McGinnis Lochridge

Alejandra Salas has been published in the Texas Bar Journal, where she breaks down key legislation from the 89th Texas Legislature impacting the oil, gas, and energy sectors. Her article examines new laws on oil and gas waste, produced water, orphaned wells, wildfire safety, and Texas LNG exports. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gUGj93nw

Austin Brister examines the Texas Supreme Court’s decision in Fasken Oil & Ranch, Ltd. v. Puig and its implications for royalty valuation and postproduction cost deductions. The decision significantly narrows the reach of “cost-free” royalty language, holding that “produced from” creates an implied wellhead valuation point permitting deduction of postproduction costs. Austin explores the court’s reframing of Hyder, its expansion of Heritage’s reach, and what the ruling means for historic Texas royalty deed forms and future drafting considerations. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gcn5fzEi

As AI becomes more integrated into legal practice, new questions are emerging around privilege, work product, and discoverability. In the latest edition of The Eason Report, Marcus Eason explores how courts are beginning to address AI-generated filings and whether AI chat records may be protected under attorney-client privilege or the work product doctrine. With a recent federal decision in United States v. Heppner and no clear Texas authority yet on point, the discussion highlights how Texas courts may approach these evolving issues. Read more about the intersection of AI and litigation strategy, and what it could mean for practitioners moving forward: https://lnkd.in/eHKbvE_N

The Clifton v. Johnson decision marks a major development in Texas oil and gas law—and provides much-needed clarity following Van Dyke v. Navigator Group. In his latest article, Austin Jones breaks down how the Texas Supreme Court reinforced limits on the “estate-misconception” presumption and emphasized a return to careful, text-based deed interpretation. The Court ultimately reinstated a fixed 1/128 royalty, showing that consistent arithmetic language in a deed can overcome the floating royalty presumption. Read the full article for key insights on how this ruling may shape future royalty disputes: https://lnkd.in/gcqm7h4r

What happens when the operator on a producing JOA files Chapter 11 overnight? In his latest article, Chris Halgren breaks down the practical realities non-operators face during an operator bankruptcy — from the automatic stay and revenue recovery issues to JOA assumption/rejection, operator replacement, and Section 363 sale disputes. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e8ABjXzv

Proper pleadings remain front and center in the Texas Business Court. In her latest article, Ashley Vega examines how the Court’s recent decision in Enosis Investments, LLC v. Jensen reinforces a key litigation lesson: causes of action must be supported by specific facts—not conclusions. From fiduciary duty claims to the strategic use of Rule 166(g) motions, this case offers important guidance for businesses and litigators navigating disputes in Texas. Read Ashley’s insights on what this ruling means and why careful pleading strategy matters more than ever: https://lnkd.in/gCJibuKY #TexasBusinessCourt #BusinessLitigation #TexasLaw