Oil & Gas

Oil and Gas Attorney Austin

Are You Facing an Oil or Gas Law Matter in Texas?

Our oil and gas law firm is backed by 50 years of experience and our Austin oil lawyers are fully equipped to offer you the tenacious representation that you deserve. We prioritize the objectives of our clients and are committed to providing high-quality and hard-hitting legal representation. Due to our widespread experience in this field, The Jones Law Firm PC is able to ensure our clients receive elite, in-depth representation every step of the way.

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Whether you're interested in leasing the gas rights on your property or you're looking at buying the mineral rights for another property, our team at has you covered. Call (512) 394-4289 today to speak with an oil and gas attorney in Austin.


What Do Oil and Gas Attorneys Do?

Our Austin oil and gas attorney can help you with:

  • Drafting and negotiating oil and gas leases
  • Drafting and negotiating oilfield services contracts
  • Representation before the Railroad Commission of Texas
  • Representation of royalty interest owners in disputes with oil and gas companies
  • Retrieval of royalties in escrow
  • Drafting and negotiating pipeline easements
  • Collection of unpaid royalties
  • Filing mineral liens for contractors and subcontractors who aren’t getting paid for labor or materials
  • Foreclosing on mineral liens
  • Demand letters for contractors and subcontractors who aren’t getting paid for labor or materials

We Are Here to Protect Your Legal Rights

Searching for oil and gas law firms? The Jones Law Firm PC has represented clients facing a wide variety of challenging legal issues in the field of oil and gas law. We have served as a third-party counsel for oil and gas operators in drilling, leasing, non-compete / non-disclosure agreements, and landowner concerns, as well as counsel at every step of production sales agreements. Additionally, our Austin oil and gas attorneys have helmed the negotiation and sale of producing oil and gas works. From initial seismic exploration to the drill bit to the actual sale – we are here to protect your legal rights and to advance your interests every step of the way! Our lead gas and oil attorney has been rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®. You can be confident in his ability to successfully resolve your oil and gas case next.

Our experience in oil and gas law includes the following:

  • Salt water disposal matters
  • RRC permits and TCEQ permits
  • Regulatory affairs with the Railroad Commission of Texas
  • Gas transportation agreements and oil purchase agreements
  • Oil and gas exploration, permitting, leasing, and development
  • Joint operating agreements, drilling contracts, and master service agreements
  • Operation of pipelines, pipeline easements, protection against condemnation of easements, eminent domain proceedings, and protecting of property rights in right-of-way acquisitions
  • Collection of underpaid royalties
  • Negotiations between lessors and lessees for new terms of oil and gas leases
  • Negotiation on behalf of landowner to recover suspended royalty payments

Who Regulates the Oil and Gas Industry?

The oil and gas industry in Texas is regulated at both the state and federal level. State regulation is overseen by the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). At the federal level, the Texas oil and gas industry is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Interior (DOI), and Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). If you’re interested in utilizing the oil or gas available on your property or property that you have invested in, it’s extremely important that you adhere to any set regulations. Hiring an oil and gas attorney can help ensure you don’t miss anything.

What Are Mineral Rights?

“Mineral rights” refers to an individual’s rights to mineral deposits that exist under the surface of a property. Several types of natural resources are included in the mineral rights, including: gas, oil, precious metals, coal, and other minerals.

Do I Own the Mineral Rights to My Property?

In some cases, owning the property means that you also own the mineral rights to the natural resources below the surface of the property. However, this isn’t always the case. In some situations mineral rights can be owned separately, especially if they have been sold or leased separately from the surface property they’re located on. Before assuming that you have ownership of the minerals that are on your property, you should always check with a professional mineral rights lawyer to find out whether those rights have already been sold.

How Are Mineral Rights Passed Down?

Rights to a mineral deposit can be passed onto someone in one of several ways:

  • Unified Estate- With this type of estate the mineral rights and the rights to the surface property are combined and cannot be bought or sold separately.
  • Severed Estate- With this type of estate, both mineral rights and surface rights can be bought or sold separately.
  • Fractional Estate - with this type of estate the mineral rights may be owned by more than one party.

Mineral rights may be purchased outright, or they may be leased for a set period of time, allowing the owner to retain legal ownership of the rights. If you are considering signing a mineral deed or mineral rights lease, you should discuss your options with a professional oil and gas attorney near you.

What Is a Mineral Deed?

A Texas Mineral Deed is the official legal transfer of all mineral rights from one party to another. Along with the transfer of those rights, the party receiving the rights will also have the right to extract the resource using whatever method they deem necessary. The holder of a mineral deed may also receive royalties or make changes to the existing royalties relating to the natural resources. Before you buy or sell a mineral deed, it’s important to have a trained Austin mineral rights attorney review the deed to ensure that your rights are protected and that you’re not getting less than you’re paying for.

Do Mineral Rights Expire?

Yes. Mineral right deeds can specify if and when the rights will expire, so it’s important to read carefully and understand how long you are agreeing to purchase these rights for.

Contact Our Texas Oil and Gas Lawyers

Are you seeking expert legal counsel in the complex world of Texas oil and gas? Look no further than The Jones Law Firm! Our team of skilled Texas oil and gas lawyers is here to protect your interests and navigate the intricacies of this industry. With extensive experience and a proven track record, we offer tailored solutions to your legal challenges. Whether it's drilling contracts, environmental compliance, or dispute resolution, we've got you covered. Secure your energy ventures with confidence - contact us today to hire the best Texas oil and gas lawyer for your success!


Texas oil and gas laws and Texas mineral rights are complex. If you aren’t careful you could accidentally sign away your mineral rights, or infringe on someone else’s mineral rights. The best way to ensure that you are in compliance with these laws is to hire a professional Austin oil & gas lawyer to represent you. Call (512) 394-4289 now for the help you need.


Protecting Your Interests in Texas

Protecting your business assets and interests is our number one priority. We have been serving the Austin - San Antonio Corridor for decades, providing sophisticated and nuanced counsel to individuals and large corporations alike. Our experience covers a broad spectrum of issues within the complex, multi-faceted area of oil and gas law. You can certainly rely on us to protect your interests in any setting. Each Austin oil attorney at our firm is prepared to protect your interests. Retain our immediate representation!


Learn more about our highly-rated firm today! We offer free case evaluations: either in person, over the phone, or online. Call an oil and gas attorney in Austin at  (512) 394-4289.


Reasons To Choose Our Firm

  • Over 50 years of dedicated legal experience combined
  • Free consultations
  • Track record of success
  • Landowner representation
  • Founding Partner is AV® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Caring and compassionate counsel
  • Oil & gas company representation before the Railroad Commission or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and generally as in-house counsel
  • Not afraid to go the extra mile for our clients

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