Board of Advisors
Jim H. Barkley
Mr. Barkley is a Partner in the Houston office of Baker Botts L.L.P. His practice focuses on the representation of energy industry clients in regulatory proceedings, projects, corporate transactions, and civil litigation. Before joining Baker Botts, Mr. Barkley was a consultant in Washington, D.C. where he advised several major non-U.S. utilities on U.S. energy and environmental legislation. From 1985 to 1990 he held several positions, including research associate, in the Arms Control and Crisis Management Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Mr. Barkley has represented one of the world’s largest wind generation companies in litigation over a proposed project near the Texas Gulf Coast. He spoke at the 2nd Annual Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law Symposium on “Regulatory Issues Facing New Energy Sources.”
Victor Carrillo
Commissioner Carrillo has served the Texas Railroad Commission as Commissioner since 2003. He began his career as a petroleum geologist before earning his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. He has worked for the Texas General Land Office, served as a Taylor County Judge, and won election to a full six-year term on the Railroad Commission in 2004. Commissioner Carrillo is also currently the Chairman of Governor Perry’s Texas Energy Planning council.
Robert C. Grable
Mr. Grable is a partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP in Ft. Worth, the head of its Energy practice group, and one of the firm’s seven founding members. Mr. Grable’s practice consists largely, but not exclusively, of representing clients in litigation and administrative hearings involving various facets of the oil and gas industry. He has represented independent producers, major oil companies, pipelines, and royalty owners in a wide variety of litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts and before state and federal administrative agencies. Mr. Grable is also President of and a Trustee for the University of Texas Law Foundation.
Cullen “Mike” Godfrey
Mr. Godfrey is the General Counsel of The Texas A & M University System. Prior to his service in higher education, he had extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, including ten years as the general counsel of a Texas-based integrated petroleum and petrochemical company. Mr. Godfrey is Board Certified in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law and has served on the Council of the Oil, Gas, and Energy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Jay D. Kelley
Mr. Kelley is a partner in Pillsbury’s Finance section and a resident of Pillsbury’s Houston office. He is a member of Pillsbury’s Energy & Infrastructure Projects Group and focuses his practice on a variety of finance and commercial matters, with an emphasis on the energy industry. During his career Mr. Kelley has worked on a number of project development, finance and acquisition transactions involving oil and gas (including LNG), power (including renewable power), and petrochemicals for clients including international energy companies, start up companies, power producers and marketers, gas marketers, hedge funds, private equity firms, investment banks and commercial banks.
Mr. Kelley published an article titled, So What’s Your Excuse? An Analysis of Force Majeure Claims in Volume 2 Issue 1 of The Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law. He also gave a speech on “Financing the Terminal Project” at TJOGEL’s 1st Annual Symposium.
W. James “J.J.” McAnelly
Mr. McAnelly is a partner with Bracewell & Giuliani in Houston. His practice focuses primarily on energy, finance, and corporate transactions. In both 2003 and 2004 he earned the distinction of Texas Super Lawyer in oil and gas law. He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. Mr. McAnelly has given several speeches on “Careers in Oil and Gas” for TJOGEL between 2005 to 2007. He is also affiliated with the State Bar of Texas Oil and Gas Section.
David Patton
Mr. Patton is the chair of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell’s Energy group. He has over 30 years experience in various legal aspects of the oil and gas industry including acquisitions and sales of assets or equity interests, drafting and negotiating leases, contracts, and agreements related to field, pipeline and plant operations. Mr. Patton has represented clients in connection with surface use conflicts, day-to-day exploration and development activities, and the resolution of oil and gas disputes. In addition, he was lead attorney in over $2 billion in oil and gas property transactions in 2007. He is a frequent speaker on oil and gas issues and a member of the State Bar of Texas’s Oil, Gas, & Energy Resources Law’s Counsel. Mr. Patton was recently named to the Board of Trustees of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.