Lithium continues to be a rising star of the natural resources world, and Texas is working to stay on top of the legal issues related to the extraction of lithium from produced water and brine. In this update, we discuss...more
As the world moves toward cleaner energy, lithium has become crucial, powering electric vehicles and renewable-energy storage systems. With lithium demand set to increase more than 40-fold by 2040, the race to extract this...more
11/27/2024
/ Clean Energy ,
Fair Compensation ,
Mineral Exploration ,
Mineral Extraction ,
Mineral Leases ,
Minerals ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Royalties ,
Sustainability ,
Water Rights
Two months in court, 1,700 miles from home, $100 million at stake. In this edition of V&E+, Vinson & Elkins partners Jim Thompson, Nick Shum, and Stephanie Noble share their story of a marathon trial — and how they emerged...more
On January 30, 2024, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and five co-plaintiffs representing a coalition of business groups filed a lawsuit against the state of California seeking to block the state’s new landmark climate disclosure...more
The North American Energy Standards Board (“NAESB”) Base Contract is the most commonly used form contract for physical purchases and sales of natural gas within the industry. It has existed in its current form since 2006;...more
A Texas appellate court recently issued guidance on the meaning of “willful misconduct” in the exculpatory clause of a model form joint operating agreement (“JOA”). The exculpatory clause in many JOAs limits an operator’s...more
“To spud or not to spud,” that was the question before the Texas Supreme Court in determining whether a lessee, Sundown Energy, maintained a lease on non-producing acreage under the lease’s continuous drilling provisions.1...more
Class actions involving oil-and-gas leases and royalty payments are on the rise. In this program, V&E lawyers will discuss recent developments in the royalty class action space – including recent certification orders and...more
At the beginning of 2020, arguing hearings and trying cases in a completely remote environment seemed like science fiction. Now, just a year later, courts and litigants have adapted to our new virtual litigation environment....more
3/18/2021
/ Arbitration ,
Best Practices ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Court Closures ,
Jury Trial ,
Remote Hearings ,
Technology ,
Trial Exhibits ,
Videoconference ,
Virtual Litigation ,
Virtual Witnessing
Aided by terms of art and a long history of precedent, parties entering an oil and gas lease can generally choose from common, time-tested clauses to serve their needs. Yet we know from practice that royalties and allocating...more
Companies should consider notifying their insurers of business interruption losses in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. While the insurance industry is pushing a general message that this type of loss is generally not covered...more
When you negotiate and execute a contract with a liquidated damages clause, it’s natural to feel like you have a safety net — that in the event of a dispute you can rely on the contract to protect you from having to go...more