Mark D. Christiansen
CONTACT
Phone: 405.796.8680
Email: [email protected]
PRACTICE AREAS
Oil, Gas and Energy Litigation
Energy Finance Litigation
Class Action Lawsuits
ADMISSIONS
Oklahoma, 1980
U.S. Supreme Court, 1995
U.S. District Courts for the Western, Northern, and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma, and for New Mexico and North Dakota
EDUCATION
B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1977
J. D., University of Oklahoma College of Law, 1980
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (Council Member/Board of Directors, 2003-2006; Chair, Energy and Natural Resources Litigation Committee, 2001-2003; Chair, Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production Committee, 1999-2001)
Center for American and International Law (Trustee and Member of Executive Committee for Board of Trustees, 2005-2018)
Center for American and International Law, Energy Law Institute (Executive Committee, 2000-2019)
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (Board of Trustees, 2003-2004; Treasurer and Executive Committee/Board of Directors, 2011-2013; 2005-2007)
Energy Law 360, a leading resource for news and trends affecting the energy industry (Member of National Editorial Advisory Board, 2015-2019)
Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association (Chair, Legal Committee, 2007 — 2018)
Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (Chair, Legal Committee, 2001-2003, 2005-2006)
Mineral Lawyers Society of Oklahoma City (President, 1989-1990)
Mark D. Christiansen
Mark Christiansen has represented many clients in the defense and pursuit of complex energy lawsuits requiring a wide range of energy litigation experience, with clients and counter-parties of most every type and level of experience. Over the course of his years of working with participants in the energy industries, Mark has represented energy and oil & gas companies of all sizes, including small and medium-sized independent exploration and production companies, as well as publicly traded energy companies and Fortune 100 corporations.
Mark’s broad-based energy industry experience involves working with energy clients on a variety of legal matters including litigation over commonly-encountered energy industry legal disputes; the defense of statewide, multistate and nationwide class action lawsuits; and the litigation of lawsuits of a wide variety of varying subject matters and sizes at the state, federal and appellate levels.
He has also served for many years in leadership roles in the industry’s leading energy litigation and energy law groups (including lead roles in the litigation and legal conferences of those groups). Mark previously worked with the Oklahoma law firm of McAfee & Taft for almost six years, and served as Co-Leader of that firm’s Energy and Oil & Gas Practice Group for five of those years (from March 2013 through February 2018). Prior to that, Mark worked for over thirty years with the Oklahoma law firm of Crowe & Dunlevy where he served for three years on the firm’s Executive Committee and on certain other special project committees of that firm.
Mark has been a featured speaker and/or co-chair and moderator at more than 100 energy law and energy litigation conferences throughout the United States, and has authored and co-authored many articles for regional and national journals of the American Bar Association and several national legal organizations that focus on legal issues in the energy and natural resources industries.
Representative Experience
Honors and Awards
Articles and Publications
Below is a partial list of examples of Mr. Christiansen’s prior published works.
Editor and Co-Author: Legal Developments in 2018 Affecting the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry
56 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Found. J. at 23 | 2019
So-Called “Frac Hits” – Legal Issues and Recent Developments
Proceedings of LSU’s Institute on Mineral Law – 66th Annual | 2019
Oklahoma Class Actions
A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Actions | 2nd Edition, 2017
ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
Oil and Gas Royalty Classes
A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Actions | 2nd Edition, 2017
ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
Select Recent Decisions on Oil and Gas Royalty Obligations and Class Certification in Royalty Cases
69 Oil and Gas Institute, Chapter 3, at 41 | 2017
When the Horizontal and Vertical Collide: Frac Hits and Operator Quest for Détente in the Common Reservoir
61 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute 12-1 | 2015 (with Professor David E. Pierce as co-speaker and co-author
Oklahoma Energy Litigation Updates
Section Report of the Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section, State Bar of Texas | 2011-2019
Collateral damage or collateral opportunists? The Litigation Side Shows in the Shadows of the Main Event [Macando Oil Spill]
ABA Energy and Natural Resources Litigation Committee Newsletter | April 1, 2013
Co-Author, A different ‘slant’ on JOAs: New developments
57 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute 25-1 | 2011
The top ten recent court decisions challenging the oil and gas industry
58 Oil and Gas Institute, Chapter 4, at 87 | 2007
Class actions pushed to the extreme: Will class action plaintiff lawyers be permitted to re-zone our courts for tract housing?
