Recent News
October 2021
Hall attends Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation’s Board of Directors meeting
Professor Keith Hall, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, attended the organization’s quarterly meeting of its Board of Directors in Denver on October 1, 2021.
September 2021
Professor Joe Schremmer from the University of New Mexico gives guest lecture to LSU Law students
Schremmer gives Bringing Rockies to the Bayou Guest Lecture
Professor Joe Schremmer of the University of New Mexico Law School gave the 2021 Bringing the Rockies to the Bayou Guest Lecture on the topic of subsurface property rights on Friday, September 17, 2021. Nearly 30 students attended. The day before, Professor Schremmer made a presentation to the LSU Law School faculty on a law review article that he has authored on this subject. Professor Schremmer’s visit was sponsored by LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center, with a significant portion of the expense of the visit being paid by a grant from the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.
Hall and Canfield Speak to Petroleum Engineering Students about Legal Issues Relating to CCS
Professor Keith Hall and Blake Canfield—an LSU Law alumnus who is General Counsel for the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources—spoke to students in an LSU petroleum engineering class about legal issues relevant to carbon capture and sequestration on the evening of September 22, 2021. Hall and Canfield focused on subsurface property rights issues, but also touched on regulatory issues.
Professor Bryner Speaks at Conference
Professor Bryner spoke at a virtual conference hosted by the Instituto o Direito por um Planeta Verde (Law for a Green Planet Institute) in Brazil on Saturday, Sept. 25. The conference is the longest-running environmental law gathering in the country, now in its 26th year, and reaches an audience of environmental law practitioners, prosecutors, academics, judges, and others throughout Brazil. Professor Bryner’s lecture was on the Theory and Practice of Environmental Rule of Law, connecting human rights and environmental protection.
LSU Energy Law Club Organizes
LSU Law School students have formed an Energy Law Club, which held its inaugural meeting on September 30, 2021 to plan activities for the remainder of the academic year. The Club is led by Co-Presidents Leigh Anne Lloveras and Cory Robinson.
August 2021
Substantial increase in students taking energy and environmental law courses
The Fall 2021 semester began at LSU Law School on August 16. The number of students enrolled in energy and environmental law courses is the highest in several years. The enrollment is
- 68 students in Introduction to Environmental Law (Professor Nick Bryner)
- 67 students in Mineral Rights (Professor Keith Hall)
- 26 students in International Petroleum Transactions (Professor Hall)
- 20 students in International Environmental Law Seminar (Professor Bryner)
- 2 students in Independent Supervised Research on energy law topics (Professor Hall)
July 2021
Professor Nick Bryner served as Program Coordinator and made introductory remarks at the Inter-American Environmental Law Congress in Mexico City, Mexico, from July 8-9, organized by the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law.
Professor Keith Hall was elected to a serve a second term on the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation at the organization’s annual Board of Trustees meeting on July 16, 2021.
June 2021
Hall named to the Nesser Family Chair in Energy Law
LSU Law Center Dean Lee Ann Lockridge appointed Professor Keith Hall to be the inaugural Nesser Family Chair in Energy Law, effective June 21, 2021. This endowed chair was created by LSU Law Center through the generosity of alumnus John T. Nesser and his family, with the support of the Louisiana Board of Regents.
Professor Hall speaks on Carbon Capture and Storage
Professor Keith Hall spoke about property law and oil and gas law issues raised by carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. His presentation was part of a panel discussion on CCS at the 42nd Annual Energy & Mineral Law Institute on June 22, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. The CCS panel also included James Curry of Babst Calland, who spoke about regulatory issues, and Michael Platner of Van Ness Feldman, who spoke about tax issues.
LSU Energy Law Students Receive Scholarships from Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
Two students enrolled in the Energy Law & Policy Certificate program at LSU—Marisa Del Turco and Valkyrie Buffa—have received scholarships from the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year.
LSU Energy Law Student and LSU Alum Co-author Paper on Utility-Scale Solar
Valkyrie Buffa, an LSU Law School student who is enrolled in the Energy Law and Policy Certificate program, co-authored a 48-page research paper entitled “Establishing Utility-Scale Solar Farms: Federal Involvement”. The paper was published in May by Resources for the Future, a highly regarded, D.C.-based think tank that focuses on natural resource and energy issues. Ms. Buffa worked on the paper during an internship with Resources for the Future, which was sponsored by the John P. Laborde Energy Law Center. The other co-authors of the paper were Lindsay Rich (a 2020 graduate of LSU Law School) and Arthur Fraas, a visiting fellow at Resources for the Future.
