Leadership

 

 

John Pearce is engaged in general civil practice concentrating in energy (oil and gas) and environmental law for a variety of clients both corporate (international, national, regional and local) and individual. With extensive experience in civil litigation and corporate, partnership, environmental, banking, and contract law, including interpretation, negotiation and preparation of a wide variety of contracts, John has handled or participated in a broad range of matters including litigation before both state and federal courts, regulatory and administrative agencies, as well as matters resolved through ADR. He also has extensive real estate experience primarily involving abstract title examination for both major and independent oil companies and rendition of title opinions on numerous oil and gas properties.

A New Orleans native, John clerked at the Louisiana State Mineral Board from 1973-76.

Practices:

  • Appellate
  • Admiralty and Maritime
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Regulatory
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Litigation and Arbitration
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Transactions
  • Environmental and Toxic Torts
  • International Law

Industries:

  • Energy and Natural Resources
  • Maritime

Admissions:

  • Louisiana
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of LA
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of LA
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of LA
  • United States Court, Federal Claims

Education:

  • LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D. 1976
  • LSU, B.A. 1973

Affiliations:

  • New Orleans Bar Association (Member of Executive Committee, 1984-1986; 1993-1999; President 1998)
  • Louisiana State Bar Association (Member of Council of Mineral Law Section, 1988-1992; Chairman, 1993-1994; House of Delegates, 1999-2001)
  • American Bar Association (Member, House of Delegates, 1998-2002)
  • President, New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation, 1999-2002; Board Member, 1990-2002
  • First President, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, 2002-2004
  • Prior Member of the Board of the New Orleans Pro Bono Project

New Orleans Children’s Hospital:

  • Board Member Emeritus, 2018 to Present
  • Board Member over thirty years
  • Executive Committee Member, 2000-2005
  • President of Board, 2002-2004
  • Chairman, Community Service Board, International Society of Primerus Law Firms, 2018-2019

Recognition:

  • AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America – Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law (2006-2019)
  • Best Lawyers in America – Lawyer of the Year in New Orleans, Natural Resources Law (2015- 2019)
  • Best Lawyers in America – Lawyer of the Year in New Orleans, Oil and Gas Law (2014) Louisiana Super Lawyers – Energy & Natural Resources (Since 2007)
  • New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law (2014)
  • New Orleans Magazine “Top Lawyers” – Oil & Gas Law (2014 – 2015); Mining Law (2017); Natural Resources Law (2018)

Publications:

  • Oil and Gas Litigation Update, Speaker, Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett Annual Duck Lunch & Seminar, October 2017
  • Recent Developments Column for Mineral Law, Louisiana Bar Journal, 1991-2005
  • Civil Liability in Environmental Hazards in Foreign Operations: An Overview of the European Community’s Current Proposal, The Louisiana Environmental Lawyer, Vol. 1, No. 3
  • Louisiana Geothermal Energy Resources Act, Co-Author, LA. RS. 30:800 et seq.
  • Select/Various Oil and Gas and Professionalism Topics, Speaker – various seminars, 1980-