James D. Thompson III

Successfully tried a domestic arbitration under the CPR Rules on behalf of a major oil and gas company involving a dispute among Joint Interest Owners under a model form Joint Operating Agreement and COPAS Accounting Procedure

Defended an exploration and production company in a domestic arbitration proceeding involving $6 million in dispute brought by a non-operating working interest owner alleging breach of contract under a Joint Operating Agreement and COPAS Accounting Procedure; this matter, arbitrated before a panel of three arbitrators, resulted in a decision rendered in favor of our client on 95% of the matters in dispute

Defended an international exploration and production company in an international arbitration pending before the AAA/ICDR in a $6 million dispute brought by a drilling contractor alleging breach of contract, and involving defenses of force majeure and contract frustration

Obtained a favorable arbitral award on all counts in the defense of an AAA/ICDR arbitration arising out of the purchase of more than 20,000 acres of leases in the Utica Shale for $120 million

Defended an international exploration and production company in an international arbitration pending before the AAA/ICDR in a dispute brought by a drilling contractor alleging breach of contract and damages in excess of $3 million

Tried and obtained a favorable jury verdict in Texas state court on behalf of a domestic oil and gas company, defending against claims of breach of contract, underpayment of royalties, and fraud

Represented an independent exploration and production company, along with Colorado counsel, to obtain a order of dismissal for failure to state a claim involving a class action arising from drilling, completion, and hydraulic fracturing activities in a residential area

Defended a group of royalty and working interest owners in Texas state court in a title lawsuit brought by dozens of individuals claiming to be the rightful mineral owners to a producing tract of land estimated to be valued at over $500 million; summary judgment was rendered in favor of our client on all issues.This matter was upheld on appeal

Currently defending and counseling multiple clients on litigation related to hydraulic fracturing in shale formations and tight sands

Defended multiple exploration and production companies in Texas state courts in various lawsuits brought by landowners and royalty interest owners asserting termination of leasehold interests by virtue of alleged cessation of production in paying quantities. Summary judgments were rendered in these matters in favor of our clients; two of these matters were appealed, one to the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals and the other to the San Antonio Court of Appeals, and successfully argued and affirmed without further appeal

Defended and/or settled multiple oil and gas exploration and production companies in Texas state court in various lawsuits brought by non-operating working interest owners alleging breach of contract under the COPAS accounting provisions of certain Joint Operating Agreements

Defended an oil and gas exploration and production company in a dry hole trespass lawsuit brought by a royalty owner in Texas federal court; summary judgment was granted at the district court level and was upheld on appeal to the Fifth Circuit. No further appeal was taken

Defended a large independent oil and gas producer in a False Claims Act lawsuit pending in the Eastern District of Texas relating to natural gas and natural gas liquid royalties

Defended domestic energy companies in a False Claims Act lawsuit pending in the Eastern District of Texas relating to the use of “posted prices” in valuing crude oil transactions; this case settled on terms very favorable to our clients

Defended multiple clients in Texas federal court in multidistrict litigation comprising a series of cases brought by a purported national class of royalty interest owners alleging antitrust violations, fraud, conspiracy, and breach of contract

Defended a large independent oil and gas producer in multiple related lawsuits, both individual and class, alleging underpayment of royalties on natural gas and natural gas liquids

Tried and obtained a favorable jury verdict in an accounting malpractice claim in Harris County, Texas

Perenco Nigeria Limited v. Ashland Inc., 242 F.3d 299

National Steel Corp. v. Scurlock Permian Corp., 95 F.3d 48

Benchmark Electronics v. J.M. Huber Corp., 343 F.3d 719

El Paso Refining, Inc. v. Scurlock Permian Corp., 77 S.W.3d 374

In re SWEPI LP, 103 S.W.3d 578

W.T. Carter & Bro. V. Oryx Energy Co., 5 S.W.3d 704

Scurlock Permian Corp. v. Brazos County, 869 S.W.2d 478

In re Hal G. Kuntz, 124 S.W.3d 179

SWEPI LP v. Camden Resources, Inc., 139 S.W.3d 332

In re Shell E&P, Inc. and SWEPI, LP, 179 S.W.3d 125

Midland Central Appraisal District v. Plains Mktg., L.P., ___ S.W.3d ___