David M. Bates

Professional Biography

For more than 30 years, David Bates has been handling cases in the energy and environmental law arena with complex issues and large stakes, attracting both U.S. and foreign clients, such as business owners, investors and other stakeholders with significant investments in Texas and elsewhere. Disputes are often centered around oil and gas mineral leases, including royalty disputes, joint operating agreements, and purchase and sale agreements, often involving unconventional shale properties. His legal representation includes contract interpretation, assistance with environmental regulatory compliance related to hydraulic fracturing, and assistance with legal issues surrounding traditional drilling and injection wells. David is uniquely skilled at assisting clients with Superfund (CERCLA) litigation, site remediation and cost allocation, as well as assessing environmental risks in connection with real estate and M&A transactions. Not limited to courtroom debates, David also has extensive experience with arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, having successfully completed a number of large arbitrations over the last five years.

David takes a unique approach to large energy and environmental cases. He analyzes the business and legal risks as well as the cost of protracted litigation – determining whether avoiding litigation altogether or getting out quickly may be the best strategic option for his client. When that is not possible or advisable, David works hard to learn every aspect and nuance of the issues in a case, making smart, tactical moves in the most efficient way, based on his deep understanding of the industry and the science. David adds value to a case from hour one.

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