John Y. Pearce

Member

201 St. Charles Avenue
40th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70170-4000

Main: 504.582.1111

Direct: 504.585.7674

John Pearce is engaged in general civil practice concentrating in energy (oil and gas) and environmental law for a variety of clients both corporate (international, national, regional and local) and individual. With extensive experience in civil litigation and corporate, partnership, environmental, banking, and contract law, including interpretation, negotiation and preparation of a wide variety of contracts, John has handled or participated in a broad range of matters including litigation before both state and federal courts, regulatory and administrative agencies, as well as matters resolved through ADR. He also has extensive real estate experience primarily involving abstract title examination for both major and independent oil companies and rendition of title opinions on numerous oil and gas properties.

A New Orleans native, John clerked at the Louisiana State Mineral Board from 1973-76. In 1998, he served as President of the New Orleans Bar Association (NOBA) and in 2008, received NOBA’s Arceneaux Professionalism Award in recognition of his professionalism and dedication in practicing law with integrity, honor and civility.

Practice Areas

Appellate
Environmental & Toxic Torts
Government Regulatory & Corporate Compliance
Healthcare
Oil, Gas & Energy Litigation
Oil, Gas and Energy Litigation and Arbitration
Oil, Gas and Energy Regulatory
Oil, Gas and Energy Transactions

Admissions

5th Circuit
Eastern District of LA
Federal Claims
Louisiana
Middle District of LA
U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court
U.S. Supreme Court
United States Court
Western District of LA

Education

LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D. 1976
LSU, B.A. 1973

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America® for Energy Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law (listed in publication since 2007)
Named the 2015, 2017 and 2024 New Orleans Lawyer of the Year for Natural Resources Law, The Best Lawyers in America®
Named the 2014 New Orleans Lawyer of the Year for Oil and Gas Law, The Best Lawyers in America®; received the same award in 2015
Selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2007 to Present
Recipient of the New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Award, 2014
New Orleans Magazine “Top Lawyers” – Oil and Gas Law, 2014 – 2015; Mining Law, 2017; Natural Resources Law, 2018 & 2024; Energy & Natural Resources Law, 2024
Rated Martindale-Hubbell® A-V Preeminent™

Affiliations

New Orleans Bar Association (Member of Executive Committee, 1984-1986; 1993-1999; President 1998)
New Orleans Bar Association Arceneaux Professionalism Award, 2008
Louisiana State Bar Association (Member of Council of Mineral Law Section, 1988-1992; Chairman, 1993-1994; House of Delegates, 1999-2001)
American Bar Association (Member, House of Delegates, 1998-2002)
President, New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation, 1999-2002; Board Member, 1990-2002
First President, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, 2002-2004
Prior Member of the Board of the New Orleans Pro Bono Project
New Orleans Children’s Hospital:
- Board Member Emeritus, 2018 to Present
- Board Member over forty years
- Executive Committee Member, 2000-2005
- President of Board, 2002-2004
Primerus
- Chair, Primerus Energy and Environmental Practice Group, 2017-2023
- Co-Chair, Primerus Energy and Environmental Practice Group, inception-2017
- Chair, Primerus Community Service Board, 2018-2021
- Chair, Primerus Business Law Institute, 2013-2014