Experienced California Oil, Gas & Real Estate Representation

What are the oil and gas dispute resolution options?

On Behalf of | May 30, 2017 | Uncategorized |

If you are involved in a dispute within the oil and gas industry in California, it is helpful to understand what options you have to resolve the issues. Generally, you will be looking at one of three binding dispute resolution methods, which according to Oil & Gas Financial Journal are arbitration, expert determination and litigation.

Arbitration is a popular dispute resolution option. It involves you and the other party presenting your cases to a neutral third party. This third party is often someone who is an expert in the field. This method is usually quicker than other options. It is also reasonable when it comes to costs.

Expert determination is similar to arbitration in that it uses an expert in the field to settle the issue at hand. However, this method is usually only used for financial and technical disputes. This is the fastest and cheapest method of resolution. The downside is that the legal aspects are not considered and the expert is on his or her own to make determinations based on his or her own opinions and findings.

Litigation is another option. Basically, this means going to court. You both present your case, and the judge or jury makes a decision. This is the costliest option and does not offer much confidentiality. It is usually best to avoid litigation if possible.

Each of these methods has its owns advantages and disadvantages. You should always weigh your options carefully to choose the method that would work best for your particular situation.