24 Journal of Land, Resources and Environmental Law 77 | 2004
The confused state of oil and gas royalty check stub law
17 Texas Oil and Gas Law Journal 13 | 2003
Co-Author, COPAS for landmen and lawyers
48 Texas Oil and Gas Law Journal 13 | 2002
Gas balancing issues
19 Petroleum Accounting and Financial Management Journal No. 3, Fall/Winter | 2000
A landman’s guide to drafting for the allocation of gas marketing-related costs under the oil and gas lease
45 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute 21-1 | 1999
Preferential right of purchase issues in oil and gas property sales
ABA Natural Resources & Environment, Volume 10, No. 4, Spring | 1996
A comparison of the model form gas balancing agreements: Catching up with a changing market environment
40 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institution 16-1 | 1994
At The Podium
(Mark has spoken and presented papers at over 100 energy law and energy litigation programs in prior years, with the following being a partial list of examples.)
Energy Litigation Update 2019
18th Annual Energy Litigation Conference, sponsored by the Institute for Energy Law of CAIL
Houston Metro Area | November 14, 2019
Update on Energy Litigation in Oklahoma 2019
Annual Kuntz Energy & Resources Conference of the Oklahoma Bar Assoc. & OU Law School
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | November 1, 2019
So-Called “Frac Hits”— Legal Issues and Recent Developments
66th Mineral Law Institute of LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana | March 14 – 15, 2019
Energy Litigation Update 2018
17th Annual Energy Litigation Conference, sponsored by the Institute for Energy Law of CAIL and ABA
Houston, Texas | November 8, 2018
Update on Energy Litigation in Oklahoma 2018
Annual Kuntz Energy & Resources Conference of the Oklahoma Bar Assoc. & OU Law School
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | November 2, 2018
Royalty Litigation Trends in the U.S.
69th Annual Oil and Gas Law Conference of the Institute for Energy Law of CAIL
Houston, Texas | February 1, 2018
Interesting Cases on Contract Issues and Disputes Rarely Litigated to Court Decision
2017 Corporate Counsel Seminar
Oklahoma City, OK | December 7, 2017
Energy Litigation Update 2017
16th Annual Energy Litigation Conference, sponsored by the Institute for Energy Law of CAIL and ABA
Houston, Texas | November 1, 2017
Update on Energy Litigation for States Other Than Texas
30th Annual Energy Law Institute for Attorneys and Landmen
Houston, Texas | August 30-31, 2017
Energy Litigation Update 2016
15th Annual Energy Litigation Conference, sponsored by Institute for Energy Law of CAIL and ABA
Houston, TX | November 1, 2016
Update on Oil & Gas Royalty Litigation and the Latest Royalty Issues
National Meeting on Oil & Gas Revenue Issues of the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies (COPAS)
San Diego, CA | October 1, 2016
Surviving the Low-Price Oil & Gas Environment With Marginal Oil & Gas Leases
Oklahoma Geological Society
Oklahoma City, OK | March 1, 2016
Contracting by Email: Risks and Recent Litigation
sponsored by the Bracewell and Andrew Kurth law firms
Houston, TX | November 1, 2015
Energy Litigation Update 2015
14th Annual Energy Litigation Conference, sponsored by Institute for Energy Law of CAIL and ABA
Houston, TX | November 1, 2015
Update on Energy Litigation in Oklahoma
Annual Kuntz Energy & Resources Conference of the Oklahoma Bar Assoc. & OU Law School
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | November 1, 2015
Litigation Update Nationally for Oil & Gas Division Order Analysts
42nd Annual Institute for the National Assoc. of Division Order Analysts
Amelia Island, FL | September 1, 2015
Co-Presenter (with Prof. David Pierce), “When the Horizontal and Vertical Collide: Frac Hits and Operator Quest for Détente in the Common Reservoir”
61st Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute
