Cynthia A. Nicholson
Cynthia A. Nicholson

Cynthia A. Nicholson

Member

cnicholson@gamb.com504.569.1658

201 St. Charles Avenue
40th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70170

504.569.1658 | cnicholson@gamb.com

Mobile: 504.453.3458

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admissions

  • Louisiana

education

  • Tulane University, J.D. 1980
  • H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, B.S. 1977

Cynthia Nicholson’s practice is centered on oil and gas transactions with respect to lands located within the State of Louisiana as well as those located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). She regularly documents and negotiates acquisitions and divestitures of both onshore and offshore properties and has extensive experience with many types of transaction structures including mergers, asset and stock acquisitions and sales. She routinely counsels clients on a wide range of regulatory issues and has extensive experience counseling clients on issues arising under OCS regulations. Throughout her career, Cynthia has also advised clients on the drafting and interpretation of mineral leases, operating agreements, participation agreements, unitization agreements, servitude agreements and other agreements used in the oil and gas industry.

A significant portion of Cynthia's practice is also dedicated to the analysis and review of complex land and leasehold titles. She has rendered hundreds of title opinions based on her examination of complex petroleum titles, and she regularly assists clients in the financing of such onshore and offshore properties. Cynthia represents clients before the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). She has assisted clients in obtaining mineral leases and rights-of-way on the OCS and in the creation of units approved by the BSEE.

Cynthia has been ranked in the prestigious Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for several years. In 2022, Chambers noted, "Cynthia Nicholson has expertise handling onshore and Outer Continental Shelf regulatory and transactional matters." Clients have been quoted as saying, "Cynthia ensures our company’s best interests are always kept in mind and her knowledge of the regulatory environment is invaluable.” “Cynthia is an excellent title attorney who can render an opinion which is concise and to the point.” "She is great at problem-solving."

  • Represented client in the acquisition of producing properties, including the examination of complex of lease premises subject to the numerous overlapping units formed by the Louisiana Office of Conservation.
  • Represented client in divestiture of large holdings in No. Louisiana, including the negotiation of a complex purchase and sale agreement covering hundreds of wells, securing required consents to assign, negotiation of a transition services agreement and post-closing financial security, review of title and preparation of title defect notices.
  • Represented client in the acquisitions of producing OCS properties, including the negotiation of the acquisition documents and bonding in favor of the seller
  • Represented client in the appeal of the denial of a Suspension of Production resulting in the granting of a directed suspension.
  • Represented client in the proposed financing of OCS properties, including the negotiation of the credit agreement, net profits interests, mortgage and security filings, operating agreement with the operator
  • Represented Texas client in acquisition of producing properties in several parishes, examined title for client, prepared title defect notices, secured approvals from governmental agencies and private parties, negotiated the release of numerous liens and security interests filed by first and second lien creditors
  • Represented client in connection with the termination of a security agreement and negotiated the replacement of letters of credit with predecessors in title, negotiated new security agreement and the secured letters of credit in favor of private parties.
  • Represented landowners in connection with title to their properties in Louisiana.
  • Represented client in the preparation and filing of a concursus proceeding for portions of a producing unit where there were conflicting ownership claims between the state of Louisiana and private landowners.
  • Represented client in the settlement of concursus proceeding involving complex title issues for producing unit in So. Louisiana.
  • Represented client in acquisitions of several pipeline systems and related facilities in Louisiana and on the OCS, including negotiation of pipeline interconnection agreements, facilities use agreements and obtaining required consents to assign.
  • For the last several years, Cynthia has worked with the Louisiana State Mineral and Energy Board in the preparation of their new lease form for the leasing of State owned lands and water bottoms.
  • Cynthia’s years of experience allows her to quickly analyze and prioritize the issues.

  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Louisiana State Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL)
  • Houston Association of Professional Landmen (HAPL)
  • Professional Landmen's Association of New Orleans (PLANO): President (2017 -2018), Vice President (2016-2017), Board Member (2016-2019)
  • Women's Energy Network

  • Selected by Lawdragon as a 2023 Leading Energy Lawyer
  • Ranked in Chambers USA, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas, 2018 to Present
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Energy Law, Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law; listed in Best Lawyers since 2013
  • Selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2013 to Present
  • New Orleans CityBusiness Women of the Year Award, 2021
  • New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Award, 2021
  • Named a New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyer - Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
  • Rated Martindale-Hubbell® A-V Preeminent™
  • Special Award by Petroleum Landmen's Association of New Orleans, 2016

NEWS

PUBLICATIONS

PRESENTATIONS

  • 2023 Offshore Gulf of Mexico Outlook, Panelist, PLANO Executive Night & Seminar, February 2023
  • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Adjudication Section Procedures: Qualification, Assignments, and Transfers, and Designation of Operator, Presenter, The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law Federal Offshore Oil & Gas Leasing and Development Program, February 2022
  • Wading Through the OCS, Presenter, AAPL Gulf Coast Land Institute, October 2019
  • Future of the OCS Under the New Administration, Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett Annual Duck Lunch & Seminar, October 2017
  • Proposed Changes to Louisiana State Lease Form, Gordon Arata Annual Duck Lunch & Seminar, October 2016

Cynthia Nicholson’s practice is centered on oil and gas transactions with respect to lands located within the State of Louisiana as well as those located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). She regularly documents and negotiates acquisitions and divestitures of both onshore and offshore properties and has extensive experience with many types of transaction structures including mergers, asset and stock acquisitions and sales. She routinely counsels clients on a wide range of regulatory issues and has extensive experience counseling clients on issues arising under OCS regulations. Throughout her career, Cynthia has also advised clients on the drafting and interpretation of mineral leases, operating agreements, participation agreements, unitization agreements, servitude agreements and other agreements used in the oil and gas industry.

A significant portion of Cynthia's practice is also dedicated to the analysis and review of complex land and leasehold titles. She has rendered hundreds of title opinions based on her examination of complex petroleum titles, and she regularly assists clients in the financing of such onshore and offshore properties. Cynthia represents clients before the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). She has assisted clients in obtaining mineral leases and rights-of-way on the OCS and in the creation of units approved by the BSEE.

Cynthia has been ranked in the prestigious Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for several years. In 2022, Chambers noted, "Cynthia Nicholson has expertise handling onshore and Outer Continental Shelf regulatory and transactional matters." Clients have been quoted as saying, "Cynthia ensures our company’s best interests are always kept in mind and her knowledge of the regulatory environment is invaluable.” “Cynthia is an excellent title attorney who can render an opinion which is concise and to the point.” "She is great at problem-solving."

  • Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors' Rights
  • Commercial Financing and Secured Transactions
  • Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Litigation and Arbitration
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Regulatory
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Transactions
  • Oilfield Service Company Transactions and Litigation
  • Pipeline, Storage and Transmission
  • Real Estate and Commercial Leasing
  • Renewable Energy
  • Title Services
  • Energy and Natural Resources
  • Real Estate
  • NEWS

    PUBLICATIONS

    PRESENTATIONS