Cynthia A. Nicholson
Gordon Arata
201 St. Charles Avenue, 40th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70170
United States
Cynthia Nicholson’s practice is centered on oil and gas transactions with respect to lands located within the State of Louisiana as well as those located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). She regularly documents and negotiates acquisitions and divestitures of both onshore and offshore properties and has extensive experience with many types of transaction structures including mergers, asset and stock acquisitions and sales. She regularly counsels clients on a wide range of regulatory issues and has extensive experience counseling clients on issues arising under OCS regulations. Throughout her career, Cynthia has also advised clients on the drafting and interpretation of mineral leases, operating agreements, participation agreements, unitization agreements, servitude agreements and other agreements used in the oil and gas industry.
A significant portion of Cynthia’s practice is also dedicated to the analysis and review of complex land and leasehold titles. She has rendered hundreds of title opinions based on her examination of complex petroleum titles, and she regularly assists clients in the financing of such onshore and offshore properties. Cynthia represents clients before the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). She has assisted clients in obtaining mineral leases and rights-of-way on the OCS and in the creation of units approved by the BSEE.
Practices:
- Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights
- Oil, Gas and Energy Regulatory
- Oil, Gas and Energy Litigation and Arbitration
- Oil, Gas and Energy Transactions
- Real Estate and Commercial Leasing
- Pipeline, Storage and Transmission
- Oilfield Service Company Transactions and Litigation
- Title Services
- Commercial Financing and Secured Transactions
- Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
Industries:
- Energy and Natural Resources
- Real Estate
Admissions:
- Louisiana
Education:
- Tulane University, J.D. 1980
- H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, B.S. 1977
Affiliations:
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Foundation – Fellow
- American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL)
- Houston Association of Professional Landmen (HAPL)
- Professional Landmen’s Association of New Orleans (PLANO): President (2017 -2018), Vice President (2016-2017), Board Member (2016-2019)
- Women’s Energy Network
Recognition:
- Chambers Partners, USA-Energy
- Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
- Louisiana Super Lawyers, Energy & Natural Resources
- New Orleans Magazine “Top Lawyers” – Energy Law
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Special Award by Petroleum Landmen’s Association of New Orleans (2016)
Publications:
- Future of the OCS Under the New Administration, Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett Annual Duck Lunch & Seminar, October 2017
- BSEE Finally Allows Pipeline ROWs To Be Co-Owned, Drill Deeper Blog, August 2017
- BSEE Extends Time OCS Lease Remains in Effect after Cessation of Operations or Production, Drill Deeper Blog, June 2017
- Update: BOEM Withdraws Sole Liability Orders Issued Under NTL-2016-01 Drill Deeper Blog, February 2017
- BOEM Delays NTL 2016-01 for Non-Sole Liability Properties , Drill Deeper Blog, January 2017
- Proposed Changes to Louisiana State Lease Form, Gordon Arata Annual Duck Lunch & Seminar, October 2016
- BOEM Issues NTL Implementing Major Changes to Its Financial Security Requirements for the OCS, Drill Deeper Blog, July 2016
- Louisiana Revised State Lease Form Update; Critical Meeting in Baton Rouge on May 11, Drill Deeper Blog, April 2016
- Approval of New State Lease Form Delayed, Drill Deeper Blog, December 2015
- BOEM Proposes Major Changes to its Financial Security Requirements for the OCS, Drill Deeper Blog, September 2015