Overview
John Cooney is an experienced practitioner in the areas of natural resources law, antitrust law, class action defense, eminent domain and other areas of complex commercial litigation and arbitration. John has more than forty years experience, and has served as lead counsel in a wide variety of matters including natural gas contract disputes, mineral title disputes, royalty disputes, class actions, taxation of natural resources, and antitrust cases. He has represented clients including small independent oil and gas producers, and large international corporations, and has presented oral arguments in the United States Supreme Court. John is certified as a specialist in Natural Resources Law - Oil and Gas.
John is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and served as President of the State Bar of New Mexico. He was named "Lawyer of the Year in Bet-the-Company Litigation" in Albuquerque in 2012 by Best Lawyers of America®, and "Best of the Bar in Energy and Natural Resources Law 2009" by New Mexico Business Weekly. In addition, he is listed in Best Lawyers in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil & Gas Law; in Chambers USA Directories of America's Lawyers for Business in "Band 1" for Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries; and in Southwest Super Lawyers® (2011) as among the "Top 25 Lawyers in New Mexico." Chambers USA recognized John for "his depth of knowledge combined with his practice methods, which makes him terribly effective."
John was admitted to law school as a junior in college and received dual degrees in 1965. He served as President and Chair of the Executive Committee of Modrall Sperling from 1993-2000. He is a member of the Firm's Natural Resources & Environment Practice Group.
Education
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University of New Mexico School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude, 1965, Order of the Coif
- University of New Mexico, B.A. in Economics, 1965
Bar Admissions
- New Mexico
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Practice Areas
Experience
John has been lead counsel in many commercial litigation and arbitration matters, including:
- Represented Santa Fe Industries and related companies defending against claims of federal and state antitrust violations and fraud, settled after summary jury trial in 1990 after eleven years of litigation in federal courts in New Mexico and Texas. Texas Utilities Company, et al. v. Santa Fe Industries, Inc., et al.
- Represented Conoco Inc., Chevron USA Inc., and other oil companies defending title claim to 70-year old oil producing property, obtained summary judgment for defendants, affirmed. See Fred R. Skaggs, et al. v. Conoco Inc., et al., 125 N.M. 97, 1998-NMCA-061.
- Represented national associations, local suppliers and contractors challenging City of Albuquerque's "Green Building Code" based on claims of federal preemption, case pending. See The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, et al. v. City of Albuquerque, No. CIV-08-633, United States District Court, District of New Mexico.
- Represented natural gas producers in natural gas contract arbitration, Conoco Inc. and Amoco Production Co. v. Sunterra Gas Gathering Company, et al., U.S.D.C. N.M. CIV 90-214.
- Represented condemnor in eminent domain case, Colfax County District Court, New Mexico, two week jury trial in January, 1996, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. v. King et al.
- Represented Amoco Production Company and other companies in case involving power of Tribes to tax natural resources production; argued in United States Supreme Court, Merrion v. Jicarilla Tribe, 455 U.S. 130.
- Represented Amoco Production Co. in putative class action alleging underpayment of royalties, obtained summary judgment for Defendants, appeal dismissed. See San Juan 1990-A et al. v. Amoco Production Co., 2002-NMCA-041, 132 N.M. 73, 43 P.2d 1083.
- Represented Amoco Production Company in class action alleging underpayment of royalties, 3 week trial in 2002, settled after trial. See Parry et al. v. Amoco Production Co., State of Colorado, County of La Plata, District Court No. 94 CV 105.
- John has acted as an arbitrator in commercial arbitration matters.