Chris Bailey is a life-long resident of Lafayette who enjoys a diverse legal practice that focuses primarily on oil and gas transactional and litigation matters. Chris has also represented clients in real estate and business transactions and in environmental law related to “legacy” lawsuit defense. He regularly presents papers and speeches to various land professional and division order analysts’ associations on a wide array of oil and gas topics.
Chris received his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2000 and his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans – College of Law in 2004. Throughout both undergraduate and law school, Chris worked as an independent petroleum landman in many of Louisiana’s parishes. He gained experience in all aspects of the land business—from acquisition of seismic permits to leasing of lands explored by such seismic activities. Additionally, Chris researched the indices of many of the conveyance and mortgage offices in Louisiana in preparation for acquiring mineral leases and has prepared abstracts of title and mineral histories. Chris believes the experience gained while working as a landman has aided in a practical approach to his oil and gas legal practice.
Representative Matters:
OIL & GAS
- Drafted agreements and contractual provisions on behalf of both operating and non-operating working interest owners including the drafting and negotiating of provisions for joint operating agreements, drilling contracts, master services contract, unit and commingling agreements, gas sales, processing and marketing agreements, onshore and offshore facilities use agreements, mineral leases, seismic permits, right-of-ways, servitudes, surface and subsurface agreements and all other relevant forms of transactional documents and contracts.
- Rendered drilling and division order title opinions covering properties throughout Louisiana, including opinions rendered in connection with the financing of properties
- Participated in acquisitions and divestitures of exploration companies and oilfield service companies
- Participated in the negotiation of and drafting of agreements for use in various pipeline projects
REAL ESTATE
- Rendered title opinions for the acquisition of immovable property throughout Louisiana
- Prepared all manner of closing and real estate transactional documents, including purchase agreements, sale instruments, leases and servitude and right-of-way agreements
- Prepared financing agreements including mortgage agreements
- Issued Title Commitments as a Licensed Title Insurance Producer in the State of Louisiana
BUSINESS LAW
- Formation of business entities and preparation of employment contracts and agreements used in the operation of such businesses formed
- Preparation of applications for trademarks to the United States Trademark and Patent Office
- Assisted a local manufacturer in obtaining the licensing necessary from the NCAA to produce products with collegiate logos
LEGACY LAW DEFENSE
- Defended “legacy” environmental damage claims brought by landowners alleging environmental damage arising from oil and gas exploration and production activities
- Participated in all aspects of one of the first cases to go to trial subject to the application of Act 312 of 2006 and concluded with a jury verdict that resulted in a judgment of dismissal of all claims
- Regularly handles all aspect of “legacy” litigation in the various parishes of Louisiana
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
- 61st Louisiana Mineral Law Institute – Louisiana State University Law Center – Oil & Gas Update
2023 - Top Lawyer in Acadiana - Acadiana Profile - Energy Law