John K. Arnold

Partner

713.226.1383

More ways to contact John K. Arnold

Additional Languages: Spanish

John is a recognized leading gas, power, and energy infrastructure attorney in Texas. He represents energy companies in a broad range of state energy and infrastructure regulatory matters, from compliance and enforcement to project development and commercial transactions.

Speaking Engagements

Infocast Texas Clean Energy Summit
Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Well-versed in midstream oil and gas and electricity issues, John represents energy companies in matters before the Railroad Commission of Texas (the state’s principal oil and gas regulatory authority), Public Utility Commission of Texas, ERCOT, and in testimony before the Texas legislature.

John represents producers, midstream companies, and natural gas local distribution companies, as well as companies involved in carbon dioxide and hydrogen energy transition issues. In electric matters, he represents electric utilities, retail electric providers, industrial customers, and power generators. John is also a former aide to the Texas attorney general and law clerk to a justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.

Midstream and Oil and Gas

  • Represents multiple intrastate and interstate pipeline companies in the intrastate oil, gas, and NGL markets in permitting, compliance, tariff structuring, pipeline safety, and complaint matters.
  • Represents natural gas utilities and pipelines in numerous rate proceedings and regulatory policy matters.
  • Represents multiple natural gas storage facilities in permitting, compliance, and commercial matters.
  • Represents producers and transporters of carbon dioxide in carbon capture, transportation, and sequestration matters.
  • Counsels midstream companies and producers on gathering, treating, processing, storage, purchase, and transportation agreements.
  • Counsels midstream transportation and storage facilities on project development and related transactions.
  • Works with the state’s fastest-growing investor-owned utility on pipeline development and gas delivery to industrial and residential customers.
  • Conducts Texas midstream regulatory due diligence for financing and the development of numerous facilities.

Electricity

  • Represented the state’s second-largest electric utility in regulatory matters before cities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
  • Represented potential equity investors in a proposal to acquire the state’s largest electric utility out of a bankruptcy proceeding.
  • Represented a company in the process of building significant high-voltage electric transmission in Texas, and in subsequent rate matters.
  • Represented multiple retail electric providers in litigation, compliance, and enforcement matters.
  • Represent the largest exporter of LNG in electric regulatory matters associated with the acquisition of a power plant.
  • Negotiates and executes facilities extension, interconnection, and power supply agreements.
  • Chambers USA, Energy: State Regulatory and Litigation (Oil & Gas), Band 1, (2012-2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Energy Law (2022-2023), Energy Regulatory Law (2022-2026)
Overview

Well-versed in midstream oil and gas and electricity issues, John represents energy companies in matters before the Railroad Commission of Texas (the state’s principal oil and gas regulatory authority), Public Utility Commission of Texas, ERCOT, and in testimony before the Texas legislature.

John represents producers, midstream companies, and natural gas local distribution companies, as well as companies involved in carbon dioxide and hydrogen energy transition issues. In electric matters, he represents electric utilities, retail electric providers, industrial customers, and power generators. John is also a former aide to the Texas attorney general and law clerk to a justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.

Representation Matters

Midstream and Oil and Gas

  • Represents multiple intrastate and interstate pipeline companies in the intrastate oil, gas, and NGL markets in permitting, compliance, tariff structuring, pipeline safety, and complaint matters.
  • Represents natural gas utilities and pipelines in numerous rate proceedings and regulatory policy matters.
  • Represents multiple natural gas storage facilities in permitting, compliance, and commercial matters.
  • Represents producers and transporters of carbon dioxide in carbon capture, transportation, and sequestration matters.
  • Counsels midstream companies and producers on gathering, treating, processing, storage, purchase, and transportation agreements.
  • Counsels midstream transportation and storage facilities on project development and related transactions.
  • Works with the state’s fastest-growing investor-owned utility on pipeline development and gas delivery to industrial and residential customers.
  • Conducts Texas midstream regulatory due diligence for financing and the development of numerous facilities.

Electricity

  • Represented the state’s second-largest electric utility in regulatory matters before cities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
  • Represented potential equity investors in a proposal to acquire the state’s largest electric utility out of a bankruptcy proceeding.
  • Represented a company in the process of building significant high-voltage electric transmission in Texas, and in subsequent rate matters.
  • Represented multiple retail electric providers in litigation, compliance, and enforcement matters.
  • Represent the largest exporter of LNG in electric regulatory matters associated with the acquisition of a power plant.
  • Negotiates and executes facilities extension, interconnection, and power supply agreements.
Insights

Speaking Engagements

Infocast Texas Clean Energy Summit

Articles + Publications

Bills’ Defeat Means Brighter Outlook for Texas Renewables

Articles + Publications

Well, Well: Outlook for CCUS Projects in Texas Improves as EPA Proposes to Delegate Permitting Authority and the Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Pore Space Ownership

Firm News

Troutman Pepper Locke Represents Western Midstream in Expansion of Delaware Basin Produced-Water System

See all insights from John K. Arnold

Awards
  • Chambers USA, Energy: State Regulatory and Litigation (Oil & Gas), Band 1, (2012-2025)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Energy Law (2022-2023), Energy Regulatory Law (2022-2026)

Top areas of focus

  • Planning committee, IEL 8th Midstream Oil & Gas Law Conference
  • Member, Houston Bar Association Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section
  • Member, State Bar of Texas Public Utility Law Section
  • Member, Gulf Coast Power Association
  • Member, Energy Bar Association
  • Board of directors, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center
  • Past member, president’s board of visitors, Trinity University

Education

  • Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1999, Order of the Coif; articles editor, Southern Methodist University Law Review; member of The Barristers; John Kennedy Post-Graduate Scholarship
  • Trinity University, B.A., 1993, Presidential Scholarship

Bar Admissions

  • Texas

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

Clerkships

  • Hon. Craig T. Enoch, Supreme Court of Texas, 1999-2000

Languages

  • Spanish
  • Panelist, “Legislative Review Panel,” UT Law CLE 2023 Gas and Power Institute, October 27, 2023.
  • Speaker, “Weatherization of Gas-Fired Generation Resources & Gas Supply in ERCOT,” Gulf Coast Power Association Virtual Forum, March 1, 2023.
  • Speaker, “Commercial Incentives and Challenges for Renewables and the Energy Transition,” Locke Lord Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act Webinar Series, November 9, 2022.
  • Speaker, “State Regulatory and Legislative Update,” UT Law CLE 2021 Gas and Power Institute, October 14, 2021.
  • Planning Committee, UT Law CLE 2021 Gas and Power Institute, October 14, 2021.