Areas of Practice
- Business & Commercial Transactions
- Energy
- Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
- Gaming
- Project Development & Finance
- Telecommunications & Utilities
Practice-Specific Experience
Education
- Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, J.D., 1982; Louisiana Law Review
- Yale University, B.A., 1977
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1982
David Hunter has practiced law in New Orleans since 1982, including as a partner at Phelps Dunbar before joining Jones Walker in January, 2000. His practice focuses on the energy industry, primarily on oil and gas development on the offshore. He represents companies in transactional, contractual, and regulatory matters, including advice on BOEMRE regulations and policies. He represents buyers and sellers of mineral properties and pipeline facilities and lenders in mineral-based transactions. He recently represented an independent in the acquisition of $1.1 billion in offshore properties, a transaction involving more than 200 MMS (now BOEMRE) leases. He provides advice on BOEMRE lease obligations, bonding requirements, and all elements of regulatory compliance under the BOEMRE scheme. Mr. Hunter negotiates all forms of agreements used in mineral development, whether offshore or onshore: operating agreements, agreements creating overriding royalty and net profits interests, participation agreements, production handling agreements, gas storage agreements, and facilities use agreements among them. In addition to representing companies operating on the offshore, he represents lessors and lessees of onshore properties, negotiating leases and providing advice on State regulatory requirements. He also represents royalty owners with interests in onshore and offshore properties.
Mr. Hunter has counseled energy companies in connection the development of onshore and offshore gas storage facilities and in connection with the development of an offshore facility designed to receive and store liquid natural gas (LNG) and other liquid products. He also handles leasing matters for companies operating and developing shoreside terminals and other facilities.
He teaches a course entitled "Advanced Oil & Gas" at Tulane University Law School.
Noteworthy
- Recognized in "Chambers USA – America's Leading Layers for Business" in the area of Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas (2011)
- AV® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell
News
- Jones Walker Receives Unmatched Rankings in Chambers USA
- Jones Walker Presents Banking Oil Spill Seminar
- Hunter and Jones Walker Host EBA Speakers' Dinner
- Hunter Presents at Oil and Gas Law Conference
- Jones Walker Names Five New Partners
- Jones Walker Hosts Reception for American Association of Professional Landmen, Hunter Speaking on Force Majeure
Presentations
- "The Oil Spill: What Will it Mean to Banks in the Region?", August 31, 2010
- "Doing the Deal: Buying and Selling Offshore and Onshore Oil and Gas Properties", February 22, 2008
Publications
- "OCS Due Diligence"
Oil and Gas Developments on the Outer Continental Shelf, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 1998
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Energy Bar Association (Past President, New Orleans Chapter)
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
