Brad Wilkerson has a broad litigation practice consisting primarily of oil and gas and energy law. He has worked on several complex cases involving oil field contamination, operational and ownership disputes, and lease and mineral servitude cancellations, including class actions. Mr. Wilkerson has experience negotiating natural gas and crude oil gathering and transportation agreements, pipeline servitudes, oil and gas leases, and surface use agreements. He is also experienced in the preparation of title opinions and opinion letters, expropriation law, and mineral law in general, and has represented clients in demands related to the payment of production proceeds, exploration and development, and good faith operations.
REPRSENTATIVE MATTERS:
- Representation of a large integrated energy company in connection with its demand upon a multi-national natural gas pipeline manufacturer for breach of contract related to the manufacture and sale of defective 42 inch pipe, which was discovered by the energy company after installation of the pipeline that traversed North Louisiana. Work included advising the energy company throughout the demand process, the filing of litigation, and the successful mediation in favor of energy company.
- Representation of a publicly traded integrated energy company in the demands and ultimate lawsuit filed by mineral owners in the “Haynesville Shale” resource play in Northwest Louisiana for unpaid royalties and production proceeds from many wells, some which have been producing since 1977. Through the successful assertion of various technical defenses, our firm has assisted the energy company and reducing the value of plaintiffs’ claims to the point plaintiffs’ requested settlement negotiations at a fraction of the original claim, which negotiations are ongoing.
- Representation of a publicly traded integrated energy company in its application to the Louisiana Office of Conservation (“LOC”) to change the previously approved “unit operator” of two 640 acre “Haynesville Shale” natural gas drilling and production unit situated in Northwest Louisiana (the “Unit”), along with approval from the LOC to drill 14 additional Haynesville wells within a period of six months at a cost of approximately $9 million each.
- Representation of a large integrated energy company in connection with its negotiation, drafting, and purchase of a multi-million dollar natural gas gathering system from a prominent publicly traded European based energy company.
- Representation of a publicly traded integrated energy company in the review and preparation of title to minerals in the “Haynesville Shale” resource play in Northwest Louisiana in order to allow the energy company to analyze and prepare a drilling and development plan for Haynesville wells at a cost of approximately $9 million each. Title to the mineral property included the analysis of many complicated legal issues, any one of which affected the energy company’s mineral ownership.
- Representation of a publicly traded integrated energy company in the demands and lawsuit filed by energy company in the “Haynesville Shale” resource play in Northwest Louisiana for recognition of title to mineral ownership in oil and gas leases covering an effecting three sections consisting of approximately 640 each. Although this matter is ongoing, the client has requested that we represent its interest based our combined experience in title and litigation work, and because of the potential ramifications an adverse judgment could have on many various other oil and gas leases belonging to our client.
- Representation of an independent oil and gas exploration company in the drafting and negotiation of its master services agreements and related forms to be used in conjunction with its operations of newly acquired oil and gas properties located in Louisiana.
- Representation of a large integrated energy company in connection in its daily operations including the drafting and negotiation of gas gathering agreements, gas processing agreements, confidentiality agreements, leases for cell tower construction and the use of existing cell towers, right of way acquisitions, and the acquisition and divestiture of related assets.
- Representation of an independent oil and gas exploration company in its daily operations including the drafting joint operation and participation agreements, and representation in concourses and other litigation related proceedings.
- Representation of an independent oil and gas mineral leasing company in its daily operations related to the analysis of mineral ownership in light of the many various legal complexities of Louisiana property and mineral law. Representation of same company in several lawsuits including class actions, breach of contract, and mineral title.
SPEECHES & PRESENTATIONS
- Recent Developments in Louisiana Law, with Leland G. Horton. Presentation made to the Ark-La-Tex Association of Professional Landmen, Shreveport, Louisiana, 2012. Topics addressed litigation trends and the outcomes of various cases related to the oil and gas industry and the Haynesville Shale, including leasing, operations and property issues.
HONORS
- Super Lawyers® Louisiana Rising Stars 2013
PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
- Shreveport Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Harry V. Booth and Henry A. Politz Inn of Court – Barrister Member
- Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Transportation Committee Member
