Samuel E. "Sam" Masur

Sam Masur’s practice is concentrated in the areas of oil and gas litigation, general commercial litigation, oil and gas titles, oil and gas and oil field service company acquisitions and divestitures, and general business acquisitions and divestitures.

In both Louisiana state and federal courts, Sam litigates oil and gas and general business contract disputes involving oil and gas leases, overriding royalty interest agreements, joint operating agreements, and distribution agreements and partnership and limited liability agreements. He has participated in such actions in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Sam has successfully defended several oilfield environmental claims and toxic tort claims related to ambient air quality, and has prosecuted a major oil and gas fraud case involving theft of corporate assets and breach of fiduciary duty by corporate officers. He has also successfully defended a publicly traded company in seven class action suits that sought to enjoin a board recommended take-private merger. Additionally, he has handled products liability litigation involving propane explosions.

Beyond his litigation practice, Sam represents clients in the start-up phase of their new businesses and manages asset-based and stock-based acquisitions and divestitures for exploration companies, chemical companies, oil field service companies, allied health businesses and minor league sports franchises. He negotiates and drafts the complex purchase and sale agreements for those transactions, and provides advice on corporate and financing matters to those clients.

Representative Matters:

• Represented sellers in sale of $40 million oilfield service company (June 2011)
• Represented exploration company in sale of $77 million of reserves (May 2010)
• Represented seller in $95 million sale of producing oil and gas properties (March 2008)
• Represented creditor in $75 million corporate refinance (April 2008)
• Represented buyer in purchase of $19.75 million oil field service company (April 2008)
• Represented buyer in purchase of $11.75 million oil field service company (January 2008)
• Represented company in refinance of $50 million in corporate debt (November 2007)
• Represented exploration company in acquisition of $110 million producing property package (2007)

Reported Cases:


• Tower Oil & Gas Co. of Texas v. Brammer Engineering, Inc., 2011 WL 3819093 (E.D. La. August 26, 2011)
• Rozel Energy II, LLC v. Coupel, 2010 WL 2853760 (La. App. 1 Cir. June 3, 2010)
• Gulf Explorer v. Clayton Williams Energy, 964 So.2d 1042 (La. App. 1 Cir. June 8, 2007)
• Credeur v. Jayco, Inc., 916 So.2d 1244 (La. App. 3 Cir. November 2, 2005)
• Dore Energy Corp. v. Carter-Langham, Inc., 901 So.2d 1238 (La. App. 3 Cir. May 4, 2005)
• Wilson Industries, Inc. v. Aviva America, Inc., 185 F.3d 492 (5th Cir. (La.) August 30, 1999)
• Breese v. Hadson Petroleum (USA), Inc., 947 F.Supp. 242 (M.D. La. July 10, 1996)
• Preston Oil Co. v. Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp., 594 So.2d 908 (La. App. 1 Cir. December 27, 1991)

Published Works & Presentations:


• Due Diligence in the Acquisition of Producing Properties (LAPL – Lafayette, Louisiana – 2002)
• The Electronic Age and Oil and Gas Contracting, 48 Min. Law Inst. 244 (2001)
• Confidentiality Issues and Solutions for the Oil Patch (LAPL – Lafayette, Louisiana -2001)
• Operating in the Coastal Zone – What Does it Mean for the Landman (LAPL – Lafayette, Louisiana -October 1998)
• Confidentiality Agreements: A Why, When and How Approach to Usage (HAPL – Houston, Texas – September 1997)
• The Art of Due Diligence (The Exploration and Production Company Mergers and Acquisitions Institute – Houston Texas – May 1997)
• Reflections on Seismic Permitting (DAPL – Denver, Colorado – November, 1997; PLANO – Beaver Creek, Colorado – February 1996; LAPL - Lafayette , Louisiana – October 1995)
• The 1989 AAPL Model Form Operating Agreement (Lafayette Bar Association - Lafayette, Louisiana - The 1989 AAPL Model Form Operating Agreement, September 1990 – Lafayette Bar Association - Lafayette, Louisiana)

Professional Affiliations:

• American Bar Association - Litigation, Business Law, Environment, Energy, and Resources Sections
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• Lafayette Parish Bar Association
• American Association of Professional Landmen
• Lafayette Association of Professional Landmen

Honors:

• Louisiana Bar Foundation – Fellow
• Listed in Louisiana SuperLawyers
• Inns of Court of Acadiana – Master