Port Arthur Energy, Oil & Gas Lawyers

Joe Broussard, a member of one of the founding families of Jefferson County, Texas, joined MehaffyWeber in 1988 and became a shareholder in 1994. Joe is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and heads the firm’s Business Department. His experience includes work with numerous closely-held and family owned businesses, residential and commercial real estate developments, convenience stores, petroleum fuel jobbers, real estate transactions involving both surface and mineral interests, oil and gas transactions, wills, trusts, estate tax, gift tax and generation skipping tax planning. Joe is legal counsel and an executive board...

Kate Mains Eckhart is as an associate in the firm’s Beaumont office. Kate works in the firm’s business section with a concentration in real estate and corporate transactions, tax, estate planning and probate, oil and gas law, and probate and guardianship litigation.

While in law school at South Texas College of Law, Kate served on the Editorial Board of the South Texas Law Review; as a law clerk in the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas; and as a research assistant to the school’s professors updating hornbooks on federal income taxation and estate and gift taxation. She was a...

Zehl & Associates is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States.

In addition to being undefeated, our trial lawyers have recovered Billion for our clients and consistently recovered the largest verdicts and settlements in history.

In the past year alone, for example, we obtained a record-setting $23.5 million settlement for a client who was seriously injured after being hit head-on by a commercial truck. Several months earlier, we reached a $100 million settlement on behalf of workers injured in a refinery explosion, despite the refinery owner's attempts to limit...

When Kurt Arnold represents someone, he's all in. He's won billions for his clients, helping plaintiffs win historic victories in the face of the largest challenges. For Kurt, no fight is too difficult or complicated. He has helped clients recover losses after major maritime disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the El Faro tragedy. Kurt's work has even led to nationwide recalls for unsafe products.

When something bad happens, Kurt fights for his clients. He never backs down, no matter how big the challenge. Kurt co-founded Arnold & Itkin at 25 and has since won 50+ jury verdicts...

JOHN R. WALKER is a Partner in SBSB's Houston office. For the past almost twenty-five years, it has been my privilege to represent insurance and employer interests focusing on the defense of claims brought under the Longshore and Harbor Act, the Defense Base (DBA), the Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) Instrumentalities Act, the Jones Act, and General Maritime and Admiralty Law. Additionally, John also has extensive experience in First Party Insurance Defense matters, representing employers, insurance carriers, and third parties in State, Federal and Appellate courts. Prior to joining the firm, John handled First Party Insurance Defense,...

James “Jim” Bartlett, Jr. is an experienced trial lawyer who also offers deal negotiation services to his corporate clients, including all aspects of drafting and completion of the related contractual agreements. Jim has successfully represented numerous corporations and other business entities in complex litigation matters throughout and outside the United States for over 22 years, including nine years as a partner in a national Am Law 200 firm.

Jim received his law degree from South Texas College of Law, where he served on the Law Review. During his time in law school, he was also a member of numerous varsity...

Bill Ogden is a partner in the Houston office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2017 and practices in the trial and appellate groups. He has extensive courtroom and appellate experience in a wide range of commercial litigation, with concentration in communications and First Amendment law, employment litigation, financial services and energy law. Bill is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is one of the foremost First Amendment attorneys in the state of Texas having represented traditional media such as newspapers, broadcasters, journalists and book publishers, as well as internet...

Over an exemplary 25 year career, Brent C. Perry has distinguished himself as a skilled litigator. His wealth of experience has helped clients in a wide range of business and legal matters solve complex issues. Mr. Perry attended the University of Chicago Law School and graduated in 1989, after which he served as a law clerk for the U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa in Texas. Mr. Perry then joined Baker Botts, LLP in 1990 and Bracewell & Giuliania, LLP in 1993. This gave Mr. Perry valuable hands-on experience that propelled him further in his career. He...

