Transactions

Mergers, acquisitions & PSAs

Price isn’t the most important thing in an oil and gas transaction — risk is. We guide clients through acquisitions and divestitures of producing assets, leasehold interests, and service companies, including:

• Negotiation of purchase and sale agreements (PSAs) and related documents
• Title and regulatory due diligence
• Risk allocation for retained liabilities, environmental matters, and post-closing obligations

Our attorneys structure every deal to close efficiently and protect client interests.

Oliva Gibbs understands the energy industry from the inside out. Our team has decades of experience advising upstream clients in oil and gas transactions. From formation to post-closing, we keep the strategy clear and tailored to your long-term goals. With attorneys licensed in more than 15 states and boots on the ground in major energy hubs, we help clients move fast, manage risk, and get deals done.

Learn more about mergers, acquisitions & PSAs

Joint ventures & development agreements

Joint ventures allow oil and gas operators to pool capital, leasehold infrastructure, and technical expertise for efficient development. Our attorneys structure and navigate joint operating agreements (JOAs) with a clear eye on cost-sharing arrangements, exit rights, and operational flexibility.

Contracts

While the oil and gas lease is a foundational instrument in the development of oil and gas resources, other agreements are crucial to each stage of the process. We work with clients to identify which contracts and agreements are not only necessary, but beneficial to their development plans. Our attorneys leverage their prior experience, both as in-house counsel and landmen for operators, to advise clients on joint operating agreements (JOAs), farm-out agreements, farm-in agreements, areas of mutual interest (AMIs), joint ventures, surface use agreements, and other operational contracts that facilitate the orderly development of their assets. Proper drafting of these agreements strengthens our clients’ relationships with mineral interest owners and other working interest owners in addition to protecting their own interests.

Surface use agreements

What happens above ground matters too. We help operators negotiate with landowners and address easement and right-of-way issues. Our team assists with:

• Surface access, flowlines, and access roads
• Federal, state, and county permitting and regulatory filings

Learn more about surface use agreements

Lease negotiation

An oil and gas lease outlines the terms of the relationship between the mineral owner and the operator. An understanding of how those terms affect that relationship is key when in the process of negotiating an oil and gas lease. Our attorneys are experienced in lease negotiations from both the perspective of the mineral owner and the operator and advise our clients in determining what details should or should not be included in their negotiations and how those details can affect the lessor/lessee relationship during the life of the lease.

Entity formation

Every strong venture starts with the right structure. Oliva Gibbs’ transactional attorneys help clients form and manage LLCs, partnerships, and other entities built for upstream oil and gas. From day one, we think about liability, taxes, ownership rights, and operations so your business works today and scales for tomorrow.

Mortgage opinions

A mortgage opinion provides a legal assessment of the validity, priority, and enforceability of mortgage documents and related agreements. We offer expert mortgage opinion services to lenders and borrowers, ensuring that mortgage transactions comply with applicable laws and regulations. Our attorneys review mortgage agreements, assess potential risks, and provide opinions on the legal standing of the mortgage in relation to other claims or liens. Our thorough analysis helps clients mitigate risks and ensure that their mortgage interests are adequately protected in all financial transactions.

Ancillary probate

Ancillary probate refers to the process required when a deceased person’s estate includes assets located in a jurisdiction other than where the person was domiciled. Our transactional attorneys assist clients through the ancillary probate process to ensure the efficient administration of estates across multiple jurisdictions. Our attorneys guide clients through the necessary legal procedures, including the appointment of ancillary executors, the filing of probate petitions, and the management of assets subject to ancillary administration. We also handle complex issues related to cross-border asset transfers and compliance with local probate laws to facilitate a smooth estate settlement.