Bob J. Duplantis
Bob J. Duplantis

Bob J. Duplantis

Of Counsel

bduplantis@gamb.com337.237.0132

400 E. Kaliste Saloom Road
Suite 4200
Lafayette, LA 70508

337.237.0132 | bduplantis@gamb.com

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admissions

  • Louisiana
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of LA
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of LA

education

  • Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, J.D. 1966
  • LSU, B.S. Petroleum Chemical Engineering 1961

Bob Duplantis has dedicated his entire career to the oil and gas industry. Prior to joining the firm in 1982 and establishing its Lafayette office, Bob spent more than a decade serving in-house oil company legal departments, including six years as a lobbyist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Bob’s law practice focuses on Louisiana oil and gas regulation and “meat-and-potato” legal issues. He routinely argues contract disputes affecting the oil and gas industry, including lease interpretation and operational issues, joint operating agreements, oil and gas marketing and sales issues and forced pooling issues. He regularly represents clients before the Louisiana Office of Mineral Resources and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (primarily the Office of Conservation), where he has handled more than a thousand adjudicatory hearings. He frequently addresses industry groups such as the annual Mineral Law Institute at LSU. He has also previously served on the board of directors for an independent oil company.

Bob is again ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in 2022. The publication noted that "...he has a strong reputation in the oil and gas market, with longstanding experience in energy-related litigation." Chambers quotes a source as saying, "He is very experienced and smart."

Prior to practicing law, Bob spent 10 years working in exploration and production in various engineering and management assignments throughout Louisiana, Texas, California, and New York.

  • Unitization – forced pooling
  • Draft Voluntary Unit Agreements, JOA’s, Farmouts, etc.
  • Work with State agencies on behalf of clients
  • Land and mineral title issues
  • Oil and Gas Lease acquisition and maintenance advice
  • Waterbottoms and State ownership issues
  • Surface and Subsurface rights from State and private parties
  • Regulatory and land issues with State of Louisiana, Office of Conservation and Office of Mineral Resources
  • Advise on Oil and Gas Lease and property issues and other mineral related issues
  • Well spacing, allowables, well permits advice
  • Engineering and Management
  • Corporate Board

  • American Bar Association
  • American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) JOA FORM 610 Revision Committee
  • Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Lafayette Parish Bar Association
  • Louisiana State Office of Conservation Intrastate Pipelines Ad Hoc Committee
  • Committee on Revision of Rules of Procedure, La. State Office of Conservation
  • Advisory Committee, La. State Commissioner’s Office of Conservation

  • Ranked in Chambers USA, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, 2006 to Present
  • American Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • Selected to Acadiana Profile Magazine’s "Top Lawyers" List - Oil & Gas Law; Administrative/Regulatory Law; Energy Law, 2014 - Present
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2020 to Present, for Administrative/Regulatory Law, Energy Law, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Named the Lafayette Lawyer of the Year for Oil and Gas Law, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2018, 2021
  • Named the Lafayette Lawyer of the Year for Energy Law, The Best Lawyers in America®, 2012
  • Named the Lafayette Lawyer of the Year for Oil and Gas Law, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2011

Bob Duplantis has dedicated his entire career to the oil and gas industry. Prior to joining the firm in 1982 and establishing its Lafayette office, Bob spent more than a decade serving in-house oil company legal departments, including six years as a lobbyist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Bob’s law practice focuses on Louisiana oil and gas regulation and “meat-and-potato” legal issues. He routinely argues contract disputes affecting the oil and gas industry, including lease interpretation and operational issues, joint operating agreements, oil and gas marketing and sales issues and forced pooling issues. He regularly represents clients before the Louisiana Office of Mineral Resources and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (primarily the Office of Conservation), where he has handled more than a thousand adjudicatory hearings. He frequently addresses industry groups such as the annual Mineral Law Institute at LSU. He has also previously served on the board of directors for an independent oil company.

Bob is again ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in 2022. The publication noted that "...he has a strong reputation in the oil and gas market, with longstanding experience in energy-related litigation." Chambers quotes a source as saying, "He is very experienced and smart."

Prior to practicing law, Bob spent 10 years working in exploration and production in various engineering and management assignments throughout Louisiana, Texas, California, and New York.

  • Oil, Gas and Energy Litigation and Arbitration
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Regulatory
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Transactions
  • Renewable Energy
  • Construction
  • Energy and Natural Resources
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