Best Lawyers in America for Oil and Gas Law
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Heriberto Montalvo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Oil and Gas Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Heriberto, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Heriberto is held by other top lawyers in the same geograph...
Mason W. Smith is an associate in the firm’s Oil & Gas/Energy section. He represents landowners, oil and gas operators, mineral/royalty owners, and surface developers in a variety of oil and gas matters. His primary area of focus is transactional work, which involves handling the buying and selling of working interest properties, mineral interests, and midstream assets. He also deals with oil and gas leases, surface use agreements, water use and disposal agreements, water leases, pi...
Raylee Starnes focuses her practice on oil, gas, and energy litigation and transactions. Ms. Starnes represents oil and gas exploration companies, oil and gas midstream companies, and large land owners in a variety of transactional and litigation matters. Ms. Starnes has also represented clients in several non-energy commercial litigation matters, and advised clients on labor and employment disputes, bankruptcy proceedings, and real estate matters.
Shannon R. McKay is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Oil and Gas Law. Shannon R., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shannon R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Chaz Coleman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Litigation and Oil and Gas Law. Chaz, who practices law in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chaz is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Brendan O'Donnell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. Brendan, who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brendan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Morgan Moore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Oil and Gas Law. Morgan, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Morgan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lauren Stelck is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Oil and Gas Law. Lauren, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lauren is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Brandon G. Pang is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Brandon G., who practices law in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brandon G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
R.J. Malenfant is a corporate partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on acquisitions, divestitures and joint venture formations for companies operating and investing in the upstream oil-and-gas sector. R.J.’s transactional experience also includes advising clients in connection with complex acquisitions and divestitures, oil and gas transportation and gathering agreements, and other commercial transactions.
Jordan Mullins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. Jordan, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jordan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ernesto Danache IV is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Ernesto, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ernesto is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jordan G. Tiemann is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law. Jordan G., who practices law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jordan G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dakota S. Hawkins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Dakota S., who practices law in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dakota S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mark Wulfe is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Oil and Gas Law. Mark, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.