Robert S Ballentine

Biographical Information

Mr. Ballentine has 25 years of commercial litigation experience, primarily concerning disputes over upstream and midstream energy contracts, such as exploration agreements, joint operating agreements, wellhead sales agreements, gas processing contracts, natural gas purchase and sales agreements, maintenance and service agreements, natural gas and natural gas liquids transportation agreements and other related contracts.

He has represented energy clients in complex litigation, including class actions in both state and federal courts, as well as litigation over state, federal and private mineral royalty claims, natural gas measurement False Claims Act qui tam litigation, gas processing, gas plant and gas pipeline litigation and arbitrations, as well as electric power contract disputes. His litigation experience includes toxic tort and product liability matters, as well as Sherman Act antitrust claims, and shareholder derivative and securities litigation. He has represented clients in tax litigation, real estate and pipeline condemnation matters and mineral partnership disputes. He has also represented clients in admiralty litigation, as well as in a wide variety of adversary proceedings before United States bankruptcy courts.

He has significant regulatory practice experience in the natural gas pipeline, telecommunications and electric power industries, including administrative law and litigation, and certificate applications before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

In addition, Mr. Ballentine is an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center where he teaches a course in nuclear energy law and policy.