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Assistant

Latisha Horn

713.651.2935

“I work with companies to develop comprehensive contracts that maximize risk allocation, including indemnity and insurance protection. I help structure a master risk allocation program that runs through complex, multi-party operational contracts. My goal is to evaluate risk and the allocation of fault in advance to the extent possible – and avoid fighting over who or what’s at fault during any litigation. When there’s a fight, there’s greater risk of higher judgments.”

Overview

Bill Pugh handles complex maritime and energy-related matters for oil and gas producers and other Texas, Louisiana and Gulf region businesses, including contract disputes, insurance disputes and energy transactions.  He has earned a reputation for responsiveness, an ability to translate complicated concepts and for having extensive, pioneering experience analyzing, drafting and reviewing sophisticated energy-related contracts and insurance, indemnity and other contract issues. 

His practice includes master service agreements, onshore and offshore drilling contracts, charters, flight service agreements, onshore and offshore construction contracts and other maritime and energy-related agreements.  He has also helped international and domestic corporations, which often become Bill’s long-term clients, integrate their contracts internally and following mergers or assignment of contracts (such as drilling contracts).

“Anti-indemnity statutes vary from state to state,” Bill notes, “often with nuanced pitfalls.  One of my jobs is to offer our client ways to maximize its allocation of risk through indemnity and insurance.”   

Involvement

Professional

  • Association of International Petroleum Negotiators – Member; Co-Chair, AIPN Model Well Services, Seismic, and Drilling Contract Committee, Secretary 2011-2014, Vice-President of Model Contracts 2014-2017.
    • In addition, he previously participated in drafting the 2002 AIPN International Model Well Services and Seismic Agreements, and he is currently co-chair of the AIPN Model Contract Committee that is drafting an international drilling contract and reviewing the 2002 Model Well Services and Seismic Agreements.
  • State Bar of Texas, Section of Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law, Council Member, 2010-2013
  • Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2006-2008
  • Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Member
  • The Maritime Law Association of the United States, Member
  • Louisiana State Law Institute, Council Member; Senior Officer of the Institute
  • Houston, Louisiana State, and American Bar Associations, Member

Recognition

Credentials

Education

  • Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center (J.D., 1979)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Louisiana Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, 1978 -1979
  • University of Virginia (B.A., 1976)

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, 2005
  • Louisiana, 1979

Clerkships

  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Albert Tate, Jr., Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Louisiana, and Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1979 -1980

Presentations

Bill maintains an active seminar and speaking schedule. He has given numerous presentations on issues related to insurance and risk allocation in the energy industry and speaks often before leading professional and legal organizations.  Recent presentations have included:

  • Indemnity and Insurance Issues in Oilfield Contracts CLE Presentation for Schlumberger, September 29, 2023
  • "Mock Contract Negotiation," Liskow Maritime Seminar, October 26, 2022, Houston, Texas
  • "Cotenancy Disputes," 21st Annual Permian Basin Oil and Gas Law Seminar, Midland, TX, March 1, 2019
  • "Contractual Liability Coverage and Additional Insured Coverage: Two Roads to Get You Home," IRMI's Energy Risk and Insurance Conference, Houston, TX, February 25-27, 2019
  • "Drilling Contracts and Master Service Agreements," Dallas Bar Association's Energy Law: Review of Oil & Gas Law XXXIII Seminar, Dallas, TX, August 3, 2018
  • "Drilling Contracts and Service Agreements," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Short Course on Federal Offshore Oil & Gas Leasing and Development, New Orleans, April 12, 2018
  • "Drilling Contracts and Master Service Agreements," 2018 Fundamentals of Oil, Gas and Mineral Law CLE at the University of Texas at Austin Law School, April 19, 2018
  • "15th Judge Alvin B. Rubin Conference on Maritime Personal Injury Law,” Baton Rouge Hotel, Sponsored by LSU Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA, April 7, 2017
  • “Recent Trends in Contractual Risk Allocation (Post-Macondo),” 67th Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference, Sponsored by Institute for Energy Law, J.W. Marriott Galleria Hotel, Houston, TX, February 18, 2017
  • “International Drilling and Service Contracts,” International Oil & Gas Law, Contracts, and Negotiations, Part 2, Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, October 4, 2016
  • “Drilling Contracts and Master Service Agreements,” 42nd Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Sponsored by The University of Texas School of Law, Royal Sonesta Hotel, Houston, TX, April 14, 2016
  • “Risk Allocation and Indemnities,” 63rd Annual Mineral Law Institute, Sponsored by LSU Law Center, LSU Law School, Baton Rouge, LA, March 31, 2016
  • “Contract Language vs. Policy Language,” Sponsored by AON Annual Energy Risk Symposium, River Oaks Country Club, Houston, TX,  January 19, 2016
  • “IADC Drilling Contracts,” Energy Symposium, Sponsored by IIAH, Houston, TX, August 11, 2015
  • “Inter Company Agreements,” Sponsored by Texas Bar CLE, Houston, TX, January 8-9, 2015
  • “Insurance & Indemnity in the Oilfield,” 28th Annual Energy Law Institute for Attorneys and Landmen, Houston, TX ,September 2-3, 2015
  • "Casualty Strikes – Analysis of an Offshore Incident," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, October 30, 2014, Houston, Texas
  • "Mock Negotiation of an Oilfield Contract," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, October 30, 2014, Houston, Texas
  • "Indemnity Agreements in Mergers and Acquisitions," The Institute for Energy Law’s Mergers and Acquisitions/Acquisitions and Disposals Conference, May 2014
  • “Oil & Gas Drilling Contracts – A Look At The Major Risk Allocation Issues,” Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Santa Fe, NM, May 3, 2013
  • “Indemnity and Insurance Risk Allocation: You Can’t Always Get What You Want, But It’s Good to Know How to Get What You Need,” Liskow & Lewis Breakfast Forum Series, Houston, TX, April 9, 2013
  • “Beyond Entry Points – Risk Allocation Issues in Operational Agreements,” AIPN Young Negotiators Breakfast Speaker Series, Houston, TX, March 28, 2013
  • 64th Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference, Sponsored by IEL, Houston, TX, February 21, 2013
  • Oil & Gas Agreements: Contracting for Goods, Services, and People, “Drilling Contracts & Service Agreements,” Federal Offshore Oil & Gas Leasing & Development, New Orleans, LA, January 23-25, 2013
  • “Risk Allocation Service Agreements,” Sponsored by University of Texas, OGERL of the State Bar of Texas & AIPN, Houston, TX, January 16-18, 2013
  • “Service Agreements - AIPN NOC Government Entity Conference & Workshop,” Sponsored by AIPN, London, England, December 5, 2012
  • “Looking at the Big Picture – Indemnity, Insurance, and Risk Allocation,” Houston Energy Risk Managers, Houston, TX, September 25, 2012
  • “Ins and Outs of Indemnification: Avoiding Indemnity Pitfalls in Drilling Contracts and Master Service Agreements,” 11th Annual Advanced In-House Counsel Course, Dallas, TX, August 3, 2012
  • “Energy Resources, Oil and Gas,” Sponsored by RIMS Houston Chapter, Philadelphia, PA, April 16, 2012
  • “Recent Developments in Indemnity and Insurance,” Sponsored by LSU, Baton Rouge, LA, March 2, 2012
  • “Allocating Risk in Drilling Contracts, MSAs and Rig Sharing Agreements,” Sponsored by University of Texas CLE, AIPN and OGERL, Houston, Texas, February 1, 2012

Publications

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