Best Lawyers in America for Oil and Gas Law

Area of Emphasis Ramonda Marling is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation groups of Babst Calland. Ms. Marling primarily represents clients in litigation and commercial matters. She has extensive experience in complex, high-dollar commercial litigation matters representing natural gas producers, midstream companies, coal companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, tobacco companies and other corporations. She has represented natural gas producers in litigation involvin...

Bart A. Rue has over 30 years of trial practice in oil and gas related matters as well a complementary commercial litigation background. Since 2010, Mr. Rue has served as lead counsel in over 200 oil and gas litigation and commercial litigation matters, including lease interpretation issues, royalty underpayment issues, surface use disputes, lease termination disputes, and other issues affecting land and mineral ownership. Mr. Rue currently represents exploration companies and landowners in s...

David M. Perlman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. David M., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rachel M. Scarafia is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Rachel M., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rachel M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Katharine R. Colletta is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Oil and Gas Law and Railroad Law. Katharine R., who practices law in Mobile, Alabama, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katharine R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin represents a diverse clientele in virtually all aspects of the energy industry. With a background in petroleum geology, he has operated and participated in oil and gas exploration and development projects across North America. As a transactional lawyer, he has represented owners and operators with documentation, due diligence, and business counseling for acquisitions and divestitures and for exploration and operation. As a trial lawyer, he has represented plaintiffs and defendants, both...

Area of Emphasis Kip Power is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation groups of Babst Calland. Mr. Power helps clients comply with environmental laws and defend related litigation while keeping their businesses running profitably. He regularly represents companies when permitting and enforcement disputes arise and prosecutes civil actions and appeals challenging unlawful agency actions. Over the course of his career, he has successfully negotiated favorable resolution...

Dale Wainwright is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Oil and Gas Law. Dale, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dale is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Derrick Price is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. Derrick, 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 Derrick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas B. Walsh IV is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Oil and Gas Law. Thomas B., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

EXPERIENCE Successfully tried numerous lawsuits through jury trial and bench trial, as well as appeal, in both state and federal courts Significant experience in complex commercial arbitration matters filed under the American Arbitration Association Experience in litigation and arbitration matters filed in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Georgia, Colorado, Wyoming and California Testified as an expert witness on matters related to the recovery of attorney fees in complex trust litigation S...

Jonathan Baughman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. Jonathan, 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 Jonathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Cynthia Nicholson’s practice is centered on oil and gas transactions with respect to lands located within the State of Louisiana as well as those located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). She regularly documents and negotiates acquisitions and divestitures of both onshore and offshore properties, and has extensive experience with many types of transaction structures including mergers, asset and stock acquisitions and sales. She regularly counsels clients on a wide range of regulator...

Michael Piazza is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Energy Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Oil and Gas Law. Michael, 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 Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Loulan Pitre has extensive experience with the development, construction, operation, and decommissioning of energy, environmental, and infrastructure projects. He has represented energy and other industrial companies, real estate developers, financial institutions, ports, levee districts and other public entities, and participants in the construction and service industries such as contractors, engineers, and material suppliers. His work has included entity formation and governance, traditiona...

Pam Mascari is a state and federal court litigator, trial advocate, and regulatory advisor who represents clients in high-stakes environmental and energy-related disputes in Louisiana and beyond. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she works with energy , petrochemical, and manufacturing companies on complex litigation involving property contamination , environmental claims, and related business risks. Her practice regularly involves litigation strategy and case management before Louisiana state...