Jason Marechal Cerise

Jason Cerise focuses on commercial litigation and bankruptcy, most frequently for large and small energy clients but also across many other industries. His experience includes first- and second-chair trial and/or litigation in state and federal courts and extensive appearances in bankruptcy courts. Jason has also represented a variety of clients in mediations, arbitrations and regulatory proceedings.

His energy experience includes litigation of disputes frequently arising in the course of exploration and production, including resolution of operating agreement and accounting disputes, balancing disputes, defense of "legacy" oilfield litigation, decommissioning and attendant financial security issues, and other regulatory and compliance matters.

In addition to Jason's many ongoing energy engagements, his representative past experience includes:

• Represented Operator in action to collect JIBs and enforce working interest owners' obligations for response costs following major blowout and resulting oil spill
• Defense of exploration and production company against claims brought in numerous state and federal lawsuits arising from 2012 sinkhole in Assumption Parish, Louisiana
• Assisted client with establishment of trust and negotiation of trust terms with BSEE and BOEM
• Assisted client in coordination of efforts with MMS to insure performance of significant and complex P&A and decommissioning after sale of successor-in-interest to offshore lease
• Represented multiple energy clients in connection with enforcement of preferential rights and executory contract rights in bankruptcy proceedings
• Represented multiple clients in energy bankruptcies to enhance claims recovery, insure debtor or successor's performance of decommissioning obligations, and protect client's contract rights
• Defended predecessor-in-title to offshore lease in action brought by Operator for P&A costs and decommissioning expenses
• Defended contribution and indemnity action brought against publicly traded parent of dissolved exploration company after settlement between plaintiff and co-defendant
• Assisted private equity clients with structuring investment in offshore GOM assets and negotiation of upstream/midstream agreements with contract operator and interest owners
• Resolution of balancing disputes and joint account audits
• Defense of legacy oilfield contamination claims and other environmental damage claims

In addition to his energy litigation experience, Jason has also handled the following types of matters:

• Representation of debtors, official committees, secured and unsecured creditors, landlords, utilities, governmental entities and other constituents in complex Chapter 11 reorganizations and Chapter 7 liquidations and associated adversary proceedings
• Represented DIP lender in connection with debtor-in-possession loan facility for exploration and production debtor
• Employed as special litigation counsel for Chapter 11 debtor to defend against complex environmental tort claims
• Represent clients in prosecution and defense of collection matters and commercial contract disputes
• Advise clients in connection with major EPC contracts and indemnity issues arising under Louisiana law
• Defense and prosecution of construction defect claims, redhibition claims and other warranty actions
• Litigation of various disputes among owners in closely held businesses
• Voluntary and involuntary corporate dissolution proceedings instituted under Louisiana law
• Foreclosure under executory and ordinary process and other enforcement of security rights
• Litigation of multiple tort claims, including negligence, fraud, alter ego and single business enterprise, and strict liability
• Structuring and enforcement of non-compete/non-solicitation agreements under Louisiana law