Jason Schumacher is co-chair of the firm’s Energy Industry Group. He represents clients in the energy and oil and gas sectors on mergers, stock and asset acquisitions, and divestitures. Jason advises on project development and joint development matters, day-to-day operational affairs, litigation and dispute resolution, and financing arrangements, including commercial midstream agreements and specialty energy financing, involving volumetric production payments, prepayments, net profits interests, overriding royalty interest, securitizations and Drillco structures. He has closed over US$10 billion of transactions and projects.
Prior to joining O’Melveny, Jason was a partner at an international, full-service law firm, where he co-chaired its Energy Practice Group.
- Private oil and gas company in issuance of US$150 million of notes in 4(a)(2) offering through asset backed securitization transaction
- Kosmos Energy in US$200 million crude oil prepayment agreement with Trafigura Trading
- Kosmos Energy in its credit facility with Beal Bank USA and Trafigura Trading LLC involving its Gulf of Mexico oil and gas assets
- Burk Royalty Co, Ltd. in its sale of oil and gas assets in East Texas to ETX Energy, LLC
- Comstock Resources, Inc. in its acquisition of Covey Park Energy LLC in a cash and stock merger valued at approximately US$2.2 billion
- Comstock Resources, Inc. in its US$154 million sale of Bakken oil and gas assets to Northern Oil and Gas, Inc.
- Undisclosed buyer in the purchase of all of Harvest Oil & Gas’ interests in the San Juan Basin in New Mexico and Colorado
- Matador Resources Company in a group of long-term natural gas, crude oil and produced water midstream contracts with San Mateo Midstream II LLC involving Matador’s properties in the Delaware Basin
- Matador Resources Company in a group of long-term natural gas, crude oil, and produced water midstream contracts with San Mateo Midstream LLC involving Matador’s properties in the Delaware Basin
- Merit Energy Company in its US$300 million acquisition of equity interests of two subsidiaries of BHP Billiton Ltd.
- Affiliate of Cox Operating, L.L.C. in its acquisition of the then publicly-traded Energy XXI Gulf Coast Corporation as well as all associated acquisition financing, including a volumetric production payment, for US$322 million
- Non-operating oil and gas company owned by private equity firm purchase of oil and gas assets through a 363 bankruptcy sale.
- Family-office-owned oil and gas company in its nine-figure acquisition and associated financing of Gulf of Mexico, producing oil and gas leases and wells from a supermajor oil and gas company
- Meidu Holding Co., Ltd., a Chinese entity traded on the Shanghai stock exchange, in its US$535 million acquisition of Woodbine Acquisition, LLC, a Texas-based exploration and production company, along with the associated financings
- Private oil and gas company in its sale of a 60-mile offshore state water pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico to a private-equity-backed midstream company
- Management team in its equity arrangements partnering with a private equity firm in an oil and gas exploration and production project
- More than US$3.75 billion in debt facilities with oil and gas reserves serving as the primary collateral, representing both lenders and borrowers
- More than US$100 million in debt facilities to oil and gas service and equipment companies, representing the lender
- More than US$75 million lease transactions involving “pad” or “cushion” gas for underground gas storage facilities
- More than 55 acquisitions and divestitures of US oil and gas assets covering almost every producing state and numerous plays across the United States, including offshore assets in federal and state waters
- Multiple joint exploration and development agreements of oil and gas exploration, involving hundreds of thousands of acres spanning several states and different mineral plays
- Numerous midstream agreements on behalf of midstream, capital providers, and E&P companies, including long-term take or pay gathering and processing arrangements
- Numerous fund formations on behalf of oil and gas companies and royalty purchasers seeking capital for acquisitions and drilling capital
- Acquisitions of five oil and gas service companies on behalf of diversified holding company utilizing significant seller-financed buyouts
- Advising a consortium of family offices on the proposed development of a CCS project.
- Advised a publicly traded midstream company on transportation matters in relation to a CCS project in Louisiana.
- Led O’Melveny team that advised PW Consortium, a private consortium of family offices and financial institutions, on US$1.84 billion cash merger agreement with PureWest Energy, LLC, a leading Rocky Mountain independent natural gas producer; transaction was named 2023 Deal of the Year by North American Energy Council.
- Currently leading team advising on EPC construction of a gas processing plant.
- Advised on project financing for two gas storage facilities in Mississippi.
- Project finance counsel for two gas storage facilities in Mississippi Advised Comstock Resources on the formation of a midstream joint venture with Quantum Capital Solutions.
