LSU Law Professor Emeritus Patrick Martin
LSU Law Professor Emeritus Patrick Martin and Class of 1977 alumnus Rick Plaeger are among just eight energy law professionals from across the country to be inducted into the inaugural class of Institute for Energy Law (IEL) Legends.
Recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on mineral law, Martin joined the LSU Law faculty in 1977 and taught primarily in the areas of mineral law, contracts, and jurisprudence until his retirement in 2011. He also served as director of the Louisiana Mineral Law Institute, and published many casebooks, treatises, on articles on issues relating to energy law and regulation.
“Professor Patrick Martin is one of the most influential scholars in modern oil and gas law and a central figure in the history of the IEL and its predecessor organizations,” the IEL said, noting he has been “deeply involved” in the organization for decades and has served in a wide range of leadership roles, including as Chair of the Advisory Board from 1998 to 2001. “His term as Chair set up some of the most significant changes for IEL in the early 2000s, including moving the annual conference from its fifty plus year home in Dallas.”
Plaeger had a more than 30-year career as a senior executive at three publicly traded Fortune 500 oil and gas companies in the Houston area prior to his retirement about 10 years ago. He also previously served as a federal court law clerk and a partner in a New Orleans-based commercial law firm.
“Frederick J. ‘Rick’ Plaeger II is a distinguished energy executive and attorney whose leadership helped shape modern evolution of the IEL during a critical period of growth and expansion,” the IEL said, adding that his term as Chair of the Advisory Board from 2005 to 2008 coincided with the launch of a new era of strategic planning that significantly expanded membership. “Under his leadership, IEL introduced innovating programming in power and alternative energy, developed new programming for oilfield service professionals, for young professionals, and international energy attorneys.”
Martin and Plaeger were inducted as IEL Legends during a special event at the 77th Annual Energy Law Conference in Houston on Friday, Feb. 27. Others selected for inclusion in the inaugural class of IEL Legends include Janice Hartrick, Sheila Slocum Hollis, Professor Bruce Kramer, Hon. Joseph Morris (deceased), Laura Robertson, and Robert G. Storey (deceased).
LSU Law Alumnus Rick Plaeger (’77)
Founded in 1959, the IEL is a division of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), a Dallas-based nonprofit launched in 1947 that is dedicated to advancing justice and promoting the rule of law trough professional development opportunities.
Now in its 77th year, the Energy Law Conference is the IEL’s largest annual event. As the world’s longest running energy law conference, it annually brings
together legal leaders and other professionals in the energy industry for two days of educational programming covering the oil, gas, and renewables sectors of the energy industry. Attended by in-house leaders, experienced energy attorneys in private practice, government attorneys, landmen, non-legal energy professionals, and young energy professionals, the conference provides excellent opportunities for social and professional networking with distinguished and diverse attendees.
LSU Law Professor Keith Hall served on an ad hoc task force of the IEL that endorsed a proposal for the new recognition program. He attending the conference along with five LSU Law students.
“Rick and Pat are both very deserving of this recognition. They are both giants in the energy law field,” said Hall, who serves as director of the John P. Laborde Energy Law Center at LSU Law.
