Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Energy Law
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Cities
Andrew P. Flint is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Energy Law. Andrew P., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Barron F. Wallace is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Finance Law, Energy Law and Public Finance Law. Barron F., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Barron F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Andrew B. Derman is a Partner and head of International Energy Practice Group for Thompson & Knight LLP and Chairman of Thompson & Knight Global Energy Services. He represents public and private companies and host governments in their strategic design, commercial execution, negotiations, contract preparation, and legal interpretation. Recent experience includes: acquisition and divestment efforts in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia; international finan...
William M. Kerr, Jr. has more than three decades of experience in commercial transactions, with particular emphasis on acquisitions, financings and divestitures of oil and gas related concerns. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University, where he received his bachelor of arts degree, cum laude , in 1979, as well as of the University of Texas School of Law, where he received his juris doctor, with honors, in 1981. Mr. Kerr is a fourth generation Texas lawyer and practiced for many years...
W. Cleland Dade is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Energy Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. W. Cleland, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which W. Cleland is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dane McKaughan is an energy attorney who focuses on energy-related regulatory and litigation matters, with clients from both the regulated sector, such as gas utilities and pipelines, electric utilities and transmission providers, and the unregulated sector, such as generators and large-scale load. Dane has extensive experience representing clients before state regulators, including the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the Rai...
Paul Mitchell is an experienced trial lawyer with a diverse litigation practice. He focuses primarily on representing companies in the energy sector in commercial litigation, arbitration, corporate investigations, and similar matters, but has also handled a wide range of contested matters. For two decades prior to joining Hicks Thomas, Mr. Mitchell was a partner at Baker Botts LLP and Andrews Kurth LLP, two of the oldest and most respected law firms in Texas, and he brings that big-firm exper...
Hugh M. Ray III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Hugh M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hugh M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Seth R. Belzley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Energy Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Seth R., who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Seth R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Shubi Arora is a partner in the Houston and Austin offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on M&A transactions, private equity investments and special situations strategies, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors. His experience spans the traditional energy sector and includes upstream, midstream and power transactions. He also frequently advises clients on energy technology and transition matters, including renewables, energy storage and carbon...
Nick Davis is a partner in the firm's Litigation section. He represents clients in complex disputes, trials, and arbitrations. He has significant experience in high-stakes matters involving fraud, trade secrets, oil and gas, employment, insurance coverage, government investigations, and complex commercial cases.
Mark C. Davis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Mark C., 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 Mark C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Charles Skip Watson, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Charles Skip, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles Skip is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Andrew Melsheimer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Arbitration, Energy Law and International Arbitration - Commercial. Andrew, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Daniel Cadis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Daniel, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel 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...
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.