Anchorage, AK | July 1, 2015
Energy Litigation Update 2014
13th Annual Energy Litigation Conference, sponsored by Institute for Energy Law of CAIL and ABA
Houston, TX | November 1, 2014
Oil and Gas Litigation Update for Texas and Oklahoma
Joint Meeting of the Texas and Oklahoma Associations of Defense Counsel
Dallas, TX | October 1, 2014
Served on Oil & Gas Litigation Panel
5th Law of Shale Plays Conference
Pittsburgh, PA | September 1, 2014
Oil & Gas Litigation Update for Texas, Oklahoma and Other States
Dallas Bar Association’s Annual Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | August 1, 2014
Disputes Over, and/or Acceptance and Tolerance of, Potential Impacts of Fracking Activities on Neighboring Vertical Wells or Other Nearby Oil and Gas Operations
National Business Institute Seminar
Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK | July 16-17, 2014
Author, Energy Litigation Update 2013
12th Annual Energy Litigation Conference, sponsored by Institute for Energy Law of CAIL and ABA
Houston, TX | November 1, 2013
Co-Chair, 12th Annual Energy Litigation Conference
sponsored by Institute for Energy Law of CAIL
Houston, TX | November 1, 2013
Litigation Update on Recent Energy Industry Contract Litigation
American Conference Institute’s 2nd National Forum on Oil & Gas Litigation
Houston, TX | September 1, 2013
Co-Chair, 11th Annual Energy Litigation Conference
sponsored by Institute for Energy Law of CAIL
Houston, TX | November 1, 2012
Case Law Update and Litigation Trends Involving Shale Plays
2nd Conference on the Law of Shale Plays, sponsored by Institute for Energy Law of CAIL
Fort Worth, TX | September 1, 2012
Texas and Oklahoma Litigation Update and Select Cases from Other Jurisdictions
Dallas Bar Association's Annual Oil and Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | August 1, 2012
Litigation Update on Oil and Gas Royalty Lawsuits and Other Contract Disputes of Interest to Landmen in the U.S.
58th Meeting of the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL)
San Francisco, CA | June 1, 2012
Current Oil and Gas Litigation Trends and Developments for Shale Plays
3rd Conference on the Law of Oil and Gas Shale Plays
Fort Worth, TX | June 1, 2012
Recent Developments in Oil and Gas Litigation in 2011
63rd Annual Oil and Gas Law Conference
Houston, TX | February 1, 2012
Texas and Oklahoma Litigation Update and Select Cases from Other Jurisdictions
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | August 1, 2011
Co-Presenter, A Different ‘Slant’ on JOAs: New Developments in Shale Plays and Recent Court Rulings
57th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute
Santa Fe, NM | July 1, 2011
Litigation Update for the Oil and Gas Industry
37th Annual National Association of Division Order Analysts (NADOA) Institute
San Antonio, TX | 2010
Texas and Oklahoma Case Law Update and Select Cases from Other Jurisdictions
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | 2010
Litigating Oil & Gas Royalty Disputes: Crafting Defense Strategies for Cases with Unsettled and Conflicting Laws
Oil & Gas Litigation and Arbitration Forum, American Conference Institute
Houston, TX | 2010
Texas and Oklahoma Case Law Update and Select Cases from Other Jurisdictions
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | 2009
Recent Developments in Oil and Gas Royalty Litigation
Organization for Oil and Gas Industry Accountants (COPAS) National Meeting
Branson, MO | 2009
Co-Chair of Conference and Speaker: Oil and Gas Royalty Litigation and Procedures: Trends and Developments
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation's National Conference on Royalty Litigation
Denver, CO | 2008
Update on Private Oil and Gas Royalty Litigation in the Oil & Gas Industry
National Meeting of the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies (COPAS)
Oklahoma City, OK | 2008
Oil & Gas Royalty Litigation Update
