51852aca_y_and_Natural_Resources_Center__Course_Description
[0] Spring 2015 [Course] 6223 Drafting & Negotiating Int'l Oil & Gas Agreements [Credit] 2 [Course Area] Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law International Law [Course Description] 
This course is designed to enhance the students� knowledge of major types of international oil and gas agreements while providing practical, hands-on experience in contract drafting and negotiation. Students will be provided a detailed and realistic fact pattern showing how oil and gas deals are conceived of, proposed, negotiated and eventually formalized. The students will then apply the fact pattern to various types of oil and gas model agreements. In short, Professor Nadorff will show the students how an international oil and gas lawyer approaches every day oil and gas industry legal and commercial challenges, including how to navigate office �politics� and deal with various types of industry players. The course contains the following major components: � A discussion of the role of the contract drafters and negotiators in the oil and gas industry. � Practical tips on how to write contracts and other documents more clearly and effectively as well as identifying pitfalls to be avoided. � Contract drafting and negotiation strategies. � A thorough discussion of pre-contractual documents (letters of intent, memoranda of association, etc.), including a detailed in-class review and re-write of a poorly conceived and drafted letter of intent. � An introduction to the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and the AIPN Model Form Contracts (including their proper use and potential abuse). � In class, on-screen editing by the students of key AIPN Model Form Agreements (most likely: Confidentiality, Joint Study and Bidding, Farmout, Joint Operating Agreement, International Consultant, and Well Services). � In-class negotiations and other simulated exercises based on the supplied fact pattern. It is anticipated that for each class, Professor Nadorff will invite a different oil and gas lawyer or negotiator in order to: (i) share professional experiences; (ii) provide personal perspectives and (iii) to help facilitate the in-class exercises.
University of Houston Law Center - Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Center
Course Description