Best Lawyers in America for Oil and Gas Law
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State
John Reeks has worked with small independents, medium and large oil and gas companies in most phases of the energy and oil and gas industry including title work, mergers and acquisitions, litigation of landowner and royalty owner demands, matters involving gas contracts, oil, gas and mineral leases, development of oil and gas leases and title issues, disputes between operators and non-operators and lawsuits concerning environmental damages to property. He also has significant insurance defens...
Eric Fjelstad, a partner in the Environment, Energy & Resources practice, is managing partner of the Alaska office and leads the firm’s Alaska EER practice. His practice is focused on natural resources project development, defense of governmental and citizen enforcement actions, and compliance counseling. Eric’s project development is focused on due diligence and permitting of mining, oil and gas, energy, forestry, and heavy infrastructure projects. He regularly counsels Alask...
Now in his third decade of practice, Kyle Polozola offers substantial experience advising participants in Louisiana’s energy industry. Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, Kyle’s practice at Kean Miller spans litigation, appeals, and transactional matters, with a particular focus on Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law , and Oil and Gas Law. He regularly assists clients with practical, business-oriented legal solutions that are clearly communicated, cost-conscious, and aligned wi...
Vic Suane is a Baton Rouge, Louisiana attorney with Kean Miller whose practice centers on Commercial Litigation , Litigation – Environmental , and Oil and Gas Law. He represents clients in complex disputes in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative and regulatory agencies. Vic is known for a practical and thoughtful approach to advocacy that remains focused on client objectives both in and out of the courtroom. He has been recognized by The National Black Lawyers and ...
Jacob D. Wall is an associate in the firm's Oil & Gas/Energy section, where he advises clients on complex transactional and regulatory matters across the energy sector. He brings strong academic credentials to his practice, having earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the SMU Dedman School of Law, where he served as Associate Managing Editor of the International Law Review . Recognized early in his career, Jacob has been honored by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the areas of Energy Law and...
Ross Sutherland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Ross, 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 Ross is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nirav N. Patel focuses his practice on oil, gas and energy litigation and transactions. His litigation practice includes claims and disputes related to termination of oil and gas leases, post-production costs, royalty underpayment, joint operating agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. Mr. Patel also represents clients in title disputes involving mineral and royalty interests, including litigation involving fixed versus floating royalty interests, adverse possession, and deed reformati...
Chris Peyton advises clients on a wide range of mineral and mineral-adjacent matters, with a focus on Oil and Gas Law . Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, he works with energy companies and business clients across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast through his practice at Kean Miller . His work includes counseling on upstream oil and gas operations, mineral title matters, unitization, regulatory compliance, and carbon sequestration projects, as well as providing practical operational guidance to oil an...
Rebecca Starosta is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Oil and Gas Law. Rebecca, 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 Rebecca is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Rachel S. Day is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Insurance Law and Oil and Gas Law. Rachel S., 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 Rachel S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Alec P. Tanner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Oil and Gas Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Alec P., 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 Alec P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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.