When it comes to the operations and corporate transactions of upstream, midstream or downstream energy companies, Gary C. Johnson has virtually done it all. A member of the Energy and Natural Resources Group, Gary has served as the general counsel, chief compliance officer or associate general counsel for three energy companies. He has guided clients through multiple economic cycles, steering domestic energy clients through reorganizations, forbearance and liquidations; and leading on mergers, acquisitions and growth opportunities on the other side. He has also advised companies on transactions in Latin America, South America, China, Europe, Canada and over seventeen oil and gas producing areas in the United States.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Advising Greenfield Midstream, LLC in connection with a US$155 million transaction to acquire a 20% membership interest in Saddlehorn Pipeline Company, LLC, which involved complex issues related to the allocation of rights and responsibilities between Greenfield and its joint venture partner.
Represented some of the largest banks in the U.S. in the repositioning or disposition of distressed assets owned by borrowers.
Represented a Chinese company in connection with its construction and vendor financing of a $750 million coal-fired power plant in Central America. Also advised the company in multinational negotiations and arbitration over contractual disputes.
Advising Greenfield Midstream, LLC in connection with a US$155 million transaction to acquire a 20% membership interest in Saddlehorn Pipeline Company, LLC, which involved complex issues related to the allocation of rights and responsibilities between Greenfield and its joint venture partner.
Represented some of the largest banks in the U.S. in the repositioning or disposition of distressed assets owned by borrowers.
Represented a Chinese company in connection with its construction and vendor financing of a $750 million coal-fired power plant in Central America. Also advised the company in multinational negotiations and arbitration over contractual disputes.
Represented an independent E&P company in the negotiation and execution of a $650 million debt financing.
Represented a major New York financial institution in the investigation of two publicly-traded royalty trusts.
Represented a global energy and commodities client in the disposition of a several major industrial subsidiaries in Latin America, including resolution of several deal-sensitive issues with governmental and regulatory authorities, and several cross border issues.
Represented Wheatland Oil Inc. in a $340 million transaction to sell assets in the Bakken shale play to Continental Resources Inc.
Since 2010, represented EnerVest Energy Institutional Funds in the acquisition and disposition of over $4 billion in assets in Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New Mexico and Michigan.
Represented the SEACON group, which serves the military marine and sub-sea sectors for remotely operated vehicles, oil and gas, environmental and oceanographic applications, in its $490 million sale, which included the disposition of its largest manufacturing facility, located in Mexico.
Represented an Eagle Ford shale producer in the negotiation and execution of a long-term crude oil sales agreement with a major pipeline company, covering a volume commitment sufficient to support the construction of a new pipeline from the Eagle Ford Shale to the Houston Ship Channel.
Represented Castleton Commodities Upstream LLC in the acquisition of 500 operating natural gas wells in Alabama’s Black Warrior Basin.
Represented a publicly held oil and gas exploration and production company in the analysis of its ownership and distribution of the proceeds for voluntary pooled units in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas.
Represented a publicly held oil and gas exploration and production company in the sale of a Texas steam flood oil field.
Represented an Eagle Ford Shale producer in a throughput and deficiency agreement and a product terminal and storage agreement for an intrastate crude oil pipeline and terminaling facility.
Represented a leading master limited partnership in the acquisition of assets in the Permian Basin from a major oil company.
Represented a drilling company in the acquisition of a fleet of land-based drilling rigs from a major oil company.
Represented a privately owned Pennsylvania company in a precedent-setting aggregation agreement and joint venture in the Marcellus Shale.
Represented the Republic of Kazakhstan in the renegotiation of concession agreements covering major hydroelectric power plants.
Represented Greenfield Midstream, LLC, an EnCap Flatrock Midstream portfolio company, in the formation of a joint venture with Noble Midstream Partners LP.
Represented Greenfield Midstream, LLC as a joint venture partner in the acquisition of Saddle Butte Rockies Midstream, LLC and affiliates for $625 million.
Represented Hayfin Capital Management LLP in a joint venture with Transocean Ltd to acquire the West Rigel, a newbuild harsh environment semisubmersible rig, built by Sembcorp Marine Ltd.’s Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd, for $500 million.
Represented an independent oil and gas company producer in a major investment by a New York based private equity firm to fund the development of the producer’s substantial Eagle Ford Shale holdings.
Recognitions
- Ranked in Chambers Global for USA Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional), 2022-2025
- Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Oil and Gas Law, 2021-2025
- Selected to National Law Journal’s list of “Energy & Environmental Trailblazers” 2018
Credentials
Education
Education
- University of Texas School of Law, 1976, J.D., Associate Editor, Texas Law Review; Justice, Honor Council Judicial Tribunal
- Austin College, 1973, B.A.
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- Texas
- District of Columbia
- Pennsylvania
Court admissions
Court admissions
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Federal Circuit
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- The Center for American and International Law
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
- College of the State Bar of Texas
- Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow
- Houston Bar Foundation, Champion Fellow
- American Bar Association
Civic Leadership
- Gary C. and Linda W. Johnson First Generation Endowed Scholarship Donor, University of Texas School of Law
- Kenneth W. Street Endowed Presidential Scholarship Co-Donor, Austin College
- Gary C. and Linda W. Johnson Founders Scholarship Donor, Austin College
- Ambassadors of Texas Children’s Hospital, Palladium Level Lifetime Member
- Austin PBS, Leadership Circle, 2020
- Texas Performing Arts, Director’s Circle, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, Producer’s Circle, 2019-2020
- United Way of Greater Houston, Leadership Circle, 2015 & 2016; Alexis de Tocqueville Society, 2017 & 2018
- Central Texas Food Bank, Hunger Hero, 2020