J. Clayton Johnson

J. Clayton Johnson is a Retired Partner. He has practiced law since graduation from law school in 1969. Mr. Johnson’s law practice concentrated in the area of oil and gas, more specifically:

• Bringing and defending lawsuits in state and federal courts involving royalty and working interest due on production (including take-or-pay); the determination of ownership of property; and the interpretation of various oil and gas agreements, including leases, joint operating agreements, balancing agreements, unit agreements, and gas purchase agreements, with a number of the lawsuits having been discussed in various law reviews and energy related publications.
• Bringing and defending lawsuits arising out of rig accidents, fires, and blowouts on behalf of Amoco Production Company, other oil companies, and numerous landowners.
• Conservation practice before administrative agencies, including review and appeal of Conservation Orders, on behalf of major and independent oil companies and major landowners.
• Experience in acting as local counsel for out-of-state law firms and domestic and foreign banking institutions in litigation; bankruptcy proceedings; contract matters; the formation of business entities; and the purchase, sale, and financing of oil and gas properties located onshore and offshore.
• Experience in drafting and negotiation of all types of oil and gas related contracts, including leases, seismic options and rights-of-way; drilling contracts; operating agreements; joint venture; exploration and participation agreements; and acquisitions, sales, mortgage, and financing instruments related to both inshore and offshore transactions.
• Bringing and defending lawsuits involving oil and gas environmental matters in the state and federal courts of Louisiana.

• Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1969
• Louisiana State University, B.S., 1965

• Louisiana, 1969

• Successfully prosecuted review and appeal of Order of Commissioner of Conservation, which established law in Louisiana as to duty of unit operator to account for production to non- operators. See Amoco Production Company v. Herbert W. Thompson, Commissioner of Conservation, 516 So. 2d 376 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1987); writ denied, 520 So. 2d 118 (La. 1988).