Attached files
file | filename |
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8-K - FORM 8-K - BRIGHAM EXPLORATION CO | d69762e8vk.htm |
EX-1.1 - EX-1.1 - BRIGHAM EXPLORATION CO | d69762exv1w1.htm |
Exhibit 5.1
[Thompson & Knight LLP Letterhead]
October 26, 2009
Brigham Exploration Company
6300 Bridge Point Parkway
Building Two, Suite 500
Austin, Texas 78730
6300 Bridge Point Parkway
Building Two, Suite 500
Austin, Texas 78730
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Brigham Exploration Company, a Delaware corporation (the
Company), in connection with the preparation and filing of (i) the registration statement on Form
S-3 (File No. 333-161455) (the Registration Statement) which was initially filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, on August 20,
2009 and subsequently amended by filings with the Commission on September 16, 2009 and September
30, 2009 and (ii) the prospectus supplement dated October 21, 2009 (the Prospectus Supplement)
and filed with the Commission on October 22, 2009, under Rule 424(b)(5) as promulgated under the
Securities Act, relating to the sale by the Company of 16,000,000 shares of the Companys common
stock, par value $0.01 per share (Common Stock), to be sold in an underwritten public offering
pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement dated October 21, 2009 (the Underwriting
Agreement) by and among the Company and the underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement, and
relating to the sale by the Company of an additional 2,400,000 shares of Common Stock, which may be
sold upon exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Common
Stock granted by the Company in the Underwriting Agreement. For the purposes hereof, the term
Securities shall refer to the shares of Common Stock that may be sold under the Underwriting
Agreement, including shares sold pursuant to any exercise of the underwriters of their option to
purchase additional shares.
In connection with the opinion expressed herein, we have examined the originals or copies,
certified or otherwise authenticated to our satisfaction, of the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus Supplement, the Underwriting Agreement and such corporate records of the Company,
certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company, and other agreements, instruments
and documents as we have deemed necessary to require as a basis for the opinion hereinafter
expressed. We have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is
true, complete and correct, (ii) all signatures on all documents reviewed by us are genuine, (iii)
all documents submitted to us as originals are true and complete, (iv) all documents submitted to
us as copies are true and complete copies of the originals thereof, (v) each natural person signing
any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so, and (vi) each natural person signing
any document reviewed by us in a representative capacity had authority to sign in such capacity.
Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions and
qualifications hereinafter specified, it is our opinion that the Securities have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when sold as described
in the Prospectus Supplement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have assumed that no action heretofore taken by
the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with the matters described or referred to
herein has been modified, rescinded or withdrawn after the date hereof.
We express no opinion as to any matter other than as expressly set forth above, and no
opinion, other than the opinion given herein, may be inferred or implied herefrom. We undertake no,
and hereby disclaim any, obligation to advise the Company or anyone else of any change in any
matter set forth herein.
We hereby consent to the reference to this firm in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption
Legal Matters as the attorneys who will pass upon the legal validity of the Securities and to the
filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The foregoing, however,
shall not constitute an admission to our being experts as provided for in Sections 7 and 11 of the
Securities Act.
/s/ Thompson & Knight LLP |