Robert Z. Cashman provides nationwide legal representation for patent litigation matters on a contingency fee basis. He is licensed to practice law in Texas, in New York, and before the US Patent & Trademark Office. Robert is the owner of the Cashman Law Firm, PLLC which helps individuals and small businesses create their business, establish and protect their inventions, and preserve their assets against foreclosure and if necessary, bankruptcy.

Since 2010, Robert has focused his practice on defending accused bittorrent downloaders in copyright infringement lawsuits filed in federal courts across the US. Most recently, cases represented by the Cashman...

Jason is one of the nation's top trial lawyers for one reason: when he represents a client, he's all in. No matter how tough the fight. No matter how big the challenge. When it matters most, he's there for people who have been wronged. He takes every case personally, treating each client like family while he fights to rebuild their lives.

When people need to win, they call Jason. He's won several verdicts and settlements worth more than $100 million, dozens of results worth more than $10 million, and more than 200 results worth $1 million or more. In total,...

Our lives our integrated, and work is no longer 9-5. Business is intertwined with family, and family is intertwined with work. A legal decision at work or at home doesn’t just effect you.

It’s important to have counsel that is present in your conversations, but futuristic in counseling so you can maximize the long-term goals of your company, your family, and your life.

it’s important to have counsel that understands that one sentence in a legal document can effect every other area of your company, your employees and/or your family.

Deborah understands the importance of words, of timing, and of the long...

Jimmy Dupuis is a partner in Kean Miller’s office in The Woodlands, TX. He practices in the oil and gas, business and corporate, and real estate groups. He has extensive experience representing upstream energy companies in all phases of oil and gas exploration and production in several producing states, including Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Jimmy’s primary areas of practice include title examination, due diligence in connection with the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas assets, negotiating and drafting contracts, regulatory compliance, and providing advice to attorneys and landmen at companies engaged in upstream activities.

Matt Parks is a dedicated trial attorney who has experience in business and commercial litigation, admiralty & maritime, energy, and personal injury. Matt attended the University of Texas Law School where he worked at the Environmental Law Clinic and on the Texas Environmental Law Journal. Matt also worked as a law clerk for the Texas Railroad Commission and a summer associate for Enbridge Energy. These hands on work experiences helped Matt hone the skills litigation skills that client have come to rely on him for. After graduation, Matt joined a Texas based litigation boutique where he focused...

I represent plaintiffs who have been hurt. I am board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and handle catastrophic personal injury cases, but I also practice construction, securities, and complex commercial litigation, for companies and individuals. I am a native Houstonian and attended St. Thomas High School where I currently serve on the board. I went to Harvard and graduated with high honors, magna cum laude, in 2004. At Harvard, I served as Historian of the Harvard Political Union, the College's debating society, and as Secretary of Harvard CHANCE, a group dedicated to mentoring and tutoring students from Cambridge...

Let the professionals at The Filis Law Firm work with you to properly plan for the life events of a loved one with a disability. Owner, Leona E. Filis, is an attorney, licensed in Texas in 2002, who is also a mother of a child diagnosed with autism. "After receiving the confirmation that my son is on the Autism Spectrum, I made many new friends with other parents of children with disabilities. Over the years we had many conversations, and I naturally focused on legal topics. It become more and more apparent that many legal documents and court filings of...

I am an attorney that focuses in estate planning and business planning from cradle to grave, i.e., starting or buying a business; capitalizing your business; optimizing your business with tax, corporate and asset protection planning; strategizing business succession; and selling your business. I believe two things differentiate me from other lawyers: I understand the numbers, and I personally have business experience. These characteristics make me acutely aware of my client's needs and goals. PRACTICE FOCUS: Commercial Real Estate Business Planning Tax Planning U.S. & State Income, Gift & Estate/Inheritance Taxes Trust Creation: Simple & Complex Estate Planning...

