Bob J Duplantis

Practice Areas

• Oil, Gas & Energy Litigation, Arbitration, Regulatory & Transactions

• Renewable Energy

Career

Bob Duplantis has dedicated his entire career to the oil and gas industry. Prior to joining Gordon Arata in 1982 and establishing its Lafayette office, Bob spent more than a decade in in-house oil company legal departments including six years as a lobbyist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

As an attorney, Bob’s practice focuses on Louisiana oil and gas regulation and “meat-and potato” legal issues. He routinely argues contract disputes affecting the oil and gas industry, including lease interpretation and operational issues, joint operating agreements, oil and gas marketing and sales issues, and forced pooling issues. He regularly represents clients before the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources primarily the Office of Conservation and the Louisiana Office of Mineral Resources, the former of which he has handled more than 1,000 adjudicatory hearings. He frequently addresses industry groups such as the annual Mineral Law Institute.

Prior to practicing law, Bob spent 10 years working in exploration and production in various engineering and management assignments throughout Louisiana, Texas, California, and New York. He earned his J.D. degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1966, and his B.S. in Petroleum Chemical Engineering from LSU in 1961.

Recognition:

• Ranked in Chambers USA, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, 2006 to Present

• American Bar Foundation - Fellow

• Selected to Acadiana Profile Magazine’s "Top Lawyers" List - Oil & Gas Law; Administrative/Regulatory Law; Energy Law

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2020 to Present for Administrative/Regulatory Law, 2009 - Present for Energy Law, 2023 • Present for Natural Resources Law, and 2008 - Present for Oil and Gas Law

• Named the Lafayette Lawyer of the Year for Oil and Gas Law, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2018, 2021

• Named the Lafayette Lawyer of the Year for Energy Law, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2012

• Named the Lafayette Lawyer of the Year for Oil and Gas Law, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2011

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association

• American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) JOA FORM 610 Revision Committee

• Ad Hoc Committee for Intrastate Pipelines, La. State Office of Conservation

• Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association

• Louisiana State Bar Association

• Lafayette Parish Bar Association

• Louisiana State Office of Conservation Intrastate Pipelines Ad Hoc Committee

• Committee on Revision of Rules of Procedure, La. State Office of Conservation

• Advisory Committee, La. State Commissioner’s Office of Conservation