LSU Energy Law Student is Awarded Scholarship by Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
LSU Law School student Valkyrie Buffa was awarded a scholarship for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, in recognition of her interest in and diligent pursuit of legal studies relating to natural resources and energy. Ms. Buffa is enrolled in the Energy Law and Policy Certificate program at LSU.
LSU Energy Law Students Receive Scholarships from Association of International Petroleum Negotiators
Two students enrolled in the Energy Law & Policy Certificate program at LSU—Tiffany Chaney and Valkyrie Buffa—have received scholarships from the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year. These scholarships represent two of ten scholarships that AIPN granted worldwide for the upcoming year. Professor Keith Hall stated, “AIPN has student chapters at fifteen universities around the world, plus about 30 schools have professors on AIPN’s Education Advisory Board, so it is quite an honor for our LSU students to have earned two of the ten scholarships awarded worldwide.”
May 2021
The Paul M. Hebert Law Center held its commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 15 for the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020. Among those graduates, nine 2021 graduates received their Energy Law & Policy Certificate, and six 2020 graduates received their Energy Law & Policy Certificate. Congratulations to the following graduates:
2021 graduates: 2020 graduates:
George Day Edward Brummal IV
Albert Deravin James Curtis
Sara Duffy Miles Hesterly
Matthew Greene Samantha Kennedy
Cameron King Daniel Snellings
Jeffrey Knighton, Jr. Patrick Talley III
Braedon Morrow
Nathan Mulvihill
Jennifer Wright
Professor Keith Hall was quoted in a May 14, 2021 AP story on a recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision relating to the Bayou Bridge pipeline.
April 2021
The LSU Law Center held its 68th Annual Mineral Law Institute April 15-16, 2021. The Annual Institute addressed numerous issues relating to Louisiana, Texas, and U.S. oil and gas law.
Professor Keith Hall spoke on the topic “Who Owns Produced Water and Any Substances Dissolved or Suspended in It” at the 68th Annual Mineral Law Institute on April 16, 2021.
Professor Keith Hall spoke on the topic “Recent Developments in Oil and Gas Law” at the Institute for Energy Law’s 72nd Annual Oil and Gas Conference on Thursday, April 22, 2021.
March 2021
The Laborde Energy Law Center hosted its Annual Liskow & Lewis Visiting Professorship in Energy Law Lecture on March 25, 2021. Professor James Van Nostrand of West Virginia Law School addressed the topic, “Impact of the Clean Energy Revolution on the Prospects for the Fossil Fuel Industry: Go Green or Go Home?”
Professor Keith Hall spoke on “Implied Covenants in Oil and Gas Leases” at the University of Texas “Fundamentals of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law Conference” on March 25, 2021.
Professor Nick Bryner was named as the Deputy Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law. He has served on the Steering Committee for the Commission since 2016 and will be taking over the role as Deputy Chair until September 2021. In addition, his new article, “Never Look Back: Non-Regression in Environmental Law,” has been accepted for publication in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law (forthcoming fall 2021).
Professor Keith Hall and several LSU Law Center students who are enrolled in the Laborde Energy Law Center’s Energy Law & Policy Certificate program held a “watch party” to view a webinar on legal and policy issues relating to energy storage projects.
February 2021
Professor Keith Hall is a co-author of the fourth edition of the book “International Petroleum Law and Transactions,” which was published in a traditional printed format, after having been published last autumn in an e-book format.
The LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources held a Symposium, “Pollution Solutions: A Symposium on Carbon Capture and Sequestration,” on Friday, February 5, 2021. During one of the symposium’s presentations, a panel that included Professor Keith Hall, Emeritus Professor Patrick H. Martin, and adjunct Professor Patrick S. Ottinger addressed oil and gas issues raised by carbon capture and storage projects.
January 2021
Professor Keith Hall was interviewed regarding natural gas issues on the “This Climate Podcast” at Indiana University on January 14, 2021.
Professor Keith Hall was interviewed on January 14 by Court TV regarding the BP P.L.C. v. Baltimore case that was argued before the United States Supreme Court this month.
Professor Keith Hall spoke on the subject “Communication with Opposing Counsel and Landowners” at the “Annual Mid-Winter Education Webinar” of the San Antonio Association of Professional Landmen on January 21, 2021.
December 2020
Professor Nicholas Bryner has been asked to serve on the Legal Advisory Group for Gov. Edwards’ Climate Initiatives Task Force. The group’s first meeting was held on Monday, December 7.
