Jolisa Melton Dobbs
Partner

Overview
Jolisa Dobbs is an experienced oil and gas attorney in Holland & Knight's Dallas office. She serves on the leadership team for the firm's Energy & Natural Resources Industry Sector Group as well as a member of the Energy Transition Team. Ms. Dobbs concentrates on acquisition and disposition transactions throughout all oil and gas plays and land rights issues in relation to surface uses by energy companies and midstream development. Ms. Dobbs' background as an internal auditor for a major oil and gas company and as a certified public accountant (inactive) gives her an edge in assessing, understanding and allocating various risks associated with transactions, as well as joint development and complex projects for energy properties.
In addition, Ms. Dobbs counsels clients in oil and gas secured lending, joint venture and development arrangements, and the acquisition and disposition of natural resources companies. Ms. Dobbs also has experience in oil and gas title due diligence in acquisitions of properties, and she regularly advises clients regarding exploration and production activities, including preparation of agreements, Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies (COPAS) issues and leasing issues.
Ms. Dobbs frequently lectures at conferences and seminars and publishes articles in prestigious industry journals on oil and gas-related topics. She also is a prolific contributor to numerous leading oil and gas legal and accounting organizations through the various board and trustee positions in which she has served.
During law school, Mrs. Dobbs received the prestigious Joe Rudd Scholarship from the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (now known as The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law) in part due to her clear commitment to the hydrocarbon industry. She later joined, and then led, the foundation's scholarship committee and has held various roles within the organization over the years.
Representative Experience
Credentials
- University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., with honors
- University of Oklahoma, M.Acc.
- University of Oklahoma, B.Acc., summa cum laude
- Texas
- The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (formerly Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation), President, 2023-2024; Vice President, 2022-2023; Treasurer, 2015-2017; Trustee, 2006-2010; Executive Committee, 2008-2010
- American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER), Oil and Gas Committee, Chairman, 2009-2011
- Dallas Bar Association, Energy Section, Chairman, 2007
- State Bar of Texas, Oil and Gas and Energy Resources Law Section, Council Member, 2005-2008; Quarterly Section Report, Editor, 2007-2008
- Law360 Energy Editorial Advisory Board, 2016
- University of Oklahoma School of Accounting, Board of Advisors
- Leading Energy Lawyers, Lawdragon 500, 2024, 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law, 2016-2025
- Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, Energy and Natural Resources, 2017-2024
- Top Women in Energy Law, Texas Lawyer, 2016
- The Legal 500 USA, Energy: Transactions, 2015
- Who's Who in Energy, Dallas Business Journal, 2015
- Texas Super Lawyers magazine, Energy and Natural Resources, 2013-2014, 2019-2022
- Who's Who Legal guide, Energy, 2014-2019
- Phoenix Award, American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER), Oil and Gas Committee, 2010