John Reeks has worked with small independents, medium and large oil and gas companies in most phases of the energy and oil and gas industry including title work, mergers and acquisitions, litigation of landowner and royalty owner demands, matters involving gas contracts, oil, gas and mineral leases, development of oil and gas leases and title issues, disputes between operators and non-operators and lawsuits concerning environmental damages to property. He also has significant insurance defense, banking, commercial real estate and commercial litigation experience. John also currently serves as Chancellor of St. Mark’s Cathedral (Episcopal) in Shreveport, LA and in that capacity handles matters involving general corporate law as well as Canon Law.
John has extensive experience in title examination in virtually all North Louisiana parishes on behalf of major companies and independent producers. He has rendered title opinions in most of the major oil and gas fields in North Louisiana, including drill site title opinions, preliminary title opinions and division order title opinions. In addition, he has appeared before the Louisiana Office of Conservation and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
John has been recognized as Best Lawyers in America® for Energy Law and Oil & Gas Law Lawyer of the year for 9 years and was named Shreveport Best Lawyers® Oil and Gas Law Lawyer of the Year in 2014. Prior to entering the private practice of law in 1982, John worked as a Landman for Exxon Corporation for two years.
Represented the plaintiff in Small Engine Shop, Inc. v. Cascio, a seminal case cited for establishing the due process standard in Louisiana following the Mennonite case and holding that the Louisiana statute providing the owner of a property interest to file a request for notice of seizure did not shift the entire burden for notice to the property owner.
Represented the defendant in the case of Alice Gaines Johnson Trust v. El Paso E&P, L.P. This case was brought by the plaintiff for past due royalties and claim for damages of double the amount of royalties due and lease cancellation under the Louisiana Mineral Code. The case was tried in U. S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana, resulting in a jury verdict in favor of client, awarding no damages or lease cancellation.
Represents numerous oil and gas industry clients in connection with title examination, contractual and regulatory issues, litigation and negotiation of numerous oil and gas related issues including landowner claims for royalty payments, development of leases, demands for release of leases, disputes with other working interest owners over cost of operations, transportation and gathering costs and other matters.
Represented large multinational petrochemical manufacturer in site acquisition and related contract negotiations, title examination, zoning, land use requirements, for world class petrochemical manufacturing facility.
The Best Lawyers in America ©, Shreveport, LA – Oil and Gas Law, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2014
The Best Lawyers in America ©, Shreveport, LA – Energy Law and Oil & Gas Law, since 2010
