Articles
5 Strategies for Venue Selection in Energy Disputes
1. Understand the Stakes In energy contracts, venue selection clauses — language specifying how and where disputes will be heard …
May 18, 2026
May 18, 2026 • 2-minute read
Stephanie L. Noble
Partner
Commercial & Business Litigation
Overview
Recognized in Litigation: General Commercial (Houston)
Chambers USA, 2026
Stephanie maintains a national trial practice, regularly trying cases to juries and courts across the country. Her clients span numerous industries, and Stephanie has developed specialized experience in the energy, power, and construction sectors. In just the last five years, Stephanie’s trial work has resulted in a take-nothing jury verdict for her client defending $100+ million claims in a joint-operating-agreement dispute, a $280 million judgment for her client in a dispute over construction of a water treatment facility, a $96 million jury verdict in a breach of contact action regarding natural gas supply, and multiple arbitration awards for the full amount of damages requested. Stephanie also regularly advises companies with respect to disputes in the upstream and midstream energy sectors, including claims regarding royalty payment practices, supply contracts and natural gas pricing issues, and transportation rights. Stephanie is actively involved in the Firm’s pro bono practice, through which she has represented individuals in asylum and family-law proceedings and advised local non-profits on various litigation and regulatory matters.
(CA Dist. – Kern Cnty) – Following a more than 2 month trial, obtained a take-nothing jury verdict for oil and gas operator against $100 million failure-to-develop and fraud claims brought by non-operating working interest owners under a joint operating agreement
(Colo. Dist. – Denver Cnty.) After a three-week trial to the court, secured a $280 million judgment in favor of Antero Treatment while defeating a $118 million counterclaim; the Court found that the defendant fraudulently induced Antero into signing an agreement for the design, construction and operation of a facility for the treatment of produced and flowback water; the Court also found that Antero properly terminated the agreement after the defendant defaulted by failing to construct the facility according to the requirements of the contract
(Colo. Dist. – Denver Cnty.) — Assisted in obtaining a nearly $96 million (net) jury verdict on behalf of oil-and-gas producer against two purchasers of natural gas for breaching long-term contracts to purchase gas; the jury also rejected the purchasers’ force majeure defense and breach of contract claims against our client for approximately $35 million
(AAA Arbitration) – Defending oilfield services company against shareholder claims in connection with an initial public offering
(TX Business Court) – Defending upstream oil and gas company against claims regarding a gas gathering agreement
(S.D. Ohio) – Defended producer in a lawsuit involving breach of contract claims related to a purchase and sale agreement; successfully reduced the scope of the claims through a motion on the pleadings, limiting maximum damages available by over $100 million; resulted in favorable settlement in advance of trial
Represented upstream oil-and-gas company in an appeal of multi-million dollar civil penalty concerning federal royalty payments before an administrative law judge; achieved complete dismissal of civil penalty
(Tex. Dist. – Ward County) – Defended energy company in lawsuit against former working interest holder in Texas state court; obtained favorable motion for summary judgment resulting in a dismissal of majority of claims
(AAA Arbitration) — Represented international construction contractor against a turbine supplier for fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract related to equipment and services for a major power plant project; obtained award for all damages sought
Credentials
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. cum laude, 2013
- The University of Texas, B.A., Government, 2009
Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- Colorado
Recognitions
- Law360, “Rising Star in Energy Law,” 2025
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial (Houston), 2026; “Up and Coming” in Litigation: General Commercial (Houston), 2024 and 2025
- Legal 500 U.S., Energy Litigation: Oil & Gas, 2022–2026; Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2023 and 2025
- Selected to the 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon, 2026
- Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2022 and 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Ones to Watch,” Commercial Litigation (Houston), 2021–2024
- Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2025
Insights
CLE Events
Venue Selection for Energy Disputes
On Tuesday, March 17, Jim Thompson, Nick Shum, Stephanie Noble, and Matt Hoffman will lead a CLE program focused on venue selection considerations in energy sector contracts.
March 17, 2026
March 17, 2026 • 1-minute read
Client Alerts
Brine Time: Texas’ Latest in Lithium Law
Lithium continues to be a rising star of the natural resources world, and Texas is working to stay on top of the legal issues related to the extraction of lithium from produced water and brine.
April 1, 2025
April 1, 2025 • 5-minute read
Client Alerts
Balancing Act: Lithium Extraction and a New Era of Legal Issues
As the world moves toward cleaner energy, lithium has become crucial, powering electric vehicles and renewable-energy storage systems. With lithium demand set to increase more than 40-fold by 2040, the race to extract this critical mineral has intensified, especially in the United States.
November 26, 2024 • This article was originally published by Mining Magazine on Nov. 26, 2024
November 26, 2024 • 4-minute read
Client Alerts
Take Nothing: Delivering a Courtroom Masterclass
Two months in court, 1,700 miles from home, $100 million at stake. In this edition of V&E+, Vinson & Elkins partners Jim Thompson, Nick Shum, and Stephanie Noble share their story of a marathon trial — and how they emerged victorious.
February 21, 2024 • V&E+ Ventures
February 21, 2024 • 6-minute read
