Austin represents Texas operators and non-operators in complex issues and disputes. He seeks practical solutions to avoid litigation, but adopts aggressive courtroom strategies when necessary.
A landowner’s failure to provide consent for surface use related to oil and gas operations does not necessarily preclude the lessee from conducting activities if the lease agreements allow surface use.
The Railroad Commission can’t determine property rights, so its operator records don’t establish whether a lessor holds a leasehold interest or is entitled to operate under an oil and gas lease. Ownership and operational rights are property-law issues.
For oil and gas operators, few things are more frustrating than discovering you may have been overpaying royalties to a person or entity in your paydeck.
McGinnis Lochridge's Oil & Gas Newsletter: Producer's Edge keeps clients informed about Texas oil and gas case law, regulatory updates, and insightful articles relevant to the oil and gas community. Download the seventh issue of Producer's Edge here....
This case emphasizes the critical role expert testimony can play in oil and gas litigation. Securing the right testimony is just one aspect of the challenge; it is also critical to plan ahead to ensure the evidence is properly admissible.
A major Texas Supreme Court decision unpacks common but thorny issues in oil and gas agreements - from measuring time periods to interpreting reassignment clauses and back-in rights - showing how subtle drafting choices can have massive consequences.
