The Texas Supreme Court, in December 16, 2011, reversed a lower court ruling in favor of Shell Oil Company et al, as Petitioners, in an interesting case where the plaintiff sued Shell Oil claiming that the oil company had underpaid on lease royalties using a scheme which was purposely designed to prevent the lessor, a trust of the Ross family, from discovering the underpayment until the statute of limitations had run out. The court, in essence, held that the lessor had had ample opportunity to discover and realize the error, and demand remedy. Read More...
The law relating to natural resources can present numerous complexities and potential minefields. The Energy & Natural Resources section of Hornberger Sheehan Fuller & Beiter, Incorporated successfully negotiates these waters for its clients because of the depth and breadth of the firm's experience in oil & gas, mining and production issues. HSFB's expertise is based on years of successful representation and real-world participation in the industry. It would be challenging to find a team more dedicated and focused on your energy and resources related legal needs.
Transactions
HSFB's oil and gas practice offers the full spectrum of representation from surface and mineral owners to major oil companies. Our attorneys possess specialized knowledge of oil and gas law, and are also active participants in the oil and gas business. We advise clients throughout the USA on a broad range of oil and gas issues including:
- Oil and gas lease transactions.
- Surface use agreements.
- Pipeline rights of way and easements.
- Participation in areas of mutual interests.
- Assets purchases and sales.
- Farm-out agreements.
- Review of title instruments.
- Assignments.
- Exploration agreements.
- Exploitation agreements.
- Joint operating agreements.
- Oilfield service agreements.
- Hydaulic fracturing.
- Royalties and revenue interests.
- Environmental issues.
- Secured and unsecured liens.
Related Litigation
We represent clients in a wide array of disputes that arise in the normal course of business. Comprehensive industry knowledge combined with years of court room experience has produced successful results for our clients. Over the past several years, we have successfully litigated and resolved issues throughout the USA involving:
- Breach of implied and express convenants.
- Failure to develop, market and protect against drainage.
- Bad faith pooling and unitization.
- Statue of frauds issues.
- Title disputes.
- Joint operating agreement disputes.
- Drainage claims.
- Producing well damage claims.
- Termination of oil and gas leases.
- Price redetermination claims.
- Production in paying quantities claims.
- Environmental claims.
- Surface damages claims.
- Appeals from the Railroad Commission and other state and federal agency decisions.