James Thompson represents public and private companies in a variety of corporate, transactional, and other commercial matters. He focuses on the upstream, midstream and renewable segments of the energy industry with additional experience in a range of other industries.
James represents the entire spectrum of energy companies and participants – majors, independents, management groups, oilfield services companies, and mineral and royalty companies – with respect to assets and projects both inshore (in over 20 states and in every major basin) and offshore.
His energy practice includes the following:
- Acquisition, divestiture and financing of midstream and upstream assets
- Upstream joint ventures and exploration and development programs
- Renewable energy agreements (wind, solar and geothermal)
- Upstream and midstream agreements including farm out agreements, participation agreements, agreements related to seismic data acquisition and licensing, surface and subsurface easements, oil and gas leases, drilling contracts, master service agreements, marketing agreements, and gas, liquids and crude oil purchase, transport, and gathering agreements
- Oil and gas disputes
James is board certified in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Honors & Recognitions
The Legal 500, Recommended Lawyer in Oil and Gas Transactions, 2020
Texas Super Lawyers, Energy & Resources, 2014-2019
Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
J.D., University of Texas School of Law, with honors, 2001
B.A., University of Texas at Austin, Plan II Honors, 1997
Admissions
Texas
United States District Courts for the Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Experience
James’ representative experience includes the following:
Upstream Energy Transactions
- Black Stone Minerals, L.P. in its $340 million acquisition of mineral and royalty assets in 20 states from Noble Energy, Inc.
- Franco-Nevada Corporation in a joint venture with Continental Resources, Inc. to acquire mineral fee and royalties in the SCOOP and STACK (with contribution of approximately $220 million for the acquisition of existing mineral rights owned by a Continental subsidiary and commitment spend up to $300 million over three years to acquire additional mineral rights).
- Franco-Nevada Corporation in the acquisition from Range Resources Corporation of an overriding royalty interest on acreage in the Marcellus Shale (350,000 net lease acres in Washington, Allegheny and Beaver Counties in Pennsylvania) for a gross purchase price of $300 million.
- Black Stone Minerals, L.P. in its $102 million acquisition of oil and gas assets in 20 states from Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas.
- Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NRP Oil and Gas LLC) in its $110 million divestiture of oil and gas assets in the Bakken to Lime Rock Resources IV-A, L.P.
- Black Stone Minerals, L.P. in two separate, concurrent sales of mineral and royalty assets in the Permian to Pegasus Resources, LLC (a portfolio company of EnCap Investments) and other undisclosed buyers for a combined purchase price of $155 million.
- Buckhorn Resources in the sale of mineral and royalty assets in the Eagle Ford to Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP for approximately $31.8 million in a 100% equity transaction.
- Franco-Nevada Corporation in a series of acquisitions of oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin and STACK totaling over $350 million.
- Black Stone Minerals, L.P. in a series of acquisitions of oil and gas assets in the DJ Basin, Eagle Ford, Permian Basin, East Texas, and other areas totaling over $300 million.
- Public company regarding the sale of oil and gas assets in the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico for an undisclosed amount.
- Black Stone Minerals, L.P. in negotiating multiple joint development agreements in East Texas covering multiple counties.
- Japanese energy company regarding the purchase of oil and gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico.
- US oil and gas company regarding the licensing of certain data and in the negotiating a net profits interest covering a prospect in Italy.
Renewable Energy and Other Transactions
- Wind energy company regarding the sale of its wind energy interests in North Texas for undisclosed amount.
- Negotiation of a geothermal lease covering over 45,000 acres.
- Airport infrastructure company and a management group regarding private equity funding and an airport infrastructure project.
- Environmental services company in restructuring and other matters.
- Acquisition of majority stake in healthcare company.
Newsroom
News
Media Mentions
Affiliations
Texas Bar Association
Section Council, Houston Bar Association - Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, Member
Houston Producers' Forum, Member
Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association, Member
The Arbor School, Board Member
Children's Museum Houston, Board Member