Rapp & Krock, PC’s lawyers represent a wide range of participants in the energy/oil and gas industry. While we work toward early resolution of disputes whenever possible, our lawyers stand ready to vigorously represent clients in jury and bench trials, arbitration, and bankruptcy proceedings. With knowledge of the energy industry’s specific business considerations and complex regulatory environment, our lawyers handle a variety of domestic and international energy-related disputes involving the upstream, midstream, downstream and oil field sectors of the energy industry.

Representative Matters

• Take-nothing judgment on behalf of Dorchester Resources in two-week jury trial for breach of contract and fraud claims over payment of oil and gas royalties.
• On behalf of YPF, S.A. obtained federal court confirmation of a $10 million arbitration award involving post-closing adjustments under an asset purchase agreement for South American oil and gas assets. Affirmed on appeal to the 5^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
• Obtained a take-nothing, final, summary judgment for owner of off-shore development rights in Grenadian territorial waters and two if its seismic consultants sued for theft of trade secrets.
• On behalf of XTO Energy (now ExxonMobil) litigated and settled lawsuit involving preferential rights under oil and gas joint operating agreements and corresponding indemnity rights as between sellers and purchasers of the oil and gas assets.
• Lead counsel for XTO Energy (now ExxonMobil) in an arbitration involving a licensing dispute for the digitization of well logs.
• Lead trial and appellate counsel for Landmark Graphics (now Halliburton) in a case of first impression under Texas law involving negligence and warranty issues arising out of a software defect.
• Lead counsel for federal court-appointed receiver to operate and ultimately sell all assets in a west Texas oil and gas-related water disposal business. The receiver successfully recovered proceeds sufficient to pay all secured debt.
• In the Asarco chapter 11 bankruptcy case was part of trial team that obtained a bankruptcy court recommendation and district court confirmation of the client’s $3.9 billion plan of reorganization over a competing plan in a four-week contested hearing.
• Represented Guggenheim Partners, the secured lender in bankruptcy adversary proceeding, defending against claims brought by a working interest owner against a debtor/operator for breach of a joint operating agreement. Obtained a favorable settlement that cleared the way for confirmation of a lender-sponsored plan of reorganization.
• Texas counsel for bondholder groups, lender groups or collateral/administrative agents in chapter 11 cases involving McDermott International, Alta Mesa Resources, Legacy Reserves, Fieldwood Energy, SandRidge Energy, Energy & Exploration Partners, and ATP Oil & Gas.
• Company representations in chapter 11 cases for Dune Energy.
• Representation of stalking horse or other bidders in 363 sales in chapter 11 cases involving O’Benco IV, LP (oil and gas assets), Oxane Materials (IP assets) and Edge Petroleum (oil and gas assets and equity interests in subsidiaries)
• Representation of equity owners and contract counterparties in significant litigation in C&J Well Services chapter 11 case (oil field services).
• Representation of multiple creditors and critical vendors in Sanchez Energy chapter 11 case.