Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Oil and Gas Law
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Cities
Dale Wainwright is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Oil and Gas Law. Dale, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dale is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Christopher Sileo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Oil and Gas Law. Christopher, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dewey J. Gonsoulin Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Oil and Gas Law. Dewey J., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dewey J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Tim George practices administrative law and litigation on behalf of oil and gas owners and operators. Tim represents clients before the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Texas General Land Office. He has helped solve complex problems with leasehold permitting and production; special field rules; rulemaking; salt water disposal injection; unitization and enhanced recovery; environmental compliance and remediation; pipeline transportation; common carrier, common purchaser, and gas utility co...
Andrew B. Derman is a Partner and head of International Energy Practice Group for Thompson & Knight LLP and Chairman of Thompson & Knight Global Energy Services. He represents public and private companies and host governments in their strategic design, commercial execution, negotiations, contract preparation, and legal interpretation. Recent experience includes: acquisition and divestment efforts in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia; international finan...
Robert P. Dougherty III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. Robert P., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David Elder is a partner in the Corporate Department at Paul Hastings and is based in the Firm’s Houston office. Mr. Elder focuses on mergers and acquisitions, public and private securities offerings, corporate governance and general corporate securities matters. He represents major corporate clients across the energy, oil and gas, sports and entertainment, and telecommunications sectors. He also advises issuers, underwriters and investment banking firms in public and private offerings....
Kevin represents a diverse clientele in virtually all aspects of the energy industry. With a background in petroleum geology, he has operated and participated in oil and gas exploration and development projects across North America. As a transactional lawyer, he has represented owners and operators with documentation, due diligence, and business counseling for acquisitions and divestitures and for exploration and operation. As a trial lawyer, he has represented plaintiffs and defendants, both...
Douglas J. Dashiell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. Douglas J., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Douglas J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Hugh M. Ray III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Hugh M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hugh M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jonathan Baughman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. Jonathan, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jesse Pierce has more than fifty years of litigation experience and has tried many types of cases in state and federal courts of Texas and other states. He is licensed to practice in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. He specializes in trials of complex energy and commercial cases. Mr. Pierce is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Pierce is a member of Litigation Counsel of America, a trial-lawyer honorary society composed of less...
Harold L. Hensley, Jr. is a partner in the Oil & Gas/Energy and Litigation Sections of the firm. He is a skilled trial lawyer with a legacy of victories in both state and federal courts. He is a member of the Roehl Circle of Honor of trial lawyers in New Mexico and served the New Mexico Supreme Court as a member of its Uniform Jury Selection Committee. Mr. Hensley received his BBA degree from Rice University and his law degree from the University of Texas. He is a member of the State Bar ...
Nick Davis is a partner in the firm's Litigation section. He represents clients in complex disputes, trials, and arbitrations. He has significant experience in high-stakes matters involving fraud, trade secrets, oil and gas, employment, insurance coverage, government investigations, and complex commercial cases.
Fred S. Stovall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Oil and Gas Law. Fred S., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Fred S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bart A. Rue has over 30 years of trial practice in oil and gas related matters as well a complementary commercial litigation background. Since 2010, Mr. Rue has served as lead counsel in over 200 oil and gas litigation and commercial litigation matters, including lease interpretation issues, royalty underpayment issues, surface use disputes, lease termination disputes, and other issues affecting land and mineral ownership. Mr. Rue currently represents exploration companies and landowners in s...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.