You would think that a Master Service Contract concerning boats and oilfield operations in the Gulf of Mexico would be governed by federal maritime law. In some situations you would be mistaken, says Offshore Oil Services, Inc. v. Island Operating
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Court of Appeals Upholds “Extremely Broad” Lien Subordination Agreement
Subordination agreements can be used to impact the priority of all lien holders, whether a bank or a contractor, on a project. In a recent decision, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals found a subordination agreement valid to subordinate an existing
What’s New in the Climate Wars?
Some things aren’t. In keeping with its familiar journalistic standards, the New York Times presents fact-free opinion in a place (page 1, top of the fold) usually reserved for news, this time in its July 26-27 International Edition. Headline: “Ignoring
Texas Venue Selection Statute Requires $1 Million on Its Face to be a Major Transaction
Co-author Gunner West
Defendants – five oil and gas operators – challenged a venue selection clause requiring that suits be filed in Nueces County for disputes over La Salle County acreage. In In re INEOS USA Oil & Gas LLC
Navigating Tariffs and Rising Costs: Legal Tools for the Construction Industry
The American construction industry continues to be shaped by the fluctuating cost and availability of materials. Early data from 2025 indicates a steady rise in material prices, driven in part by tariffs on foreign imports—some reaching as high as 50%
Lien and Bond Claims in October 2025: Dates to Remember
Use this guide as a reference when filing lien and bond claim notices for the month of October. If you have any questions about the lien and bond claim process, don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of the
Tracing Fails to Establish that Texas Mineral Interests Were Separate Property
O’Connor v. O’Connor addresses tracing of property in a divorce proceeding and an evidentiary issue, but there are lessons for parties to mineral deeds as well. First, …
A few Texas marital property rules
- Property acquired by either spouse during
Department of the Interior Fails to Give Fair Notice of its Administrative Action
If you are the type to be preoccupied with the nuances (drudgery if you prefer) of federal statutory and regulatory interpretation, or if you have a fetish for acronyms, I recommend that you read all 41 spellbinding pages of W&T
You Can’t Hide – IRS Argues Willfulness Proven by Husband’s Conduct
It’s no secret that spouses, particularly in bad times, may hide things from one another. In fact, there are bodies of cases involving such marital behavior. However, we’ve gotten another recent reminder that such attempts can land you in hot
Texas Royalty Owner Bears Postproduction Costs on Gas Sold at the Wellhead
Co-author Gunner West
City of Crowley v. TotalEnergies E&P USA, is a post-production cost (PPC) case with a predictable result. The Fort Worth Court of Appeals confirmed its reasoning in Shirlaine W. Props. Ltd. v. Jamestown Res., L.L.C from