AZA’s oil and gas litigation practice spans the entire industry, including disputes involving production; controversies centering on processing, transportation and storage; and lawsuits relating to downstream processing and sale. AZA counts the largest oil and gas players among its clients and AZA has handled virtually every type of case relating to oil and gas, including contract, toxic tort and environmental, intellectual property, personal injury, real estate, and construction.

A few of examples from AZA’s recent energy sector cases:

• AZA represents several natural gas producers in Winter Storm Uri-related lawsuits and arbitrations against trading companies and downstream buyers who disputed force majeure notices or otherwise accused the producers of prioritizing more profitable sales. AZA has already secured summary judgment rulings that favorably interpret the NAESB Base Contract. AZA will be taking the remaining cases to trial in 2024 and 2025.
• AZA currently represents a Fortune 50 energy company in a high-profile dispute in the Permian Basin in which the surface owner claims that the energy company contaminated the surface and caused other surface damages.
• AZA successfully represented a large oil & gas company against a refining company in an AAA arbitration regarding a long-term crude supply contract that included dedicated space in the refinery for AZA’s client. After a two-week final hearing, AZA proved that the refiner breached the contract and AZA recovered over $20 million in damages for its client. AZA also defeated the refiner’s counterclaim that exceeded $200 million.
• AZA represented a large LNG facility in an ICC international arbitration against a long-term buyer over $125 million in shortfall fees allegedly due by the LNG facility for under-deliveries. AZA demonstrated that the buyer interpreted the contract incorrectly and miscalculated the shortfall fees in its invoices. AZA was able to leverage the buyer’s missteps to secure a favorable settlement for AZA’s client before the final hearing.
• AZA obtained a $24.5 million jury verdict for SilverBow Resources against Energy Transfer.  AZA proved that Energy Transfer trespassed by interfering with the exploration and production rights of AZA’s client, SilverBow, by injecting natural gas processing waste byproducts in the subsurface.
• AZA took over a case from a nationally respected Houston firm with extremely experienced lawyers and devised a new winning strategy for a large energy company in a $93 million real estate contamination suit. AZA reframed the dispute by developing an inventive argument based on contractual analysis and complex federal bankruptcy law.

AZA’s unique trial and courtroom experience sets it apart from other oil & gas and energy firms.

AZA’s attorneys also have a detailed understanding of the nuances of oil & gas law. For example, AZA partner Tim Shelby has served on the Texas State Bar’s Oil & Gas Jury Charge Committee since 2018. AZA partner Daryl Moore served as a District Court Judge in Harris County and presided over dozens of oil & gas related trials. Other AZA partners, including John Zavitsanos and Todd Mensing, have tried many oil & gas cases and are frequent lectures at energy-related CLEs.