Brandon T. Darden is a member of the firm and practices primarily in the areas of oil and gas and commercial litigation. Brandon has a wide range of experience in the oil and gas industry and has represented landowners in negotiations and disputes over oil and gas leases, mineral servitude agreements, pipeline rights of way, and other traditional land use agreements. Brandon has also negotiated complex agreements involving emerging energy transactions, such as leases for the construction of a solar energy facility and the storage and sequestration of carbon dioxide. His litigation experience includes general contract disputes, expropriations, disputes over the development of mineral resources, disagreements among and between working interest owners and operators, real estate commission disputes, debt collection actions, and arbitrations. He also provides general business advice, including counseling clients on how to avoid litigation. Finally, Brandon has experience in the employer trade association, construction, heavy-haul transportation, and banking industries. Brandon is licensed to practice law in both Louisiana and Texas and has made numerous appearances in the courts of both jurisdictions.

Brandon joined the Firm in 2016 after practicing with a large firm in Houston, Texas for several years.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in History and Medieval Studies from Southern Methodist University in 2008, where he received his Phi Beta Kappa key. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 2011. While attending SMU, he was the Case Note & Comment Editor for the Science and Technology Law Review and his Law Review Comment appeared in the Spring 2010 edition of that publication. While in law school, Brandon interned for Judge Harlin D. Hale of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.

 

brandon darden 2023

 

AREAS OF PRACTICE

EDUCATION

  • Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2011
  • Southern Methodist University, B.A., summa cum laude, with honors, 2008

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • All Louisiana State and Federal Courts
  • All Texas State Courts
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

honors/awards

  • Best Lawyers 2023 - Commercial Litigation
  • Case Note & Comment Editor for Science and Technology Law Review
  • Phi Beta Kappa

professional associations, memberships & activities

  • American Bar Association
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • New Orleans Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Southern Methodist University Young Alumni Association

publications

representative experience

  • Trial co-counsel for crude oil terminalling company in expropriation to guarantee continued operation of terminal facility.
  • Counsel for landowner in expropriation of land for pipeline compressor station
  • Counsel for oil and gas operator in dispute with non-operators
  • Counsel for oil and gas operator in suit over defense and indemnity agreement
  • Trial co-counsel for oil and gas exploration company in royalty interest dispute
  • Trial co-counsel for natural gas processing company in breach of contract suit with gas gatherer
  • Lead counsel in arbitration over attorneys’ fees
  • Co-counsel for oil and gas company in negligent misrepresentation and statutory fraud dispute
  • Counsel for employer trade association in dispute with labor unions
  • Co-counsel for heavy-haul and transportation company in fraudulent transfer and employment disputes
  • Co-counsel in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation and other internal corporate investigations