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- Texas
Education
- The University of Texas, J.D.: Executive Editor, Journal of Law and Politics
- Abilene Christian University, B.B.A., Finance: summa cum laude
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Oil and Gas Law in Dallas, TX (2021-2025)
- Recognized by Chambers USA in Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) (2024)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for Energy Transactions: Oil and Gas (2024) and Project Finance (2023)
- Selected to Super Lawyers for Energy & Natural Resources in Dallas, TX (2022-2024)
- Named to the “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” D Magazine, Oil and Gas Law (2015, 2020)
- Recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for Energy & Natural Resources in Dallas, TX (2016-2017)
Professional Activities
Memberships
- Energy Section, Dallas Bar Association
- Chair (2012)
- Vice Chair (2011)
- Treasurer (2010)
- CLE Chair (2009)
- Texas Energy Council
- Honorary Board Member (2016-Present)
- President (2013-2014, 2014-2015)
- Vice President of Symposium (2011-2012, 2012-2013)
Publications
- “Water Quality, Water Use and Wastewater Issues Related to Hydraulic Fracturing,” Shale Gas: A Practitioner's Guide to Shale Gas and Other Unconventional Resources, Globe Law and Business (2012)
- “Brush Up On Lending,” Oil & Gas Investor (February 4, 2009)
- “Novel Pad Gas Lease Supports Project Financing of Natural Gas Storage Facility,” Business Leasing & Finance News, Issue 58 (October 2006)
Speaking Engagements
- Presenter, “Mergers and Acquisitions Landscape,” Energy Renaissance: Transformative Trend in Oil and Gas Conference (November 13, 2024)
- Presenter, “What You Need to Know About What You Knew - Mega Deals, Consolidation & Transactional Evolution,” 2024 TXCPA Permian Basin CPE Expo (October 24, 2024)
- Presenter, “What You Need to Know - About What You Knew: Mega Deals, Consolidation & Transactional Evolution,” 2024 Whitley Penn Dallas Energy Conference (October 23, 2024)
- Presenter, “Are the Good Times over or Are the Best Times Yet to Come?,” Financial Executives International Dallas Energy Special Interest Group event (October 17, 2024)
- Presenter, “What You Need to Know About What You Knew - Mega Deals, Consolidation & Transactional Evolution,” Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Lease and Title Analysts Fall Seminar (October 8, 2024)
- Presenter, “US LNG Project Development,” Dallas Bar Association’s 39th Annual Review of Energy Law Symposium (August 16, 2024)
- Presenter, “Recent Energy Transactions,” American Association of Professional Landmen Southwest Land Institute (August 5, 2024)
- Moderator, “Water Midstream Market Trends Panel,” 4th Annual Oilfield Water Markets Conference (May 8, 2024)
- Presenter, “Emerging Trends from 2023 Developments in US LNG Projects,” 75th Annual Energy Law Conference (February 22, 2024)
- Presenter, “Commercial Issues Emerging in Midstream,” 2023 Gas and Power Institute (October 27, 2023)
- Presenter, “Energy Transaction Update along with Relevant Legal Issues,” 2023 Dallas Energy Conference (October 25, 2023)
- Presenter, “The Landscape of Energy Transactions: Will There Be Bigger Blooms or Falling Leaves?” North American Petroleum Accounting Conference (May 18, 2023)
- Presenter, “Money In Water - Valuation, Consolidation & Funding Future Facilities,” 3rd Annual Oilfield Water Markets Conference (May 17, 2023)
- Presenter, “The Landscape of Energy Transactions: Will there be bigger blooms or falling leaves?” Energy Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association (May 17, 2023)
- Moderator, “Water Opportunities, Risks and Trends for Large E&P Operators,” Oilfield Water Markets 2021 Conference (May 12, 2021)
- Presenter, “What's the Big Deal about the Big Deals?” Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Lease & Title Analysts (June 25, 2019)
- Presenter, “Pulse of M&A Transactions,” Energy Section of the Dallas Bar Association (August 2, 2018)
- Presenter, “What's the Big Deal about the Big Deals?” Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Lease & Title Analysts (June 25, 2018)
- Presenter, “What's the Big Deal about the Big Deals?” North American Petroleum Accounting Conference (May 16, 2018)
- Presenter, “The Pulse of Oil and Gas Deals: Up, Down or Flat?” Energy Law Section: Dallas Bar Association’s Review of Oil & Gas Law XXXII Seminar (August 10-11, 2017)
- Presenter, “Two Numbers – 1031 and 363,” Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies (April 13, 2017)
- Presenter, “Financing Energy Deals in Turbulent Times,” Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies Monthly Meeting (January 9, 2017)
- Presentation on Mergers & Acquisitions, National Association of Royalty Owners National Convention (October 6-8, 2016)
- Presenter, “Distressed Oil & Gas Assets,” 31st Annual National Association of Lease and Title Analysts (NALTA) Conference (September 21-23, 2016)
- Presenter, “Distressed Oil & Gas Assets: Trends and Deals,” Dallas Association of Petroleum Landmen (November 2, 2015)
- Presenter, “Distressed Oil & Gas Assets: Trends and Deals,” Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Lease & Title Analysts (September 15, 2015)
- Presenter, “Distressed Oil & Gas Assets: Trends and Deals,” Review of Oil and Gas Law – Energy Law Section of DBA (August 27-28, 2015)
- Presenter, “Distressed Oil & Gas Assets: Trends and Deals,” North American Petroleum Accounting Conference (May 14, 2015)
- Presenter, “Lend Me Your Ears - The Ins and Outs of Energy Lending,” Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies of Dallas (September 13, 2012)
Related Practices
Related Industries