Beaton, Patrick J.

Patrick J. Beaton

Partner
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Pat Beaton practices in the areas of oil, gas and energy, with an emphasis on upstream and midstream transactions. He has extensive experience in business and commercial transactions on behalf of privately held and publicly traded energy companies. Pat has represented:

  • Oil and gas exploration and production companies in the acquisition and divestiture of producing properties or equity interests
  • Midstream companies in the negotiation of various contracts

Pat Beaton practices in the areas of oil, gas and energy, with an emphasis on upstream and midstream transactions. He has extensive experience in business and commercial transactions on behalf of privately held and publicly traded energy companies. Pat has represented:

  • Oil and gas exploration and production companies in the acquisition and divestiture of producing properties or equity interests
  • Midstream companies in the negotiation of various contracts
  • Companies in various oil and gas litigation matters and the resolution of oil and gas disputes
  • Various parties in complex transactions involving the monetization of interests in producing properties and reserves, including the review of associated exchange, balancing and transportation agreements

Pat’s representative transactions include:

  • Privately held independent exploration and production company in a series of acquisitions of working interests through entry into participation agreements
  • Independent midstream company in acquisition of storage assets
  • Privately held independent exploration and production company in a series of divestitures of upstream producing assets and leasehold acreage in North Dakota
  • Private equity firm in series of divestitures of producing properties by fund portfolio company
  • Private equity firm in purchase of net profits interest in producing properties from private exploration and production company
  • Publicly traded company in a series of divestitures of offshore oil and gas properties
  • Startup oil and gas company in negotiating participation agreements for properties in Texas and California
  • Large independent exploration and production company in drafting and negotiating sale agreement for site of a gas processing plant
  • Financing party with respect to credit agreement and associated mortgages and title issues concerning collateralized oil and gas properties
  • Financial institutions and individuals as trustees and executors in the disposition, distribution and settlement of oil and gas interests in estates
  • Oil and gas companies and other entities in the negotiation and drafting of contracts for goods and services, including negotiation of software licenses from both licensor and licensee perspective
  • Reviewed, drafted and negotiated oil and gas leases, seismic agreements, joint operating agreements, contract operating agreements, exploration agreements, participation agreements, surface and subsurface easements, drilling contracts, master service agreements, pooling and unitization agreements, gas, crude oil and condensate purchase agreements, gathering agreements, exchange agreements, transportation and processing agreements, and other oil and gas-related contracts for numerous upstream and midstream clients
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CREDENTIALS
Education
  • J.D.,

    summa cum laude

    , University of Houston Law Center, 2001
    Publications and Marketing Editor, Houston Law Review, 2000-2001
    Chief Baron, Order of the Barons, 2000-2001
  • B.A.,

    magna cum laude

    , University of Rochester, 1989
    Phi Beta Kappa 
Bar Admissions
  • Texas, 2001
Professional Affiliations
    • Member, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
      • Regional Chair, 65th Annual Meeting
    • Advisory Board, The Institute for Energy Law (A Division of The Center for American and International Law)
    • Member, Houston Bar Association (Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section)
    • Member, State Bar of Texas (Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section)
    • Member, Young Professionals in Energy
Awards & Recognitions
    • Recognized, Global Restructuring Review 100 (2021)
Professional History
    • Partner, Locke Lord LLP
    • United States Navy (1989-1998)