Professor Keith Hall participated in a panel discussion entitled “The Courts During an Energy Dominance Era: A Panel Discussion with Legal Experts” in a podcast for Wyoming Public Radio on December 17, 2020.
Professor Keith Hall began serving on an ad hoc committee created by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources to consider public policy and rules for carbon capture, utilization, and storage in Louisiana.
Professor Keith Hall and Emeritus Professor Patrick H. Martin spoke about conservation law and how shale development has affected pooling and unitization practice at the “Oil and Gas Unitization Law and Policy Symposium” sponsored by Cleveland-Marshall Law School on December 14, 2020.
November 2020
Professor Keith Hall served as a co-author of the book International Petroleum Law and Transactions, which was recently published for Fall 2020 classes in an e-book format. The book is scheduled for publication in a print edition this calendar year so that the printed edition can be used for Spring 2021 classes concerning international petroleum transactions.
October 2020
Professor Keith Hall served as one of the editors (and also as a chapter author) of the book “The Regulation of Decommissioning, Abandonment and Reuse Initiatives in the Oil and Gas Industry,” which was recently published by Wolters Kluwer.
Professor Keith Hall spoke on Recent Developments in Mineral Rights at an LSU Continuing Legal Education Seminar.
September 2020
Professor Keith Hall was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.
The John P. Laborde Energy Law Center held an orientation for LSU law students interested in earning the Graduate Certificate in Energy Law and Policy.
LSU held its 67th Annual Mineral Law Institute on September 11, 2020. The Annual Institute is typically held as a two-day, in-person event in Baton Rouge, but this year the Annual Institute was done as a webinar. More than 100 individuals registered and the feedback regarding the program was excellent.
July 2020
Professor Keith Hall served as a panelist for an Association of International Petroleum Negotiators webinar entitled UK MER in its International Context. The panel discussion compared the United Kingdom’s concept of “maximum economic recovery” of oil and gas with analogous concepts in other nations, including implied covenants in U.S. oil and gas leases. The webinar was held on July 30, 2020
Professor Keith Hall spoke on legal issues relating to the development of unconventional oil and gas resources in the United States for a panel discussion at a webinar entitled “The exploitation of unconventionals in Brazil: opportunities and challenges.” The webinar was held by FGV Energia on July 14, 2020.
June 2020
Professor Keith Hall spoke on issues relating to the development of unconventional oil and gas resources in North America as a panelist for a webinar entitled “Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources: Current trends, legal challenges and opportunities,” which was held by the University of São Paulo (Brazil) on June 1, 2020.
April 2020
Professor Keith Hall was nominated to serve a second term on the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation’s Executive Committee.
March Highlights
Professor Keith Hall spoke on the subject Communicating with Opposing Counsel and Landowners at the University of Texas CLE’s “2020 Fundamentals of Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Conference” (done as a webinar) on March 26, 2020.
Postponements and Cancellations
As part of its response to concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus, LSU’s administration has ordered the cancellation of all upcoming events that were scheduled to occur on campus. The administration has also ordered the cancellation of all off-campus events sponsored by LSU that were expected to have an attendance of more than thirty people. This order is effective immediately and applies to all events scheduled through May 30, 2020. As a result, the following events are cancelled or postponed: (1) the video workshop on “The Future of Fossil Fuels in the U.S. Economy,” which was scheduled for March 31, 2020 (cancelled); (2) the Annual Liskow & Lewis Visiting Professor Lecture by Professor James Van Nostrand of West Virginia Law School on “The Impact of the Clean Energy Revolution on the Prospects for the Fossil Fuel Industry,” which was scheduled for April 1 (cancelled); and (3) the 67th Annual Mineral Law Institute, the second oldest annual oil and gas law program in the nation, which was scheduled for April 2 and 3 (postponed).
Rachel Moody, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Energy Law and Resources, and Mr. John T. Nesser, III
Mr. John T. Nesser, III
The LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources held its annual banquet on the evening of March 12, 2020. Mr. John T. Nesser, III was the featured speaker. Mr. Nesser has a distinguished career in energy law. He has represented clients in energy law litigation and transactions both as an attorney in private practice and as in-house. He also is co-founder, manager, and Co-CEO of All Coast LLC, which provides liftboat services to the offshore oil and gas industry, as well as for offshore wind. He is an active supporter of the John P. Laborde Energy Law Center and serves on the Center’s Advisory Council.