Mr. Barchus is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Barchus has extensive experience in the courtroom. He has obtained favorable verdicts and judgments for his clients in Harris, Jefferson, Tarrant and Bexar counties. No matter the type of litigation, he fights aggressively to obtain justice for his clients. Mr. Barchus has obtained substantial verdicts under DTPA, Fraud, Conversion and Breach of Contract causes of action, successfully defended clients accused of a litany of torts, argued many motions and hearings, has taken more than 50 depositions and has...

John R. Bonica's practice is devoted entirely to upstream and midstream oil and gas matters. He is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

For more than three decades, business people have hired this “incredibly gifted lawyer” (Chambers and Partners) who is “magic in the courtroom” (Who’s Who Legal) and 2019 Lawyer of the Year for Bet-the-Company Litigation in Houston (Best Lawyers) to help them navigate the risks and rewards of high-stakes business disputes in Texas, New York, and around the country.

Trial counsel
Barnett is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a partner in Susman Godfrey’s Houston and New York offices, and a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School. With three decades of trial work representing both plaintiffs and defendants,...

Attorney Rodney L. Drinnon is an experienced litigator who handles complex civil litigation in cases in both federal & state courts and he is a partner in the McCathern Houston office. He has served as the lead trial lawyer on matters ranging from antitrust actions, contested corporate control disputes, director and officer liability, contract disputes, employment matters (including misappropriation of trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and Department of Labor investigations), insurance coverage questions, and oil and gas litigation. Mr. Drinnon is admitted to practice in Texas, Ohio, and Illinois and he has successfully tried cases in over ten jurisdictions throughout the...

Mr. Woodall is a trial attorney with experience in insurance subrogation, coverage and defense litigation, construction law, commercial litigation, labor and employment, and real estate. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Woodall also provides special counsel services to small and mid-size businesses in a variety of industries such as construction, roofing, manufacturing, and distribution. He is fully dedicated to understanding his clients’ businesses and helping them achieve their goals and objectives through risk management, contract negotiations, reviewing, negotiating and documenting real estate and business transactions, and resolving labor and employment issues.

After graduating from Baylor University in Waco Texas in...

Whitaker started at the ground level of the oil and gas business. After graduating from the University of Texas in 2001 and South Texas College of Law in 2004, Whitaker has been involved in every step of the industry. Whitaker examined title, negotiated leases, and determined mineral ownership for landowners in courthouses and counties all over Texas. Whitaker also conducted due-diligence for high profile companies such as ExxonMobil. Whitaker either composed or contributed to Drilling and Division Order Title Opinions in Texas, North Dakota, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio for numerous nationwide law firms. Whitaker is currently the Manager of...

Jack Searcy is senior counsel in The Woodlands office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2018 and practices in the oil and gas group. Jack has extensive experience in all legal aspects of the exploration and production side of the energy industry. He has been Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1987.

Jack earned his B.S., cum laude, from Louisiana Tech University in 1978. He earned his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 1981.

Susan Turney has practiced business law in The Woodlands since 2004. She is committed to protecting her clients’ best interests with not only legal, but practical advice, and timely, responsive communication.

Susan Turney represents companies, owners, and executives. Her practice includes the review, negotiation, and documentation of all types of contracts, including master service agreements, manufacturing agreements, contractor and subcontractor agreements, sales contracts, distributor agreements, licenses, and commercial leases. She provides legal counsel on startups, entity formation, corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, corporate governance, partnership governance, shareholders’ agreements, buy-sell agreements, buy-out agreements, redemptions, partnership and limited liability company agreements,...

Ann Latimer is senior counsel in The Woodlands office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 2018 and practices in the oil and gas group.

Ann focuses on oil, gas, and energy law, including preparation of drilling and division order title opinions. She has experience in title review in connection with onshore and offshore oil and gas merger and acquisition projects with properties located in the Texas and Louisiana region, including review of oil and gas leases and other title documents, as well as rights-of-way, surface use agreements and joint operating agreements. Ann also has experience on several midstream projects...

