Practice AreasPractice Areas
The Stubbeman Law Firm's practice is an outgrowth of its roots in the oil and gas industry; however, the firm's practice has become highly diversified and sophisticated as the firm's areas of expertise have expanded to meet the needs of its clients.
The following summarize and describe the Firm's principal practice areas:
Oil and Gas
The oil, gas and energy practice has been a primary area of specialization since the firm's inception in 1936. The firm assists clients in a variety of energy-related transactions, and the oil and gas section offers a broad range of services requiring extensive coordination with many of the firm's other practice areas.
The firm's client list includes almost every major oil company in the country, as well as numerous large and small corporations and independent oil and gas producers. Many of the firm's attorneys specialize in the field of oil and gas title examination. Their work involves examination of title to land and minerals for projects ranging in size and sophistication from the drilling of a single well to the acquisition of producing and nonproducing fields. Other lawyers specialize in developing financing packages for oil and gas drilling ventures and structuring, and drafting a wide variety of business agreements between oil companies and other industry participants. The firm is actively involved in exploration, production and transportation matters, and in the preparation and negotiation of documents pertaining to the operations of its clients, including joint exploration agreements, oil and gas leases, operating agreements, farmout agreements, oil and gas sales contracts, and pipeline construction and operation agreements. (Return to top)
Litigation
The firm's litigation section has a strong reputation for providing top quality, cost-effective representation in complex litigation matters. In particular, the firm's litigation section has played a significant role in the development of oil and gas law in Texas during the last half century.
The litigation practice of the firm is highly diverse and includes the representation of clients in many areas, such as products liability, professional liability, and personal injury defense; general contract and partnership disputes; banking issues, antitrust, unfair competition and trade secret claims; oil and gas, pollution and remediation litigation; real estate, water rights and property law; condemnation; federal and state laws; probate and estate administration; complex family law disputes and criminal defense. In addition, the Firm has a substantial appellate practice before all state and federal appellate courts.
The firm represents financial institutions, financial holding companies, and borrowers in a variety of lending transactions, including those involving oil and gas, and commercial and residential real estate. The firm also assists its institutional clients in the area of internal operations and administration. (Return to top)
Banking
The firm represents financial institutions, financial holding companies, and borrowers in a variety of lending transactions, including those involving oil and gas, and commercial and residential real estate. The firm also assists its institutional clients in the area of internal operations and administration. (Return to top)
Corporate
The firm's corporate practice involves the representation of publicly and privately held corporations, partnerships, other entities, and individuals. The firm handles a full range of business related activities, from the point of advising clients with respect to strategies and tactics through the preparation and negotiation of necessary closing documents.
The corporate practice covers corporate organizations, finance, distributions, redemptions, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations, and liquidations. Additionally, the firm's practice involves the formation, liquidation and dissolution of general partnerships, joint ventures and limited partnerships. (Return to top)
Estate Planning, Probate and Trusts
The firm provides estate and tax planning advice to individuals, closely-held businesses and exempt organizations concerning their estate planning objectives, which include reducing intrafamily income taxes, minimizing estate and gift taxes, providing financial support for beneficiaries, and addressing liquidity problems for individuals and their businesses. (Return to top)
Family Law
The firm advises clients on many sensitive issues in the area of domestic relations, including premarital and post marital agreements and divorces; however, this area of practice is limited to matters involving significant estates which present complex business planning and tax issues, and to the representation of clients from the Firm's other practice areas and their key employees. With the help of corporate, tax and oil and gas attorneys, the firm seeks to provide domestic relations services of the highest caliber in response to the needs of its clients. (Return to top)
Real Estate
The firm represents real estate developers in all phases of development, including formation of ownership entities, acquisitions, financing, construction, leasing, zoning, syndications, and dispositions. The Firm also represents builders and owners of commercial and retail properties.
The firm represent institutional lenders in commercial and residential transactions. The firm's representation of institutional lenders focuses upon providing advice, counseling and document preparation for both debt and equity financing transactions. (Return to top)
Zoning and Land Use
The firm's zoning and land use practice includes the representation of clients before local and state governmental agencies, principally to secure governmental approvals relating to the acquisition and development of real property. Through the representation of developers, land owners, utility districts, energy companies and selected municipalities, the firm has acquired experience in annexation, planning, zoning, code enforcement, utilities, condemnation and eminent domain, and other development related issues. (Return to top)
Administrative and Legislative
The firm's administrative and legislative capabilities at the state and local levels and, on a more limited basis, the federal level, are a reflection of the Firm's long history and involvement in the state. The firm's practice involves client representation at the state level before the Texas Legislature, the Governor's office, the Attorney General's office, the General Land Office, the Railroad Commission, the Texas Board of Medical examiners, the Office of the Comptroller and other key agencies, and at the local level before city councils, county commission, and related local agencies. (Return to top)