Cheapside Minerals, Ltd., et. al. v. Devon Energy Production Company, L.P. f/k/a Geosouthern DeWitt Properties, LCC, et. al., Cause No. 23-06-26,013; In the District Court of DeWitt County, Texas, 267th Judicial District Court.
Represented, along with co-counsel, Devon Energy Production Company, L.P. in an underpayment of royalty case brought in South Texas by Plaintiffs seeking over $340 million in damages. The case turned on lease interpretation issues and was ultimately settled.

WPX Energy Permian LLC v. The State of Texas, The Texas General Land Office, et. al.
Represents WPX Energy Permian LLC in an ultra vires suit against several officials of the Texas General Land Office and University Lands in the District Couret of Ward County, Texas. WPX seeks title relief relating to a University Lands Development Unit Agreement covering 71 leases and more than 30,000 mineral acres in Ward and Winkler Counties.

Devon Energy Production Company, L.P. v. Shoop, et al. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas)
Represented Devon Energy Production Company, L.P., the producer, in a large royalty dispute that depended primarily upon oil and gas lease interpretation issues. The case was ultimately settled in Dallas federal court.

Seeligson v. Devon Energy Production Company, L.P. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas)
Represented Devon Energy Production Company, L.P. in a class action alleging royalty underpayment, that primarily turned on lease interpretation issues. The case was settled after appeal.

Coll v. Cimarex Energy Co. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas)
Represented Cimarex Energy Co. in a large, multiparty claim, in which the plaintiffs sought several billion dollars for alleged misuse of public databases. The defendant ultimately prevailed, and the case was dismissed.

Multi-District Litigation Coordination (Texas and National)
Served as national coordinating counsel for one of the nation’s largest natural gas producers in two major multi-district litigations – one involving more than 20,000 plaintiffs and another comprising over 50 separate cases. Oversaw the organization and management of legal teams, including lawyers, legal assistants, and technology staff, to effectively support a high-volume docket. The role required cross-jurisdictional strategy, procedural coordination, and scalable litigation management across diverse claims.

Royalty and Statutory Claims Litigation (Tarrant Co., Tex.)
Represented energy companies in Texas litigation involving royalty disputes and statutory tort claims. Obtained summary judgment on a wide array of alleged damages, including attorneys’ fees, check stub fraud, punitive damages, and violations of the Texas Natural Resources Code. The court also dismissed tort claims barred by the economic loss rule and rejected claims related to alleged hedging transactions.

Adverse Possession Dispute (Midland Co., Tex)
Represented exploration and production company in an adverse possession case. Obtained a summary judgment in favor of our client that it had acquired title to a leasehold working interest by adverse possession, worth millions of dollars. The Judgment was confirmed on appeal by the Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court denied petition for review brought by opposing parties. The case involved complex analysis of adverse possession law concerning a lease hold working interest and has been discussed in continuing legal education articles and blogs. PBEX II, LLC v. Dorchester Minerals, L.P., 670 S.W.3d 374 (Tex. App. – Amarillo, pet. denied).

Gas Purchase Agreement Dispute (Eddy Co., N. Mex.)
Represented an energy company in litigation concerning the interpretation of a gas purchase agreement, specifically whether the agreement permitted the midstream company to recover capital investments and whether certain settlement statement charges were excessive. The case raised complex questions regarding market practices and contractual pricing mechanisms in New Mexico’s gas sector.

Royalty Lease and Development Dispute (Tarrant Co., Tex.)
Defended an energy company in a multimillion-dollar dispute brought by a royalty owner under a Relinquishment Act Lease alleging breach of a provision requiring payment of the highest market price and failure to comply with the covenant to reasonably develop. The case involved intricate analysis of lease language, Texas royalty law, and the economics of well development. The case was tried to a jury, resulting in a take-nothing verdict for the Defendant.

Winter Storm Uri MDL (Harris Co., Tex.)
Defended an energy company against multiple claims in the Winter Storm Uri multi-district litigation, where plaintiffs alleged, they suffered property damage and personal injuries due to power outages during the 2021 winter storm. The proceedings were consolidated before a pretrial judge in Harris County and involved coordinated discovery and dispositive motions, causation analysis, and energy liability defenses.

Saltwater Injection Well Dispute (Loving Co., Tex.)
Represents an energy company in a trespass and property damage lawsuit brought by an exploration and production company. Plaintiffs allege that nearby saltwater disposal wells caused subsurface migration, resulting in the washout of reserves from which their wells produced. The case involves technical analysis, oilfield operations, and defense coordination in a venue central to Permian Basin activity.

Gas Release and Option Rights Arbitration (Dallas Co., Tex.)
Represented an energy company in a commercial arbitration against a large midstream company involving claims that upstream gas was not properly released and that the counterparty had improperly exercised an option to obtain natural gas liquids. The dispute focused on contractual definitions and performance obligations related to the release and control of hydrocarbons prior to delivery points.