Philip Robert Brinson is an experienced trial lawyer who possesses unique skills derived from experience outside of the legal fields that have made him not only a trusted advocate for his clients, but also a formidable adversary in the courtroom. Mr. Brinson has extensive legal experience in a variety of practice areas, including hospitality and dram shop, entertainment, premises liability, products liability, professional liability, employment, oil field services, and business and commercial litigation. Mr. Brinson has litigation experience on both sides of the docket in handling infringement actions in copyright and trademark actions in the entertainment and hospitality industries, including...

Michael Callahan is a trial lawyer who fights for people. He has practiced in the area of personal injury law his entire legal career. Michael specializes in representing victims in serious injury cases, such as those involving spinal cord injury, paralysis, brain injury, loss of limb, burns, and wrongful death. Michael received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989. Upon graduation, he moved to Houston to work as a design and construction engineer. For the next several years, Michael worked for two major engineering/construction firms and was involved in the...

Michael C. Sanders has over 20 years of experience litigating business, energy, and real estate disputes. Michael has handled cases from filing through trial and appeal.

Michael is Board Certified in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Michael’s practice has consisted of handling a variety of commercial, energy, and real estate disputes and lawsuits.

In addition to representing clients in lawsuits, Michael serves as an alternative dispute resolution provider. He is available to conduct mediations & arbitrations.

EDWARD J. KAZALEH is an Attorney, Mediator and Arbitrator who offers tremendous business, legal and real world expertise to his clients. KAZALEH & ASSOCIATES, LLP provides Legal Representation of BUSINESSES and INDIVIDUALS for REAL ESTATE, COMMERCIAL, PERSONAL INJURY, LITIGATION, CONSTRUCTION, OIL & GAS, PIPELINE, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY and certain IMMIGRATION LEGAL MATTERS. Our Clients are in the United States and International. GO TO OUR WEB SITE: www.BizLaw.Pro Our particular strengths are: CONSTRUCTION DISPUTES AND DEFECT LAW & ARBITRATION- REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY LAW - COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS LAW - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, TRADEMARKS & PATENTS...

Joe Wheat is senior counsel in The Woodlands office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2018 and practices in the oil and gas group. Joe is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Joe represents clients in oil, gas and mineral law issues, including the preparation of drilling and division order title opinions. He also has experience in due diligence projects and preparation of acquisition and mortgage title opinions, negotiating and drafting mineral conveyances, oil and gas leases, assignments and right-of-way agreements, and representing working interest owners in receivership proceedings.

Joe earned...

Dustin Sanchez is an attorney in Houston, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center.

Martin C. Law is an associate in the litigation section of Patout & Shaw, PLLC. His primary practice areas are arbitration, mediation, oil and gas, commercial law, real estate litigation and development, construction law, and consumer transactions. While in law school, Mr. Law was awarded the Lawrence C. Hoff Jr. Memorial Scholarship and the Dean’s Scholar Award. Mr. Law actively participated in the school’s award winning advocacy program, which culminated in a first place finish at the 2013 FINRA/St. John’s Securities Dispute Resolution Competition. He was an active member in the Oil and Gas Law Society, the Environmental Law...

Joseph Tung brings nearly 20 years of business and legal experience to the table that began with investment banking and continued through an appellate judicial clerkship, a regional and national law firm, and a global oilfield services company. In 2009, Joseph started a full-service private practice offering general counsel services for a variety of businesses and investors. His practice areas included corporate, transactional, employment, litigation, intellectual property, mergers, acquisition, and real estate law. By 2016, Tung Law Firm, PLLC now represents a diverse range of clients in many industries ranging from information technology, construction, oil and...

Don Ethridge is senior counsel in The Woodlands office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2018 and practices in the oil and gas litigation group. Don’s practice centers on oil and gas property title examination, contract negotiation, and drafting in both Louisiana and Texas. He also has extensive litigation experience representing clients in such diverse areas as eminent domain, oilfield environmental remediation, pipeline and utility rights-of-way, personal injury defense, class actions, and disputes concerning ownership of minerals, royalties, and production from oil and gas wells.