Professor Ernest Smith
Ernest is a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, a specialist in oil and gas law, co-author of the leading casebook on Oil and Gas Law (West, 4th ed., 2002) and the leading treatise on Texas Law of Oil and Gas (3 volumes, 2nd ed., LEXIS Law Pub., 1998). He is also a former Dean of the University of Texas School of Law.

Professor John Dzienkowski
John is a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, focusing on topics related to international energy transactions and oil and gas taxation. In the area of natural resources, John is a founding co-author of the first commercially produced casebooks on Natural Resources Taxation (1988) and International Petroleum Transactions (1993 and 2000), and co-author of Hemingway’s Oil and Gas Law Taxation (2004).

Professor David Spence
David is a Professor of Law, Politics & Regulation at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. He teaches Energy Law in both the School of Law and the School of Business. Professor Spence's research and teaching focuses on business-government relations and the regulation of business, particularly energy and environmental regulation. He is co-author of Energy, Economics and the Environment (2d Ed. Foundation Press, 2006).

Jim H. Barkley
Jim is a Parnter with Baker Botts Houston office who's practice focuses on the representation of energy industry clients in regulatory proceedings, projects, corporate transactions, and civil litigation. Before joining Baker Botts, Mr. Barkley was a consultant in Washington, D.C., advising several major non-U.S. utilities on U.S. energy and environmental legislation. From 1985 to 1990, he held several positions, including research associate, in the Arms Control and Crisis Management Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Victor Carrillo
Victor is a Texas Railroad Commissioner who has served on the Railroad Commission since 2003. He began his career as a petroleum geologist before earning his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. He has worked for the Texas General Land Office, served as a Taylor County Judge, and won election to a full six year term on the Railroad Commission in 2004.

Robert C. Grable
Robert is a partner in Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, the head of its Energy practice group, and one of the firm’s seven founding members. Mr. Grable’s practice consists largely, but not exclusively, of representing clients in litigation and administrative hearings involving various facets of the oil and gas industry. He has represented independent producers, major oil companies, pipelines, and royalty owners in a wide variety of litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts and before state and federal administrative agencies.

Cullen “Mike” Godfrey
Mike is the General Counsel of The Texas A & M University System. Prior to his service in higher education, Godfrey had extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, including ten years as the general counsel of a Texas based integrated petroleum and petrochemical company. Godfrey is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law and has served on the Council of the Oil, Gas and Energy Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Jay D. Kelley
Jay is a Partner with Vinson & Elkin's Houston Office where his practice covers finance, energy, and general commercial matters, with an emphasis in the areas of project development and finance. In the energy area he has worked on various projects involving power (including renewable power), oil and gas (including LNG), and petrochemicals. He is experienced in negotiating partnership agreements, construction contracts, operating agreements, off take arrangements, and various other project documents. He is also experienced in negotiating various types of financial transactions, including commodity hedging, bank debt, private placements, Rule 144A bond offerings, and leveraged leases.

W. James “J.J.” McAnelly
J.J. is a partner with Bracewell & Giuliani. His practice focuses primarily on energy, finance and corporate transactions. In both 2003 and 2004 he earned the distinction of Texas Super Lawyer in oil and gas law. He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.

David Patton
David is the chair of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell's Energy group. He has over 30 years experience in various legal aspects of the oil and gas industry including acquisitions and sales of assets or equity interests, drafting and negotiating leases, contracts, and agreements related to field, pipeline and plant operations. Mr. Patton has represented clients in connection with surface use conflicts, day to day exploration and development activities, and the resolution of oil and gas disputes. In addition, he was lead attorney in over $2 billion in oil and gas property transactions in 2007. He is a frequent speaker on oil and gas issues, and a member of the State Bar of Texas's Oil, Gas, & Energy Resources Law's Counsel.