Jason Marechal Cerise

Jason focuses on commercial litigation and bankruptcy, primarily serving large and small energy clients, but his practice spans various industries. With extensive experience in first- and second-chair trial roles in state and federal courts, he is well-versed in handling complex litigation and bankruptcy matters. Jason frequently appears in bankruptcy courts and represents clients in mediations, arbitrations, and regulatory proceedings.

Jason’s energy sector experience includes resolving disputes related to exploration and production, such as operating agreement and accounting disputes, balancing disputes, and defending against “legacy” oilfield litigation. He also addresses decommissioning and financial security issues, along with other regulatory and compliance matters. Jason’s representative work includes actions to collect JIBs, enforce working interest owners’ obligations, and defend against claims from significant incidents, such as the 2012 sinkhole in Assumption Parish, LA.

In addition to energy litigation, Jason handles complex Chapter 11 reorganizations, Chapter 7 liquidations, and associated adversary proceedings. He represents debtors, official committees, secured and unsecured creditors, and other constituents. Jason’s practice also includes defending and prosecuting collection matters, commercial contract disputes, construction defect claims, and various tort claims.

Energy Litigation

• Represented the operator in an action to collect JIBs and enforce working interest owners’ obligations for response costs following a major blowout and resulting oil spill.
• Defended an exploration and production company against claims brought in numerous state and federal lawsuits arising from the 2012 sinkhole in Assumption Parish, LA.
• Assisted a client with the establishment of trust and negotiation of trust terms with BSEE and BOEM.
• Assisted a client in the coordination of efforts with MMS to ensure the performance of a significant and complex P&A and decommissioning after the sale of successor-in-interest to offshore lease.
• Represented multiple energy clients in connection with the enforcement of preferential rights and executory contract rights in bankruptcy proceedings.
• Represented multiple clients in energy bankruptcies to enhance claims recovery, ensure debtor or successor’s performance of decommissioning obligations, and protect client’s contract rights.
• Defended predecessor-in-title to offshore lease in action brought by the operator for P&A costs and decommissioning expenses.
• Defended a contribution and indemnity action brought against a publicly traded parent of a dissolved exploration company after a settlement between the plaintiff and co-defendant.
• Assisted private equity clients with structuring an investment in offshore GOM assets and negotiation of upstream/midstream agreements with a contract operator and interest owners.
• Resolution of balancing disputes and joint account audits.
• Defended legacy oilfield contamination claims and other environmental damage claims.

Bankruptcy

• Represented debtors, official committees, secured and unsecured creditors, landlords, utilities, governmental entities, and other constituents in complex Chapter 11 reorganizations and Chapter 7 liquidations and associated adversary proceedings.
• Represented a DIP lender in connection with a debtor-in-possession loan facility for an exploration and production debtor.
• Employed as special litigation counsel for a Chapter 11 debtor to defend against complex environmental tort claims.

Commercial Litigation

• Represents clients in the prosecution and defense of collection matters and commercial contract disputes.
• Advises clients in connection with major EPC contracts and indemnity issues arising under Louisiana law.
• Defends and prosecuted construction defect claims, redhibition claims , and other warranty actions.
• Litigated various disputes among owners in closely held businesses.
• Handled voluntary and involuntary corporate dissolution proceedings instituted under Louisiana law.
• Handled foreclosure under the executory and ordinary process and other enforcement of security rights.
• Litigated multiple tort claims, including negligence, fraud, alter ego, single business enterprise, and strict liability.
• Structured and enforced noncompete/nonsolicitation agreements under Louisiana law.

• The Best Lawyers in America®: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2024-2026)
• Chambers USA: Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2024-2025)