Baxsto, LLC v. Roxo Energy Company et al. (Tex.); Buffy, LLC v. Roxo Energy Company et al. (Borden Co., Tex.)

Appellate counsel and second-chair trial counsel for Roxo Energy, a Fort Worth-based oil and gas acquisition and development company, in a series of lawsuits filed in Howard and Borden Counties, Texas, collectively seeking more than $45 million in damages related to leasing and mineral purchase transactions. Prevailed in the Borden County lawsuit with a unanimous “take nothing” jury verdict following a March 2022 trial that was covered in Texas Lawyer. Subsequently prevailed in the Howard County litigation on a summary judgment. In 2023, the Eastland Court of Appeals reversed the trial court, finding fact issues potentially precluding summary judgment. Roxo and its affiliates filed a petition for review to the Supreme Court of Texas. Roxo and its affiliates successfully obtained discretionary review from the Supreme Court of Texas and, in a May 2025 per curiam opinion, the Court reversed the Eastland Court of Appeals and reinstated the entire trial court’s judgment in Roxo’s favor. Roxo Energy Co., LLC v. Baxsto, LLC, 713 S.W.3d 404 (Tex. 2025) (per curiam)

Nortex Minerals v. Blackbeard Operating (Tex. App.—Fort Worth)

Appellate counsel and second-chair trial counsel for Blackbeard Operating (“Blackbeard”), a Texas-based oil and gas operator, in a dispute involving the application of a right of first refusal and preferential purchase right in a series of 23 leases covering the 27,000-acre Alliance Texas real estate development. Successfully obtained summary judgment in Blackbeard’s favor. After the plaintiffs appealed, a unanimous panel of the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed judgment in Blackbeard’s favor. Nortex Minerals, L.P. v. Blackbeard Operating, LLC, No. 02-23-00027-CV, 2023 WL 7401052 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Nov. 9, 2023, no pet.) (mem. op.).

Point Energy Partners, LLC v. MRC Permian Company (Tex.)

Appellate counsel for Point Energy Partners, a Texas-based oil and gas operator, in a dispute involving whether oil and gas leases in Loving County, TX terminated or were maintained by operation of the leases’ force majeure clause. Obtained summary judgment in Point’s favor. After an intermediate court of appeals reversed summary judgment, Point Energy successfully obtained discretionary review from the Supreme Court of Texas, which unanimously reversed the intermediate appellate court and reinstituted the trial court’s order that the leases were not maintained by force majeure. The resulting opinion, which received extensive media coverage in publications like The Texas Lawbook, is the seminal force majeure case in Texas jurisprudence. Point Energy Partners Permian, LLC v. MRC Permian Co., 669 S.W.3d 796 (Tex. 2023).

Drerup v. Consolidated Nuclear Security (U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit)

Appellate counsel for Consolidated Nuclear Security (“CNS”), a Texas-based nuclear company, in litigation involving Title VII, ADA, and ADEA claims brought by the company’s employee. Successfully obtained summary judgment in CNS’s favor. After the plaintiff appealed, a unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed in a per curiam opinion. Drerup v. Consol. Nuclear Sec., LLC, No. 21-10600, 2022 WL 3335780 (5th Cir. Aug. 12, 2022) (per curiam).

Viper Energy Partners LLC v RSP Permian, LLC (Loving Co., Tex.)

Second-chair trial counsel for Viper (a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy) against RSP Permian (a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips) as second-chair trial counsel in a title dispute regarding valuable Delaware Basin lease rights. Viper prevailed on partial summary judgment on the key issue in the case.

Todd Mehall v. Tug Hill Operating et al. (Tarrant Co., Tex.)

Second-chair trial counsel for Tug Hill, Quantum Energy Partners, and individual executives at Tug Hill in defense of claims brought by a former employee claiming to have a substantial profits interest stake in Tug Hill following its sale to EQT Corporation for $5 billion. Tug Hill prevailed in its motion for summary judgment, and the court ordered the plaintiff to pay Tug Hill’s attorney fees, an outcome reported by The Texas Lawbook.

PBEX II, LLC v. Dorchester Minerals, LP (Tex. App.—Amarillo; Tex.)

