Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by smith1 on June 1, 2010 at 13:46

John Frazier is great, reputable, honest, Located in Shreveport, LA

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 1, 2010 at 14:18

IMO, the attorneys that fail to return calls are generally not Oil & Gas attorneys or they discover they have a conflict of interest. There are a lot of attorneys that will tell you they know mineral law or how to negotiate a lease or draft lease language. If they are not a real O&G attorney, they soon find out that in many cases they can not. Well respected, experienced O&G attorneys are in high demand and many represent industry clients and can not represent land/mineral owners when conflicts arise. John Frazier is good. As is Randall Davidson. And Philip Downer.

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Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on June 1, 2010 at 14:49

Bad breath?

Sorry, cheap joke, but I had to do it.

Do they vanish after taking money from you? Be sure to formally fire one lawyer before contacting another, so that lawyer #1 doesn't bill you for services after you've given up on him.

It seems to me that if an attorney discovers he has a conflict of interest, and is withdrawing because he's actually ethical, he would tell you he can't represent you so that you can find other representation.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 1, 2010 at 15:27

Mac. Conflicts are no always immediately apparent. In firms with many attorneys it is hard to know what they are all working on at any time. The good ones will make a determination and inform the client in a timely manner when a conflict comes to light.

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Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on June 1, 2010 at 19:24

Skip, I understand what you're saying. What I'm saying is if they've stopped responding to their client due to potential conflicts, they owe it to their former client to inform him they're no longer representing him. In fact, it would seem to be a serious breach of professional ethics to let someone think you're working for him when in fact, you are no longer doing so.

Maybe he's just a bad businessman and is simply not good at responding to client calls.

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Permalink Reply by Martin on June 1, 2010 at 15:35

LN --

You should probably send each of the "disappeared" lawyers a letter stating that ya'll are no longer doing business -- as Mac Davis recommends. I've had good results with Mr. Summers, located in Shreveport, LA.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 1, 2010 at 16:03

If Mr. Summers' first name is Grant. He is a partner in Davidson, Jones & Summers. Randall Davidson is managing partner.

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Permalink Reply by Martin on June 3, 2010 at 6:35

Skip --
Grant it is.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 3, 2010 at 6:44

Grant is experienced and ethical. I would also recommend him.

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Permalink Reply by amigo1 on June 2, 2010 at 5:40

I hate to appear negative, but II have not had too many good dealings with attornies. I had one that was great, but he is no longer working, he retired. I think you have to stay on top of what is going on and that, I find, in this business is hard to do. I think these chats are so great for us. I really don't know a lot about the business. I worked with an attorney on another "thing" and I met with him paid him $l800 and that has been the last time that I have seen or talked to him; however, I knew what I wanted and I just wanted him, I guess, for the legal "stuff". I keep hoping that everything was done okay. His secretary said that it was. If you find a great attorney in Texas let me know. I used one on the oil lease and that was a disaster. Her personal life became more into the situation than getting to business. I finally let her go and complained to the firm which did no good.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on June 2, 2010 at 6:04

The difference between "an attorney" and "an Oil & Gas attorney" is often quite dramatic. When dealing with minerals, do not engage an attorney that can not prove their experience in mineral law. Go to Martindale.com and perform a search for the attorney or firm in question. Then review their "Areas of Practice".

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Permalink Reply by Henry on June 2, 2010 at 12:15

I'll add to what Skip said... Get an attorney who is experienced in the Haynesville Shale. Other attorneys may not know what features are now considered common for the landowner to ask for in a lease, e.g., cost-free royalties, horizontal and vertical pugh clauses, possibly a no-surface use restriction, payments for damages, and shut-in payments. An attorney with Haynesville Shale experience will know to protect you far beyond the standard lease.

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