In 1972, Mr. Brantley obtained his Jurist Doctorate degree from Louisiana State University Law School. He established his law practice in Baton Rouge in 1972 as a partner in the firm of Covert and Brantley. Mr. Brantley's primary emphasis in his legal practice has related to business matters with concentration in oil and gas, investments, and gaming regulation. Representative clients over his career include or have included: Pecos Western Corporation, Houston, Texas; Reagent Chemical and Research, Inc., Houston, Texas; H. & R. Block; United Transport Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Amoco Production Company; Chevron U.S.A., Michael T. Halbouty Energy Company, Dell, Inc. (NasdaqNM: DELL), Carnival Hotels and Casinos, Inc., Louisiana Casino Cruises, Inc., Argosy Casino Baton Rouge, Argosy Gaming Company (NYSE: AGY), Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD), Penn National Gaming (NasdaqGS:PENN) Incredible Technologies, Certegy (NYSE: CEY), Ceridian (NYSE: CEN), St. Charles Gaming Corporation, Legends Gaming, LLC, Peninsula Gaming, LLC, Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, LLC, National Card Club Corporation. In addition to the foregoing Mr. Brantley was directly involved with the acquisition of the Isle of Capri Casino and Hotels in Bossier City, Louisiana by Legends Gaming, L.L.C., and Isle of Capri Casino, Vicksburg, MS. The transaction closed 7/31/2006 for $240,000,000. Mr. Brantley handled all Legend's Louisiana Regulatory matters and was charged with insuring regulatory approval of the transaction by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board on July 18, 2006.
Gaming transaction involvement for initial financing and restructuring of clients since 1994 has aggregated over two billion dollars. As part of his regulatory involvement, Mr. Brantley has obtained and maintained certain due diligence security clearances to review and evaluate individuals and companies for gaming suitability purposes. Most recently Mr. Brantley handled regulatory compliance oversight for Peninsula Gaming in connection with its $530,000,000 debt offering underwritten by Jefferies & Co., Wells Fargo Securities and Credit Suisse, a portion of which is to be used to acquire another gaming property in Louisiana which Mr. Brantley will also represent.
Mr. Brantley is an "AV" rated attorney, has testified as an expert on oil and gas operational and legal issues, has presided as a Judge Ad Hoc in the Baton Rouge City Court and is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Louisiana as well as the United States Supreme Court. He has qualified as an expert to give testimony on the structure of complex oil and gas transactions.
On the administrative side Mr. Brantley handles matters before the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, The Louisiana State Police Gaming Division, The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources including the Department of Conservation, The Louisiana Mineral Board, The Louisiana Public Service Commission and the Louisiana State Bar Association Office of Disciplinary Counsel, The Baton Rouge Planning and Zoning Commission, The Baton Rouge City Council and numerous boards, commissions, agencies, and committees including those of Louisiana state and local governing bodies.
While engaged in full time practice, Mr. Brantley obtained extensive criminal and civil trial experience on both Federal and State levels. In addition to the litigation experience, numerous business clients were represented in all phases of commercial negotiations. He is a member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana and American Bar Associations, The Louisiana Association for Justice, The International Association of Gaming Advisors, and admitted to practiced before or admitted to multiple state and federal courts, including the Untied States Supreme Court. He is past member of both the Louisiana and American Association of Petroleum Landmen, and the American Trial Lawyers Association, which is now the American Association for Justice.