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John B. McFarland

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Environment and Natural Resources: Oil, Gas, Land & Water, Real Estate, Civil Litigation, Water Law

Direct Phone: 512.480.5618

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John McFarland represents land and mineral owners in all aspects of oil, gas and mineral law: leasing of mineral interests, family management and estate planning related to mineral ownership, valuation issues, royalty audits and title disputes.

In the last thirty years, Mr. McFarland has negotiated oil and gas leases and lease options covering more than 400,000 acres of land in Texas. His practice includes negotiation of seismic survey permits, data use licenses, purchase and sales agreements, pipeline easements, and financing agreements covering leasehold, mineral and royalty interests. He obtained Board Certification as a Specialist in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law in December 1986.

Mr. McFarland is the author of the Oil and Gas Lawyer Blog.

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PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Admitted to bar, 1975, Texas. Board Certified, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Ruel C. Walker and to the Honorable Ross E. Doughty, Supreme Court of Texas, 1975-1976.

Education: Yale University (B.A., cum laude, 1972); University of Texas (J.D., 1975). Order of the Coif.

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REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Represented landowners in negotiating Seismic Permit and Option Agreement and related oil and gas leases on 42,000-acre ranch in Goliad County.
  • Represented landowners in negotiating Seismic Permit and Option Agreements, and related oil and gas leases, on 35,000 acres in Kenedy and Willacy Counties.
  • Representing Texas General Land Office in litigation over land in the bed of the Canadian River in Hutchinson County and in The Laguna Madre in Cameron County.
  • Represented landowners in litigation to recover unpaid royalties under oil and gas leases covering 1,500 acres of land in Hidalgo and Starr Counties.
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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Advisory Commission, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Exam Commission, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Austin Bar Association (Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section)
  • American Bar Association (Law Practice Management Section)
  • State Bar of Texas (Oil, Gas and Energy Law Section)
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
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AWARDS AND HONORS

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COMMUNITY

Front Steps, Board of Directors

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Publications and Presentations

  • Panel Speaker, "Role of Localities and the Public in Shaping Drilling's Future," Key Legal Issues and Future Directions in the Environmental Impacts of Shale Development and Hydraulic Fracturing, Environmental Law Institute seminar; January, 2013.
  • Panelist/presenter, "The Future of Regulation in Hydraulic Fracturing," State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Law Course, July, 2012.
  • Author, Checklist for Negotiating an Oil and Gas Lease
  • "Leasing Considerations in Shale Plays," presented at Texas Banker's Association, Real Estate, Oil & Gas Conference, April 2010
  • "Anatomy of an Oil and Gas Lease," presented at Convention of National Association of Royalty Owners, September 2002
  • "Issues Concerning Royalty Valuations and Deductions," presented at National Oil & Gas Royalty Conference, November 2002, and subsequently published in Petroleum Accounting and Financial Management Journal (University of North Texas Institute of Petroleum Accounting, Fall/Winter 2002, Vol. 21, No. 3)
  • Ethics for Land Professionals, San Antonio Association of Professional Landmen, February, 2000.
  • Conflicts Between Private Royalty Owners and Payors Over Royalty Owner Rights: Legal and Practical Solutions, National Oil and Gas Royalty Conference, Houston, Texas, November 5-6, 2001.
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