Oil and gas exploration and production is a unique business – presenting the challenge of balancing significant tangible risks and rewards against the less predictable wild swings of a worldwide commodity market. Successful oil and gas companies recognize this challenge and rely on lawyers who understand their risk profiles, the underlying business and the terms of each business trade.

Cox Smith has served clients engaged in the energy industry since the firm was founded in 1939. Today, unprecedented development and exploration are underway in south Texas as a result of the Eagle Ford Shale and the energy department at Cox Smith is helping clients navigate the complex legal and business issues related to that development.

We have comprehensive natural resources experience that supports clients engaged in all areas of upstream prospect generation, drilling development programs and production activities. Independent oil and gas producers of all sizes rely on us to help protect their interests in contractual agreements, financing arrangements, and dispute resolution. Individual or institutional landowners that lease their properties for oil and gas drilling, renewable energy production, mining and agricultural activities seek our guidance on protecting their ownership rights and maximizing the economic return on their land.

But the news in south Texas for the past three years has been the Eagle Ford Shale play which was made possible by new hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") technologies and horizontal drilling. From generating title opinions; to negotiating complex deals between operators, investors, service companies and capital providers; to assisting land owners with lease and infrastructure agreements with the operators – Cox Smith attorneys are playing an active role in the business of the Eagle Ford Shale.

And as the inevitable litigation issues begin to escalate as controversy mounts related to property prices, production royalties, water use and infrastructure in the Eagle Ford area, Cox Smith’s familiarity with the energy industry enables us to try, settle, arbitrate or mediate controversies to a conclusion. We pride ourselves on accomplishing our clients’ goals in the most efficient and effective manner possible.