Byron Keeling's Background

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Since 1996, Byron Keeling has published several articles on oil and gas royalty issues.  The Texas Supreme Court has cited his articles in several key royalty cases, including Devon Energy Prod. Co. v. Sheppard, 668 S.W.3d 332 (Tex. 2023), Nettye Engler Energy, LP v. BlueStone Nat. Res. II, LLC, 639 S.W.3d 682 (Tex. 2022), and BlueStone Nat. Res. II, LLC v. Randle, 620 S.W.3d 380 (Tex. 2021).  The highest courts in several other states have also cited his articles:  Kentucky:  Baker v. Magnum Hunter Prod., Inc., 473 S.W.3d 588 (Ky. 2015); North Dakota:  Blasi v. Petro-Hunt, L.L.C., 768 N.W.2d 496 (N.D. 2009); Ohio:  Chesapeake Expl., L.L.C. v. Buell, 144 Ohio St. 3d 490, 45 N.E.3d 185 (2015); West Virginia:  Leggett v. EQT Prod. Co., 239 W.Va. 264, 800 S.E.2d 850 (2017).

 

He has been lead counsel in major oil and gas litigation and appeals.  His experience includes:

 

    •    royalty disputes;

    •    lease termination disputes;

    •    surface rights disputes;

    •    JOA disputes;

    •    COPAS disputes;

    •    gas purchasing and gas processing agreement disputes;

    •    implied covenant disputes.

 

Byron Keeling has represented parties on all of the various sides of oil and gas disputes, including (i) both lessees and royalty owners, (ii) both majority and minority working interest owners, and (iii) both buyers and sellers in contract disputes.