Ranking tables

Oil & Gas Litigation | USA

USA - Nationwide

This practice area covers contentious matters, principally in the up-stream oil and gas industry, particularly pertaining to issues arising in shale plays across the USA. Work covered in this section includes subsurface and surface rights disputes; lease interpretations and litigation concerning traditional and novel lease forms; nuisance claims; royalty class actions; contentious work concerning the rule of capture; and further disputes stemming from horizontal drilling and other industry developments.

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Baker Botts L.L.P.
    1
    Baker Botts L.L.P.
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked

    Baker Botts L.L.P. has a preeminent oil and gas litigation practice providing expert representation to multinational companies, service companies, shale play independents and investors. The firm offers enviable strength in high-stakes multidistrict and class action litigation arising from exploration, production and transportation activities, particularly in the context of horizontal drilling. it is capable of handling disputes involving leases and royalty payments, as well as alleged breaches of contract, joint operating and joint development agreements.

  2. Hogan Thompson Schuelke LLP
    1
    Hogan Thompson Schuelke LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 1 | 5 Years Ranked
    Hogan Thompson Schuelke LLP is an impressive boutique handling a range of oil litigation. The team's expertise covers breach of contract, mineral rights, leases and title disputes. The firm is regularly sought out to represent top-tier clients in the sector.
  3. Kirkland & Ellis
    1
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 1 | 6 Years Ranked

    Kirkland & Ellis is commended for its representation of energy companies across a range of significant disputes. The firm manages breach of contract and royalty disputes for many of the largest companies active in the upstream sector.

  4. Yetter Coleman LLP
    1
    Yetter Coleman LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 1 | 6 Years Ranked

    Yetter Coleman LLP deftly handles the full range of disputes affecting companies operating in the upstream space. The firm provides adroit representation in breach of contract, trespass and royalty disputes. It is alos notable for counseling energy-sector private equity firms and portfolio companies.

2

Band 2

  1. BakerHostetler LLP
    2
    BakerHostetler LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2 | 6 Years Ranked

    BakerHostetler LLP offers representation to upstream companies active in all major US oil and gas basins. The firm is particularly noted for expertise pertaining to exploration and production on public lands. It handles lease disputes, joint operating agreement issues and other contract litigation.

  2. Bracewell LLP
    2
    Bracewell LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2 | 6 Years Ranked

    Bracewell LLP has a highly regarded oil and gas litigation practice able to handle complex royalty and lease disputes as well as breach of contract litigation. The firm affords energy companies equally capable representation as both defendants and plaintiffs.

  3. Haynes and Boone, LLP
    2
    Haynes and Boone, LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2 | 6 Years Ranked

    Haynes and Boone, LLP is a respected Texas firm recognized for representing large energy companies in high-stakes litigation. It deftly handles royalty class actions, breach of contract disputes and other contentious issues arising in the exploration and production sector.

  4. Holland & Knight LLP
    2
    Holland & Knight LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2 | 7 Years Ranked

    Holland & Knight LLP has a highly regarded litigation team offering extensive expertise in complex litigation arising from exploration and production activities in the upstream oil and gas space. The firm possesses experience spanning royalty, contract, title and lease disputes involving shale plays. It has further strength in a range of contractual matters, including alleged breaches of joint development and joint operating agreements.

  5. K&L Gates
    2
    K&L Gates
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2 | 7 Years Ranked

    K&L Gates has a highly experienced litigation practice with a roster of accomplished trial lawyers that counts oil and gas multinationals, producers, marketing companies and pipelines among its client base. The firm is frequently called upon to handle class actions and multidistrict litigation at trial and appellate levels. It possesses considerable strength in disputes arising from drilling and hydraulic fracturing, including calculation and payment of royalties and alleged breach of leases and contracts.

  6. Norton Rose Fulbright
    2
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2 | 6 Years Ranked

    Norton Rose Fulbright represents energy producers, oilfield services providers and refining operators, among other well-known clients, active across the oil and gas sector. The firm demonstrates significant capabilities in multidistrict class action litigation.

  7. 2
    Vartabedian Katz Hester and Haynes LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2 | 4 Years Ranked

    Vartabedian Katz Hester and Haynes LLP has a thriving litigation group that is active on both upstream and midstream disputes. The firm has notable experience on title disputes, lease termination litigation and unpaid or underpaid royalty claims.

  8. Vinson & Elkins LLP
    2
    Vinson & Elkins LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2 | 7 Years Ranked

    Vinson & Elkins LLP offers outstanding representation in the most complex and high-stakes litigation in the oil and gas industry, with substantial prowess in multi-plaintiff and class action litigation arising from shale play development. The firm is a strong choice for clients facing challenging disputes involving joint development, joint operating and surface use agreements, and has further strength advising on ownership, royalty payment and lease obligation issues in connection with mineral rights. It is capable of representing clients across the life-cycle of litigation, including at trial, appellate and Supreme Court levels.

  9. McAfee & Taft
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. 3
    Davis, Gerald & Cremer, P.C.
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Davis, Gerald & Cremer, P.C. is well thought of for its oil and gas litigation practice. Operating out of offices in Midland and Austin, the firm is frequently called up for litigation relating to activities in the Permian basin. The team's expertise includes operator/non-operator disputes, lease disputes and royalty disputes at the district court and appellate court levels.
  2. Holland & Hart LLP
    3
    Holland & Hart LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    Holland & Hart LLP is well regarded for its work in oil and gas litigation in the Western USA. Its well-resourced team has experience in matters concerning surface and title disputes, royalty litigation and contract disputes, among other matters.

  3. Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
    3
    Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP's broad oil and gas litigation practice is called upon by notable oil and gas operators and producers. The team is known for its expertise in matters including royalty disputes, including class actions, operating agreement disputes, and trespass, lease and mineral issues.
  4. King & Spalding LLP
    3
    King & Spalding LLP
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 3 | 6 Years Ranked

    King & Spalding LLP offers adroit counsel across a range of sophisticated litigation, often handling large-scale multidistrict class actions. The firm has an impressive client base including multiple large publicly traded oil and gas producers.

  5. Liskow
    3
    Liskow
    Oil & Gas Litigation
    2026 | Band 3 | 1 Years Ranked

    Liskow offers clients a deep bench of experts with several decades of experience in high-stakes litigation. The team frequently handles breach of lease and royalty issues.