Their lawyers have deep knowledge of the industry, are unusually thorough in their analysis, and integrate well with their policy team.
Chambers USA, 2025
Bracewell has decades of experience advising clients in every aspect of energy and infrastructure projects on public and Tribal lands in the United States. Our federal experience spans from the US Department of the Interior which manages more than 2 billion acres of onshore and offshore federal lands, along with playing a substantial role in the management of Tribal lands, to other federal land managing agencies as well as those with a regulatory role related to project development — agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Commerce, and Department of Agriculture. We also have deep experience at the state government level with respect to the myriad of state agencies that are responsible for the oversight of state-owned lands and natural resources including the Texas General Land Office and the New Mexico State Lands Office.
Our lawyers, who are highly ranked in Chambers Global, Chambers USA and Legal 500 US, have advised clients on public lands and resources matters across the energy value chain, including with respect to oil and gas projects, renewable energy projects, carbon capture and storage projects, midstream projects, power projects and related infrastructure development. Our regulatory and policy advice includes requirements for land use and royalty obligations; litigation challenging federal land use decisions; and investigations and enforcement actions. We also provide experienced advice in the pursuit of leases, rights-of-way and permits, including helping clients navigate environmental reviews and consultation required under various federal and state laws.
With respect to commercial matters, we provide experienced guidance in the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas interests in public lands, unit agreements, unit operating agreements, plans of operation, permits to drill, access rights and the transfer of operating rights and record title ownership with the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs, among other agencies. We also handle bankruptcy, corporate, tax, and financial transactions involving public lands and resources.
In investigative and enforcement matters, we have advised clients on many of the most significant issues affecting public lands in recent years, including complex matters related to federal royalty requirements. Similarly, our team regularly represent clients when they face issues relating to third party challenges to federal authorizations and permits for energy projects that require federal or state governmental approvals.
Our Policy Resolution Group (PRG) designs and implements strategies to achieve our clients’ government relations and strategic communications objectives. Many of today’s legal issues are complex and demand that attention be paid to the public reputation of a company or industry. We offer advocacy, strategic communications and legal representation services to help clients navigate the complex federal landscape. We work with members’ offices and committee staff to advance our clients’ positions. When necessary, we create coalitions and establish strategic partnerships to achieve our clients’ goals and complex regulatory developments at agencies that seem to follow far different rules. We help clients manage regulatory challenges with the executive branch and federal agencies and translate our clients’ concerns into the language of regulators, protecting our clients’ interests so their businesses can thrive.