Professor Keith Hall will speak about “Communication with Opposing Counsel and Landowners” on March 26, 2020, in Houston at the annual Fundamentals of Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law conference hosted by the University of Texas.
Three LSU Law School students—Destiny Manning, Eric Morvant, and Jennifer Wright—attended the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation’s “Young Natural resources Lawyers and Landmen Institute” in Denver on March 2 and 3, 2020.
Professor Keith Hall was named the 2020 Professor-in-Residence by the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators. The AIPN covers the travel expenses of the Professor-in-Residence to attend AIPN events during the year.
February Highlights
Pictured are LSU Law students (left to right) Taylor Ashworth, Destiny Manning, and Shawn Waldron, along with Professor Keith Hall. They each attended the Institute for Energy Law’s Annual Oil & Gas Conference in Houston in February, as did LSU Professor Emeritus Patrick H. Martin.
Professor Keith Hall served on a panel that examines issues relating to Offshore Drilling at a symposium on Legal, Ethical, and Policy Implications of a Changing Climate on February 7, 2020, in Charleston, South Carolina. The symposium was sponsored by the Charleston Law Review and the Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership at Furman University.
Professors Ed Richards and Nick Bryner served as panelists at a workshop on The Law of Carbon Capture and Storage: Technological Advancements & Operational Hurdles on February 14 at the LSU Digital Media Center.
Professor Keith Hall agreed to serve on the program committee for the “Special Institute on International Mining and Oil and Gas, Development, and Investment,” a conference organized by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation that will be held in Mexico City, Mexico, April 21-23, 2021.
January Highlights
On January 24 the LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources hosted a symposium entitled, “Navigating Legal Waters: The Future of Water Resources Law.” More information is available on their website.
Keith Hall becomes Director of Energy Law Center
Professor Keith B. Hall was appointed Director of LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center. He had been serving as Interim Director of the Center for approximately a year. Professor Hall teaches Mineral Rights, Energy Law & Regulation, International Petroleum Transactions, and Civil Law Property at the LSU Law Center. Since 2012, he has served as Director of the Mineral Law Institute. He will continue to serve as Director of the Mineral Law Institute, in addition to serving as Director of the Energy Law Center.
Seven Distinguished Individuals Join the Energy Law Center Advisory Council
Professor Keith B. Hall, Director of LSU’s John P. Laborde Energy Law Center, announced that seven people have joined the Center’s Advisory Council. Professor Hall stated, “Each of these seven people is very accomplished and will bring substantial expertise to the Advisory Council. I look forward to working with all of them.” The seven new Advisory Council members are:
Jon-Al Duplantier. Mr. Duplantier is President of the Rental Tools and Well Services division of Parker Drilling. Before joining Parker, he worked in various legal and management roles at ConocoPhillips, including as general counsel of a subsidiary in Dubai. He is based in Houston and is a graduate of LSU Law School.
Tyler Gray. Mr. Gray is President and General Counsel of Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association. He previously served as an attorney at the Louisiana Office of Conservation. He earned an economics degree from James Madison University, an MBA from LSU, and a law degree from the University of Loyola Law School in New Orleans.
Steven Hatcher. Mr. Hatcher is Vice President of Land and Legal for Sklar Exploration. He is based in Boulder, Colorado and is a graduate of LSU Law School. Before joining Sklar, Mr. Hatcher practiced oil and gas law in Louisiana. He is admitted to practice law in Colorado and Louisiana. He is a member of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association.
Andrew Melsheimer. Mr. Melsheimer is a Dallas-based partner in Thompson & Knight’s International Energy Practice Group. His practice focuses on international oil and gas transactions. He is a graduate of LSU Law School and is a Board Member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
Margaret Patton. Ms. Patton is a founding partner of the Patton Law firm in Baton Rouge. Before founding Patton Law Firm, she worked at a major firm in Baton Rouge. Much of her work involves the representation of oil and gas clients in mineral title examination and other transactional work. She is a graduate of LSU Law School
Harry W. Sullivan, Jr. Mr. Sullivan is an international oil and gas lawyer who works for Kosmos Energy on matters relating to their West Africa exploration activities. He serves as an adjunct professor at SMU and Texas A&M Law Schools and is a frequent lecturer at oil and gas conferences around the world. He is a graduate of LSU Law School.
Laranda Walker. Ms. Walker is a litigation associate at Susman Godfrey in Houston. Much of her work involves the representation of clients in energy industry matters. She is a native of Mississippi and a graduate of LSU Law School. Before attending law school, she worked as a news reporter and news anchor.
