Donald G. Sinex

Partner

Telephone: 713-965-9969
Facsimile: 713-963-9169
Email Me

Focus Areas:

• Oil & Gas Transactions
• Oil & Gas Litigation

Practice Description:

All areas of oil and gas law, with particular experience in exploration and production, acquisition and sale of producing properties, including title examination, and preparation of related documents and litigation

Prior Experience:

Mr. Sinex, a 1964 Petroleum Landman Management graduate from Oklahoma University, was employed as a petroleum landman for two major oil companies, Union Oil Company of California and Getty Oil Company, prior to 1971. This led naturally into a law practice emphasizing oil, gas and mineral law upon graduation from South Texas College of Law in 1971.

As Vice-President and General Counsel for ITR Petroleum, Inc. from 1984 to 1987, Mr. Sinex was extensively involved in oil and gas property acquisitions, including acquisition of financially troubled companies in bankruptcy.

Mr. Sinex's practice today continues to be principally involved with the oil and gas industry and, in particular, matters involving exploration and production. This includes transactional matters regarding acquisition and sale, bank financing, and oil and gas exploration, involving contracts and title to oil and gas properties and mediation of disputes involving related oil and gas issues. As a result of litigation experience early in his practice, Mr. Sinex continues to be involved in supervising oil and gas related litigation matters for various clients.

Activities and Affiliations:

• Admitted to the State Bar of Texas, 1971
• Member, Houston Bar Association, Oil and Gas Section
• Chairman, Houston Bar Association, Oil and Gas Section, 1993 - 1994
• Member, Houston Association of Professional Landmen
• Member, American Association of Professional Landmen
• Board Certified - Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
• Selected for inclusion in listing of Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2004 and 2005
• Selected for inclusion in listing of Texas Super Lawyers, Texas Monthly, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2005-2006 (Natural Resources Law)
• Listed in the Best Lawyers in America, 2008

Publications and Presentations:

• Co-authored with Susan Stanton, "After Acquired Title Revisited," presented at the Ernest Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, University of Texas, Houston, Texas, March 26, 2004: Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Journal, Vol. 42, No. 2, 2005
• "Seller's Duty to Disclose to Buyer," American Association of Professional Landmen, Landman's Workshop on Acquisitions and Divestitures, May 21, 1999; The Landman, July/August 1999; The 47th mineral Law Institute, LSU Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 30-31, 2000; the Energy Law Institute, Oil & Gas/Power, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, August 17-18, 2000.
• "Lease Maintenance and Shut-in Royalty Issues," The Landman, November/December, 1998
• "Lease Maintenance and Term Royalty Issues," Houston Association of Professional Landmen 29th Annual Technical Workshop, Houston, Texas, April 6, 1998.
• "Ethical Responsibilities of Attorneys and Landmen in Oil and Gas Transactions," Houston Bar Association - Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, December 12, 1995; Exxon Corporation, May 17, 1996; AAPL International Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 20, 1996; Dallas Bar Association, Energy Law Section, December 18, 1996; The Landman, January/February, 1997; Association of Lease and Title Analysts (ALTA), February 18, 1997; West Houston Association of Professional Landmen, July 18, 1997; South Texas College of Law, Oil & Gas Institute, August 7, 1997; Dallas Bar Association Energy Law Section, Review of Oil and Gas Law XII, August 21, 1997; The AAPL 1997 Gulf Coast Institute, November 7, 1997.
• "Analysis of Gas Balancing Issues Absent a Balancing Agreement," the Landman, January 1985.
• "Landman's Overview of Producing Property Acquisitions," The Landman, January, 1985
• "Three Frequent and Confusing Land Problems Considered in Relation to Last Minute Operations," American Association of Petroleum Landmen, Annual Mid-Year Conference, Midland, Texas, January 31-February 2, 1982; The Landman, April, 1982

Education:

• South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, J.D., May, 1971
• Oklahoma University, B.B.A., Petroleum Land Management, January, 1964