10th National Oil and Gas Royalty Conference
Dallas, TX | 2008
Texas and Oklahoma Case Law Update and Select Cases from Other Jurisdictions
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | 2008
Recent Developments in Royalty Owner Lawsuits Over Cost Deductions and Related Issues
35th Annual NADOA Institute
San Diego, CA | 2008
The Top 10 Legal Developments that Present the Greatest Challenges for the Domestic Oil and Gas Industry
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | 2007
The Top Ten Recent Court Decision Challenging the Oil and Gas Industry
58th Annual Institute on Oil and Gas Law and Taxation, sponsored by the Institute for Energy Law of CAIL
Houston, TX | 2007
Texas and Oklahoma Case Law Update and Select Cases from Other Jurisdictions
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | 2006
Oil and Gas Royalty Litigation Update
9th Annual National Oil and Gas Royalty Conference
Houston, TX | 2006
Recent Royalty Litigation Concerning Processed Gas
8th National Oil and Gas Royalty Conference
Houston, TX | 2005
Texas and Oklahoma Case Law Update and Select Cases from Other Jurisdictions
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | 2005
Oil and Gas Royalty Litigation from the Outside Counsel’s Perspective
Ernst & Young General Counsel Roundtable
Houston, TX | 2004
Recent Disputes and Court Decisions in the Oil Patch
Annual Meeting of the National Association of Lease and Title Analysts
Austin, TX | 2004
Texas and Oklahoma Case Law Update and Select Cases from Other Jurisdictions
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | 2004
An Oklahoma Overview: Case Law Update for the Oil, Gas and Energy Law Practitioner
Annual Dallas Bar Association Oil & Gas Law Seminar
Dallas, TX | 2003
The Aftermath of Energy Deregulation: What Went Wrong? What Went Right? Who Goes to Jail? Was the Environment Really Affected After All?
ABA Annual Meeting
San Francisco, CA | 2003
The New Wave of Royalty Check Stub Litigation
First Annual Energy Litigation Conference, sponsored by the Institute for Energy Law of CAIL and ABA
Houston, TX | 2002
Co-Presenter, COPAS Accounting Procedures Under the Operating Agreement for Landmen and Lawyers
48th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute
Lake Tahoe, NV | 2002
What to Pay and How to Describe It – Recent Developments in Litigation Over Royalties and Royalty Check Stubs
Annual Meeting of the National Association of Division Order Analysts (NADOA)
Oklahoma City, OK | 2002
Class Action Litigation Trends in Energy, Environmental and Enron Litigation
10th Fall Meeting of the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
Portland, OR | 2002
Oil and Gas Lease Drafting Considerations Regarding the Allocation of Gas Marketing-Related Costs
4th National Oil and Gas Royalty Conference
Houston, TX | 2000
The New Wave of Royalty Owner Lawsuits
4th Fall Meeting of the ABA Section of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
Boston, MA | 1999
Gas Balancing Agreements and Litigation
Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies Annual Meeting
Fort Worth, TX | 1999
Current Trends in Class Action Royalty Litigation
40th Annual Institute for Professional Landmen
Dallas, TX | 1999
A Landman’s Guide to Drafting Provisions for the Allocation of Gas Marketing-Related Costs Under the Oil and Gas Lease
45th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute
Monterey, CA | 1999
Recent Royalty Litigation and Industry Responses
7th Fall Meeting of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
San Diego, CA | 1999
A Comparison of the Model Form Gas Balancing Agreements – Catching Up with a Changing Market Environment
40th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute
San Diego, CA | 1994
Gas Prorationing Laws in the Major Oil & Gas States
First Fall Meeting of the ABA Section of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law
Ashville, NC | 1993