural gas supply arrangements, on-site and behind-the-meter generation, midstream and pipeline interconnection, water rights, surface use and mineral accommodation issues, and the joint venture, development, and financing structures used to bring large-scale data center campuses online. Drawing on his oil and gas background, Jordan helps clients connect hydrocarbon resources, midstream capacity, and real property positions with the growing power demand of hyperscale and AI-driven computing.
Education
B.A., with honors, The University of Texas at Austin
J.D., St. Mary’s University School of Law
- Saint Mary’s Law Journal, Research and Articles Editor
- Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Fraternity
Bar Admissions
Texas
