Jeffrey Trotter
Jeff Trotter is a Partner and Practice Group Leader for the Special Business Services Practice Group, where he co-leads the firm’s Energy and Environmental, Health Care, Governmental Relations, Intellectual Property, Entertainment, and Labor and Employment teams. Jeff has served as Team Leader of the Energy and Environmental Team and chair of the firm’s Technology Committee. He currently serves on the Claims Counsel and Ethics Committees.
Jeff maintains a diverse litigation practice representing a broad range of corporate and individual clients. His cases have spanned various fields including oil and gas, energy and environmental, banking, eminent domain, religion, commercial contracts, education, labor and employment, general premises liability, personal injury and wrongful death.
Jeff has expanded the firm’s oil, gas and energy practice and regularly advises clients on all aspects of exploration and production as well as natural gas storage, including acquisition and financing, permitting, contracts, title disputes, title examinations and division order title opinions. Jeff is experienced in exploration and seismic ventures, acquisition and divestiture of producing and non-producing oil and gas properties, development and implementation of gas storage facilities, and energy project financing.
His other significant contributions include:
- Mississippi counsel for the acquisition of a state-of-the-art salt dome cavern natural gas storage facility in Smith County, Mississippi, consisting of two commercially operational caverns with a third cavern under development.
- Mississippi counsel for development and implementation of natural gas storage facility in Monroe County, Mississippi, handling all state regulatory, environmental, financing, and contractual aspects as well as landowner contracts, rights of way, and eminent domain litigation related to the project.
- Litigating and successfully obtaining first condemnation confirmation and injunctive relief order from a state court of eminent domain against multiple property owners allowing a natural gas storage company to inject and store natural gas before the statutorily mandated fair value compensation hearing.
- Successfully obtaining dismissal of claims against Mississippi High School Activities Association alleging violation of due process rights arising under Individual with Disabilities Education Act. Newsome v. MHSAA et al, 2008 WL 2686579 (N.D.Miss.); aff’d 2009 WL 1706488 (C.A.5 (Miss.)).
- Successfully obtaining dismissal of claims against AmSouth Bank asserted by multiple contractors/subcontractors in construction payment dispute. United Plumbing & Heating et al v. AmSouth Bank, 2009 WL 2152326, Miss.App., July 21, 2009.
- Serving as lead Mississippi trial counsel in successful defense of hundreds of oilfield asbestos exposure lawsuits.
- Successfully resolving claims of clergy misconduct against religious institutions.
Jeff is listed in Best Lawyers® - Energy Law, Environmental Law and Oil & Gas Law, Chambers USA - Energy and Natural Resources, and Mid-South Super Lawyers® - Energy and Natural Resources, Class Action/Mass Torts. He is a member and former President of the Mississippi Oil and Gas Lawyers Association, member of the Mississippi Association of Petroleum Landmen and an adjunct professor of Oil and Gas Law at Mississippi College School of Law.
Jeff is a baseball fan and admires Yogi Berra, for not only being the greatest World Series player, but also the most quotable! He enjoys traveling, Blues music and spending time doing home renovations.
- Mid-South Super Lawyers® - Energy and Natural Resources, Class Action/Mass Torts
- Leadership Greater Jackson, Class of 2005-2006
- Chambers USA - Energy and Natural Resources
Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157