Jeff Trotter
Partner & Litigation Practice Group Leader
Energy
- Overview
- Recognitions
- Experience
- Insights
Overview
Jeff Trotter is ranked Band 1 in Energy and Natural Resources Law in Mississippi by Chambers USA.
Jeff advises domestic and international upstream and midstream companies with operations throughout the United States and Canada. He provides counsel on all aspects of exploration, production, carbon capture and sequestration (CCUS), carbon reduction and mitigation, midstream pipeline, and natural gas storage, including acquisition and financing, permitting, taxation and other regulatory issues, contracts and contract disputes, title disputes, title examinations and division order title opinions.
Jeff has significant experience in exploration and seismic ventures, acquisition and divestiture of upstream and midstream assets, development and implementation of E&P production facilities, gas storage facilities, solar energy projects, and energy project financing.
In addition, he maintains a diverse litigation practice. Jeff has successfully litigated cases in state and federal courts in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and North Dakota in various fields, including oil and gas exploration and production, environmental, banking, eminent domain, religion, commercial contracts, education, labor and employment, general premises liability, personal injury, and wrongful death. Jeff has successfully argued appeals before the Mississippi Supreme Court and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
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Education
- University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D. | 1993
- Mississippi State University, B.S. | 1985
Bar Admissions
- Alabama
- Mississippi
Related Services
Recognitions
- Chambers USA - Recognized Practitioner in Energy & Natural Resources: Mississippi
- Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year in Jackson - Oil and Gas Law, Energy Law
- Best Lawyers® - Energy Law, Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental, Oil & Gas Law
- Mid-South Super Lawyers® (by Thomson Reuters) Energy and Natural Resources, Class Action/Mass Torts
Education
- University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D. | 1993
- Mississippi State University, B.S. | 1985
Bar Admissions
- Alabama
- Mississippi
Related Services
Experience
- Successfully defended international oil and gas operator of Williston Basin, ND, leasehold against claims to reform sale of vertically severed leasehold and against claims of wellbore trespass, trespass by frac, conversion and negligence. Successfully defended same client before the North Dakota Industrial Commission against pooled unit owner’s attempt to have NDIC allocate it a large share in hundreds of millions of dollars of operator’s production.
- Successfully defended and resolved multiple sales and use tax assessments against oil and gas well operators by state taxing authorities.
- Successfully obtained summary judgment for natural gas odorant manufacturer in products liability case arising from home explosion, death and serious injuries to occupants. Elliott v. El Paso Corp. 181 So.3d 263 (Miss. 2015).
- Served as Mississippi counsel for the acquisition of a state-of-the-art salt dome cavern natural gas storage facility in Smith County, Mississippi, consisting of two commercially operational caverns with a third cavern under development.
- Served as Mississippi counsel for development and implementation of natural gas storage facility in Monroe County, Mississippi, handling all state regulatory, environmental, financing, and contractual aspects as well as landowner contracts, rights of way, and eminent domain litigation related to the project.
- Successfully obtained condemnation confirmation and injunctive relief order from a state court of eminent domain against multiple property owners allowing a natural gas storage company to inject and store natural gas before the statutorily mandated fair value compensation hearing. Davidson v. Tarpon Whitetail Gas Storage LLC, 90 So.3d 691 (Miss. App. 2012).
- Successfully obtained dismissal of claims against Mississippi High School Activities Association alleging violation of due process rights arising under Individual with Disabilities Education Act. Newsome v. MHSAA et al, 2008 WL 2686579 (N.D.Miss.); aff’d 2009 WL 1706488 (C.A.5 (Miss.).
- Successfully obtained dismissal of claims against a regional bank asserted by multiple contractors/subcontractors in construction payment dispute. United Plumbing & Heating et al v. AmSouth Bank, 2009 WL 2152326, Miss.App., July 21, 2009.
- Served as lead Mississippi trial counsel in successful defense of hundreds of oilfield asbestos exposure lawsuits. Successfully obtained reversal and remand of $15.2 million dollar personal injury verdict. Phillips 66 Co. v. Lofton, 94 So.3d 1051 (Miss. 2012).
- Successfully resolved claims of clergy misconduct against religious institutions.
Education
- University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D. | 1993
- Mississippi State University, B.S. | 1985
Bar Admissions
- Alabama
- Mississippi