Royalty Trust Arbitration (Dallas Co., Tex.)
Obtained a unanimous multimillion-dollar award for a royalty trust following a trial before a three-member arbitration panel. The key issue was whether a prior settlement could be classified as a production cost chargeable to the trust under the governing royalty agreements. The ruling protected the trust’s revenue stream and clarified contractual cost allocation.

Completion Cost Allocation Arbitration (Dallas Co., Tex.)
Represented an energy company in arbitration defending against a claim concerning the proper interpretation and calculation of “completion” costs under a joint development agreement.

Colorado Mineral Ownership Trial (Dallas Co., Tex.)
Represented individual oil and gas investors in a jury trial to obtain a declaration of ownership rights in mineral property located in Colorado. The case involved complex title issues and historical conveyances. The jury returned a favorable verdict recognizing the clients’ multimillion-dollar interest.

Lease Termination Trespass Dispute (McMullen Co., Tex.)
Defended an energy company against a multimillion-dollar trespass claim arising from alleged operations conducted after lease expiration. The case turned on lease termination principles and cessation of production. Prize Energy Resources, L.P. v. Cliff Hoskins, Inc., 345 S.W.3d 537 (Tex. App. 2011).

Saltwater Injection Trespass and Negligence Claim (N.D. Tex., Amarillo)
Litigated on behalf of an energy company in federal court against claims of trespass and negligence stemming from saltwater injection activities. The plaintiff alleged damage to its mineral estate caused by fluid migration. The case was resolved favorably before trial.

Gas Processing and Joint Operating Agreement Disputes (Various Tex. Venues)
Represented an energy company in multiple disputes, both in court and arbitration, arising under a gas processing agreement and joint operating agreement. Claims involved cost allocation, marketing obligations, and operational responsibilities.

Fiduciary Duty and Corporate Opportunity Claims (Texas)
Defended several energy companies and their principals in litigation involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and usurpation of corporate opportunities. The claims were resolved favorably without admission of wrongdoing.

Point Energy Partners, LLC v. MRC Permian Company (Tex.)
Represented Point Energy in a dispute over rightful ownership of 4,000 gross acres in the Permian Basin. The case hinged on whether MRC’s failure to timely drill was excused by the force majeure clause in the relevant lease. Now regarded as a seminal precedent for such disputes, Point prevailed before the Texas Supreme Court in a 2023 decision that was noted in The Texas Lawbook.

FDCPA Class Action Litigation (Mult. Jdx.)
Representing plaintiffs against billion-dollar parking companies in multiple class actions involving consumer deception claims involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Admissions

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

Clerkships/Judicial Internships

• Federal law clerk for the Hon. Jerre S Williams, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1985-86.

Education

• The University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1985) with high honors
• Grand Chancellor; graduated in top one percent of class
• University of Texas Law Review
• Order of the Coif 
• Texas Tech University (B.A., 1981) with high honors

Memberships

• State Bar of Texas, Council of the Oil, Gas & Resources, 2024
• State Bar of Texas, Oil and Gas Pattern Jury Charge Committee Chair, 2023-2024
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Elected Member
• Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Dallas Bar Association; Business Litigation Section, Chair, 2014; Council, 2002-2016
• Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court (Dallas, Texas); Master, 2018-Present
• Board of Trustees, Dallas Theater Center, 2014-Present
• Chair, Dallas Bar Association Judiciary Committee; Chair, CLE Committee, 2003; Vice-Chair, Bench/Bar Committee, 2003

• Lawdragon 500, Leading Litigators in America, “Complex Commercial Litigation,” 2026.
• BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America Guide, “Lawyer of the Year: Oil & Gas Law, Energy Law, Dallas/Fort Worth,” 2025.
• Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, “Band 1 Oil & Gas Litigation (USA),” 2024-2025.
• BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America Guide, “Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Oil & Gas Law,” 2006-2025.
• BL Rankings, Best Lawyers, “Best Lawyers in DFW,” 2024.
• Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, “Litigation: Energy & Natural Resources, Oil & Gas Litigation,” 2010-2024.
• D Magazine, Best Lawyers in Dallas, “Business Litigation, Energy & Natural Resources,” 2024.
• The Legal 500 USA, “Recognized Attorney, Industry Focus: Energy: Litigation,” 2015-2016, 2019-2021; “Leading Lawyer, Energy Litigation – Oil and Gas,” 2019-2023.
• BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America Guide, “Dallas Oil & Gas Law Lawyer of the Year,” 2013, 2018.
• Thompson Reuters, Texas Super Lawyers Magazine, 2003-2023.
• Dallas Business Journal, Top 15 Business-Defense Lawyers, “Defenders,” 2009.
• Texas Lawyer, Go-To Guide, “Top-Notch Lawyer (Civil Litigation – Plaintiffs),” 2002.