Appellate counsel for Dorchester Minerals, a Texas-based exploration and production company, in an adverse possession case. Obtained a summary judgment in Dorchester’s favor that it had acquired title to a leasehold working interest by adverse possession, worth millions of dollars. A unanimous Amarillo Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment, and the Supreme Court of Texas denied the opposing parties’ petitions for review. PBEX II, LLC v. Dorchester Minerals, L.P., 670 S.W.3d 374 (Tex. App.—Amarillo, pet. denied).

Finley Resources v. Headington Royalty (Tex. App.—Dallas; Tex.)

Appellate counsel for Petro Canyon, a Texas-based oil and gas operator in a dispute involving interpretation of release language in an oil and gas contract. After the trial court granted summary judgment in the operator’s favor, the Dallas Court of Appeals reversed. Petro Canyon successfully obtained discretionary review from the Supreme Court of Texas, which ultimately affirmed the intermediate appellate court’s decision. Finley Res., Inc. v. Headington Royalty, Inc., 672 S.W.3d 332 (Tex. 2023).

Lawton Candle v. BG Personnel (Tex. App.—Dallas)

Appellate counsel for Lawton Candle, an Oklahoma-based real estate company in restricted appeal involving whether company was properly served with process. After the company defaulted for failure to answer at the trial court, a unanimous panel of the Dallas Court of Appeals reversed and vacated the default judgment. Lawton Candle, LLC v. BG Pers., LP, 690 S.W.3d 122(Tex. App.—Dallas, no pet.).

Hughes v. CJM Resources (Tex. App.—Eastland)

Appellate and second-chair trial counsel for CJM Resources, a Texas-based oil and gas operator, in litigation involving fraud claims by a mineral owner. Successfully obtained dismissal in CJM’s favor. After the plaintiff appealed, the unanimous Eastland Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal. Hughes v. CJM Res., LP, 640 S.W.3d 623 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2022, no pet.).

McLean v. Mawhirter (Tex.)

Represented Uvalde County, Texas, landowner as pro bono appellate counsel as respondent in appeal regarding ownership of a tract of land adjacent to the Frio River. Successfully obtained denial of the petitioner’s petition for review after full briefing on the merits. McLean v. Mawhirter, No. 24-0532 (Tex. 2025).

Admissions

• Texas
• Kentucky
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas

Clerkships/Judicial Internships

• Judicial intern for the Hon. Robert Bacharach, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• Judicial intern for the Hon. Patrick Wyrick, Oklahoma Supreme Court

Education  

• University of Oklahoma (J.D., 2018)
  • With Highest Honors
  • Order of the Coif  
  • Order of the Barristers
  • National Order of the Scribes
  • American College of Bankruptcy’s Distinguished Law Student for the Tenth Circuit
  • Research Editor of the Oklahoma Law Review
  • Moot Court National Championship
• University of Oklahoma (B.F.A., 2015)

Memberships

• North Texas Performing Arts Board
• Texas Bar College
• State Bar of Texas Appellate Section
• The Federalist Society
• Dallas Bar Association
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
• Dallas Young Professionals in Energy

• Texas High Court Says Writing Trumps Verbal Drilling Deal,” Law360, May 9, 2025
• “Fort Worth Court of Appeals Upholds $180M Mineral Rights Deal,” Texas Lawyer, November 14, 2023.
• “Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout Outs,” The AmLaw Litigation Daily, April 28, 2023.
• “Texas Supreme Court Decides ‘Force Majeure’ Dispute in Oil and Gas Law,” Texas Lawyer, April 24, 2023.
• “SCOTX Wrestles with Force Majeure Clause in Drilling Delay,” The Texas Lawbook, October 25, 2022.
• “5th Circ. Backs Nuke Co.’s Win in Fire Captain’s Bias Suit,” Law360, August 15, 2022.
• “Texas Justices to Hear Permian Basin Drilling Deadline Suit,” Law360, May 31, 2022.
• “West Texas Jury Says ‘Take Nothing’ in $22.5 Million Mineral Rights Lawsuit,” Texas Lawyer, April 6, 2022.

•  Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” Energy & Natural Resources, Appellate, Business Litigation, 2022 – 2026.
• Thomson Reuters, Texas Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2022-2025.
• D Magazine, Best Lawyers Under 40, Appellate, 2026.
• BL Rankings, “Ones to Watch in America,” Oil and Gas Law,  2026.