Windstorm Property Damage Claim (Tarrant Co., Tex.)
Represented a commercial property owner in claim for property damage coverage arising out of a windstorm. After the insurer’s initial denial, VHH issued demands on behalf of the client, participated in an appraisal process, and filed a lawsuit, before reaching an early claim settlement.

Urban Oil and Gas Partners v. Blackbeard Resource, LLC et al. (Tarrant Co., Tex.)
Represented the primary target of the plaintiffs in a multi-party indemnity dispute regarding the ultimate financial responsibility for claims related to Louisiana oil and gas properties. Blackbeard prevailed on summary judgement and was awarded attorney’s fees.

Oilfield Fatality Litigation (Texas)
Settled litigation arising from a fatal oilfield incident within policy limits after serving as oversight counsel. Although the insurance counsel initially denied coverage, coordinated efforts led to a favorable resolution without exceeding policy limits.

Environmental Litigation (Oklahoma)
Resolved a longstanding environmental dispute in Oklahoma with meaningful insurer contribution, despite the insurer’s initial denial of coverage. The matter involved legacy environmental claims and complex policy interpretation.

Oilfield Indemnity Disputes (Texas and New Mexico)
Represent clients in multi-party indemnity disputes involving overlapping contractual obligations under joint operating agreements, master service agreements, and drilling contracts. These matters often follow operational incidents and require strategic coordination of risk.

Insurance Litigation Oversight (Various Jurisdictions)
Provide oversight of insurance counsel and coordinated litigation strategy on behalf of energy clients facing liability for oilfield accidents or environmental events. Responsibilities include aligning policy coverage with defense strategy and managing insurer communications.

Lease and Contract Disputes (Texas)
Represent operators and non-operators in disputes involving lease termination and the enforcement of mineral purchase agreements.

Royalty Counseling (Texas and Oklahoma)
Advise operators and landowners in interpreting royalty clauses and navigating lease disputes before litigation arises. Counseling includes guidance on post-production costs, allocation issues, clouds on title, and lease termination risks.

Royalty Class Actions and Disputes (Multiple States)
Manage royalty litigation for both lessors and lessees, including defense and prosecution of class actions involving underpayment and improper deductions. These cases typically require economic modeling and lease-by-lease analysis.

Mineral Interest Purchase Dispute (Texas)
Obtained a favorable resolution in a dispute arising from the sale of a large package of Texas mineral interests. The matter was resolved pre-trial, avoiding protracted litigation and preserving the client’s contractual position.

Title Warranty Litigation (Texas)
Won summary judgment in favor of the seller of mineral interests in a breach-of-warranty title dispute. The ruling upheld the validity of the title conveyed and eliminated exposure to post-closing liability.

Royalty Underpayment Settlements (Texas)
Negotiated favorable settlements for multiple lessors in royalty underpayment disputes. Resolutions addressed disputed deductions and valuation methods without the need for trial.

JOA and Purchase Agreement Disputes (Permian Basin and Texas)
Represent operators and non-operators in disputes involving joint operating agreements, purchase contracts, and development obligations across Texas, including the Permian Basin. Disputes range from contract interpretation to operational cost sharing.

Force Majeure Payment Disputes (Texas)
Resolved multiple force majeure disputes on behalf of energy clients through early negotiation. Secured full payment of outstanding contract balances without initiating litigation.

Transactional Risk Counseling (Texas)
Advised upstream acquirers on potential litigation risks associated with asset acquisitions, including environmental exposure, indemnity obligations, and regulatory compliance issues.

Internal Investigations (National Scope)
Represented employers in internal investigations related to potential violations of state and federal law, including employee misconduct, regulatory issues, and internal policy breaches.

Whistleblower Allegations – Public Companies
Conducted internal investigations for publicly traded companies following whistleblower reports alleging misconduct by senior executives. Worked closely with internal legal and compliance teams to manage response and risk.

Corporate Fraud and Securities Investigations (National Scope)
Served as a key associate in nationwide internal investigations involving allegations of money laundering, procurement fraud, and violations of federal securities laws. Investigations included document review, witness interviews, and regulatory strategy.

Federal Contractor Appeal (5th Cir.)
Won an appeal in the Fifth Circuit affirming summary judgment in favor of a federal contractor in a workplace dispute. The court’s ruling upheld the contractor’s compliance with applicable statutory obligations.

Amicus and Appellate Briefing
Drafted appellate briefs at all stages of litigation in state and federal appellate courts, including authoring amicus briefs on behalf of prominent scholars and national organizations before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal circuit courts.

Veterans’ Benefits Appeal
Successfully obtained lifelong disability benefits for a veteran through an administrative appeal. The matter involved complex medical evidence and statutory interpretation under federal veterans’ benefits law.

Admissions

• Oklahoma
• Texas
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

Clerkships/Judicial Internships

• Judicial law clerk for the Hon. Debra H. Lehrmann of the Supreme Court of Texas
• Judicial intern for the Hon. Jeffrey L. Cureton, Federal Magistrate in the North District of Texas

Education

•  University of Texas (J.D., 2016)
  • With honors
  • Order of the Coif
  • Articles editor for the Texas Law Review
  • Champion of the 2014 Thad T. Hutcheson Moot Court Competition
  • Volunteer at the Children’s Rights Clinic, Actual Innocence Project, and Supreme Court Clinic
•  Baylor University (B.A., 2012)
  • With honors

Memberships

• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Women’s Energy Network
• Corporate Secretary, Trustee, and Ste.ward of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth

• “Evolving Royalty Interpretations,” Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Lease and Title Analysts (DFW-ALTA) Fall Seminar, October 3, 2023.
• The Uniform Electronic Transaction Act: Risk of Binding Oil and Gas Industry Contracts, The Journal of the Energy Law Practitioner, Vol. 1, No. 1, Texas Tech University School of Law, July 2022.
• “Evolving Royalty Interpretations,” 2022 PALTA/PBADOA Seminar, April 13, 2022.
• Proactively Managing Cybersecurity Risks in Vendor Contracts, Texas Lawyer, June 13, 2018.

• Thompson Reuters, Texas Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2023-2025.
• BL Rankings, Commercial Litigation, “Ones to Watch,” 2024.