Recent News for 2020
January Highlights
Keith Hall becomes Director of Energy Law Center
Professor Keith B. Hall was recently 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 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 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.
