Bennett Steven Lanza is a Juris Doctor candidate at Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, with a strong academic and professional focus on energy, oil and gas, and natural resources law. His interest in the field is rooted in a long-standing appreciation for the role that Louisiana’s natural resources have played in shaping the state’s economy, culture, and way of life along the Gulf Coast.

At LSU Law, Bennett has intentionally structured his coursework and experiential learning around energy law and related regulatory and transactional issues. He has completed coursework in international petroleum transactions, gaining exposure to upstream oil and gas agreements such as concessions, production sharing agreements, joint operating agreements, and other key industry structures. He plans to continue this focus through additional coursework in mineral rights, energy law and regulation, and natural resources law.

His professional experience reflects a growing depth of engagement in the energy sector. He worked as a summer associate at Liskow & Lewis, where he assisted in defending energy companies in complex legacy litigation involving historical oil and gas operations and land remediation claims. He is currently serving as an extern with the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy, where he works with the state agency responsible for regulating oil and gas exploration and production, well plugging and abandonment, and carbon capture and storage operations.

Bennett will continue building his energy law experience this summer at Latham & Watkins in Houston, where he will work on mergers and acquisitions, project finance, and capital markets matters for major energy clients. He intends to return to Houston after graduation to practice energy transactional law. Through his academic preparation and hands-on experience, he has developed a strong understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern the energy industry and is committed to contributing to the responsible development of natural resources.