Praised as a ‘leader in oil and gas litigation’, where it advises on high-profile cases, royalty disputes and class actions, Bracewell LLP boasts an impressive client base, including some of the oil and gas industry’s leading players such as Chevron and Apache. Stephen Crain heads the firm’s litigation group and continues to assist a range of energy sector clients. Recently promoted to partner, commercial litigator Drew Taggart routinely assists multinationals, mid-sized companies and small start-ups with complex oil and gas litigation proceedings. The team also includes commercial litigator William Moss, currently representing mining property owner 3S Real Estate Development in a dispute with the mining lessee and oil and gas operator regarding the validity of four oil and gas leases covering over 30,000 acres of land. Lawyers mentioned are in Houston.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Bracewell is a leader in oil & gas disputes and litigation. They have all the right tools and lawyers for complicated matters.'

Key clients

Apache Corporation
Chevron USA, Inc.
Hilcorp Energy Company
Eni Petroleum US LLC
ST9 Gas and OIL LLC
Royalty Interests Partnership, LP
Venoco Liquidating Trust
Cheniere Energy, Inc.
Catena Resources Operating, LLC
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

Work highlights

Represented Chevron in a dispute arising from natural gas sales during Winter Storm Uri.
Represented Apache in an industry-leading case regarding royalty ownership and oil and gas co-tenancies.
Represented SN Catarina and Mesquite in defending and asserting claims in an arbitration against Catarina Midstream, LLC.

Lawyers

Leading partners

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Stephen Crain

Bracewell LLP

Stephen Crain has spent his career advocating for clients in high-stake and complex commercial disputes in the United States and internationally. Stephen’s practice largely focuses on energy, securities, and construction. His diverse energy practice ranges from oil and gas royalty class actions to power-trading disputes to claims in adversary proceedings. In securities matters, Stephen represents officers, directors, and corporations in class actions and has successfully defeated multiple injunctions sought to prevent mergers. Stephen also represents owners in large-scale construction disputes.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.