Independent oil and gas producers of all sizes, electric and other utilities, and institutional landowners that lease their properties for natural resource exploitation, rely on Friday, Eldredge & Clark to protect their interests in contractual agreements, regulatory compliance, employee benefits matters, and dispute resolution. Companies that channel and develop energy and other natural resources in Arkansas, including Fortune 500 companies, rely on us for guidance and representation.

Client focus

• Electric, water and telephone utilities
• Oil and natural gas exploration and drilling companies
• Timber and mining companies

Services to energy and utility clients

Business transactions

We represent energy clients in the purchase and sale of subsidiaries, in merger and acquisition deals with other companies, and in investment arrangements with private investment groups. Often our lawyers are called upon to handle the energy regulatory matters in these transactions in addition to traditional business counseling.

Regulatory

Our firm represents both utilities and energy companies in their dealings with the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission. We advise our clients in regulatory matters that involve rate proceedings, transmission and distribution, and power marketing.

Dispute resolution

Our familiarity with the energy industry enables us to try, settle, arbitrate, or mediate controversies to a successful conclusion, including those that involve leases and contracts, royalty disputes, operating disputes, negligence, toxic tort,  injury claims, rate controversies, and numerous other matters. We represent our clients in federal and state courts, before federal and state agencies, and before the Arkansas Legislature.

Services to natural resources clients

We serve the legal needs of investors, operators, participants, and landowners involved in mining and timber operations. We advise landowners and their agents charged with responsibility for managing real estate and natural resources, counseling them on issues associated with their land ownership rights to hard minerals and timber. Our landowner work involves helping owners maximize the natural resource use of their land, and we have negotiated numerous leases of mineral interests on behalf of mineral owners. Often our lawyers will help clients decide what use they want to make of the land, and will construct and manage production agreements that keep the owner in compliance.