James Parrot

Shareholder

Regulatory, Transactional & Corporate

parrot james

James Parrot chairs Beatty & Wozniak’s Corporate and Transactional Practice Group, and leverages over twenty years of experience to advise clients on transactional, corporate, and regulatory matters. He strives for business-oriented solutions that maximize operators’ abilities to complete projects and close deals. James handles financing, credit facilities, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial agreements and contracts, and a wide variety of corporate matters. His experience also extends to energy development in Indian Country, where he has represented Tribal interests in large-scale infrastructure and resource projects.

James advises energy operators on matters involving regulatory compliance, permitting, and administrative hearings before state and federal agencies. He has established a reputation for creating business solutions to complex regulatory problems in the Permian, Delaware, and other major basins. He has played a key role in shaping policy on air quality, environmental protection, and waste prevention. He is a trusted partner for both industry trade groups and independent producers alike.

“I love working for my clients,” says James. “I’m honored to be a part of the work they’re doing — producing safe, reliable, and affordable energy. They’re the bedrock of our community and our economy.”

James began his career as a landman, providing him valuable insights into obtaining leases, negotiating and drafting joint operating agreements, and performing due diligence for acquisitions, divestitures, and oil and gas financing. He is a frequent speaker and writer on legal and policy topics impacting the energy industry and is deeply involved in several professional and trade organizations.

When he’s not advising clients or testifying in regulatory hearings, James can be found fly fishing, skiing, or cheering on his kids at weekend sporting events across the Rocky Mountain West.

Education

University of Denver College of Law, Denver, Colorado

  • J.D. – 2004
  • Honors: Chancellor’s Scholar

University of Notre Dame

  • B.S. – 1999
  • Honors: Cum Laude

Bar Admissions

  • Wyoming
  • Montana
  • North Dakota
  • New Mexico
  • Colorado

Professional Associations

  • Permian Basin Landman Association
  • Denver Association of Professional Landmen
    • Former Chair, Education Committee
    • Former Chair, Ethics Committee
  • Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
  • New Mexico Oil and Gas Association
  • Petroleum Association of Wyoming

Representative Experience

  • Negotiated and closed purchase and sale agreements, private equity and bank financing, joint ventures, acquisitions, and divestitures.
  • Established entities and governing structures; led corporate restructuring and managed governance for energy companies, including insurance, bonding, reporting, and compliance.
  • Negotiated, drafted, and closed midstream transactions, including right-of-way acquisitions, master service agreements, gas purchase contracts, and asset acquisitions.
  • Handled upstream commercial agreements such as unitization, farm-outs, participation, joint operating agreements (JOAs), and leases across federal, state, and fee lands.
  • Represented renewable energy clients on CCUS, hydrogen, and helium projects, including 45Q tax credits, leasing, storage, and power supply.
  • Analyzed and rendered due authorization and enforceability opinions for financing agreements, restructurings, and mortgage amendments.
  • Provided federal and state regulatory compliance advice to upstream and midstream companies, including UIC and measurement.
  • Represented operators and trade groups in state and local rulemakings and administrative hearings affecting oil and gas operations.
  • Successfully negotiated enhanced recovery units and obtained numerous spacing, pooling, and density orders from state commissions.
  • Served as energy counsel for the Wind River Tribes in Wyoming.
  • Represented and advised clients in New Mexico OCD applications and hearings, including spacing, pooling, and commingling.
  • Advised on New Mexico SLO regulations and procedures, lease cancellation and extension matters, and waste prevention compliance.
  • Represented the Colorado Oil and Gas Association in air-quality rulemakings involving multi-disciplinary teams from over 20 member companies.
  • Represented a coalition of clients in Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission rulemaking on complex land and operational issues.
  • Represented E&P and midstream companies in water disposal hearings in Wyoming, Colorado, and North Dakota.
  • Obtained favorable outcomes in dozens of contested adjudicatory hearings across NM, WY, ND, MT, and CO — often leading multi-disciplinary legal and technical teams.

Published Works

  • Oil and Gas Purchase and Sale Agreements, presentation at the National Association of Land and Title Analysts Conference, August 2025
  • New Mexico Legislative and Regulatory Update, presentation at AAPL 2021 Santa Fe Land Institute and Field Landman Seminar, July 2021
  • Multistate Update on Produced Water, Foundation for Natural Resources Energy Law – Natural Resources Law Network, April 2021
  • Pooling for Landmen in the Rockies and Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Annual Institute, 11-66 Rocky Mt. Min. L. Inst., 2020
  • The Martinez Decision, Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen Fall Land Institute, November, 2018
  • Operator v. Operator—Determining Rights to Operate in Horizontal Plays, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Annual Institute, 2018-64 Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 29, 2018
  • Wyoming Board of State Lands Adopts New Lease Form, Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen Newsletter, December, 2012
  • Securitized Financing: Cheap Money, Colorado Real Estate Journal, January 2007
  • Multiple Articles in the Beatty & Wozniak, P.C. Energy News Alert

Classes & Seminars

  • New Mexico Legislative and Regulatory Update, presentation to the American Association of Professional Landmen, Santa Fe Land Institute and Field Landman Seminar, July, 2021
  • Cover Your Assets: Evaluating Assets and Raising Capital in a Volatile Market, Co-presenter with Jeff Becker at Colorado Bar Association’s Seminar on Oil, Gas, and Mining Law: Current Legal Issues, September 15, 2016
  • Rocky Mountain 2015-2016 Regulatory Update, Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen Summer Educational Event, June 16, 2016
  • The COGCC’s New Enforcement and Penalty Rules, EUCI Webinar, April 1, 2015
  • Send Lawyers, Guns and Money: the COGCC’s New $15,000 Fines, Live Presentation for COBAR Natural Resources & Energy Section, January 13, 2015
  • Allocating Horizontal Wellbore Proceeds, Live Presentation for the Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen, January 15, 2014
  • Landmen are from Mars, NDIC Regulators are from Venus: Navigating North Dakota’s Pooling and Spacing Waters, Live Presentation for the Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen, January 16, 2013