Dick Watt

In Memoriam

Dick Watt practiced law in Texas since his admission to the Texas bar in 1972, after completion of both his undergraduate and legal educations at the University of Texas at Austin. His practice emphasized general civil litigation, oil and gas law, and oil and gas litigation, including extensive trial and appellate work. In oil and gas matters, he represented clients in all phases of the upstream and mid-stream exploration, development, and production sectors. Dick was widely regarded as one of the most preeminent oil and gas lawyers in Texas. He was also active in ranching and oil and gas activities.

Aside from his sterling reputation as a lawyer, Dick was also known throughout Texas as a gentleman of the highest order, a devoted family man, and a trusted friend.

Representative Experience

Served both on arbitration panels and representing clients before arbitration panels in arbitrations involving Joint Operating Agreements, Exploration Agreements, gas contracts, gas plants, offshore oil and gas facilities, and similar oil and gas contracts and joint ventures
Served as a mediator in numerous disputes, mostly related to Energy, Oil and Gas or Real Estate
Representation of party in arbitration over pipeline construction contract in the Arabian Sea
Disputes over contracts and production sharing agreements in the Gulf of Guinea offshore West Africa
Defense of independent oil company against fraud and theft of trade secret claims
Representation of major oil company with regard to OCSLA lease interpretation
Representation of royalty owners in class action regarding crude oil pricing
Representation of royalty owners in class action regarding royalties on natural gas
Representation of pipeline company in acquisition of easements and condemnation claims
Representation of pipeline company in defense of water claims by water rights owners
Representation of landowners against pipeline companies in eminent domain proceedings
Defense of independent producer against class action claims asserted by property owners claiming damages to homes resulting from seismic shoot in urban area
Representation of producers in take-or-pay litigation against pipeline companies
Representation of working interest owners in dispute over terms of acquisition agreement
Defense of independent oil company over royalty owner fraud claims
Arbitration in dispute between parties over construction of operating agreement
Defense of oil company against royalty owner concerning lease terms
Representation of bank trust company in dispute with trust beneficiaries over oil and gas royalty claims
Representation of mineral owners under Padre Island National Seashore against National Park Service in multiple matters
Representation of parties in probate proceedings involving duties of trustee and executor
Arbitration of dispute between partners of a large law firm regarding provisions of the Partnership Agreement
Representation of parties in will contest involving significant oil and gas assets
Representation of drilling contractor against manufacturer of weight indicator on drilling rig
Representation of large MLP pipeline company in defense of class action by shareholders

Practice Areas

Commercial Disputes Litigation
Energy Litigation
Arbitrations & Mediation

Awards & Recognition

Recognized in Chambers USA for Energy & Natural Resources Litigation, 2009-2019
Recipient of the 2014 Ernest E. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award by the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law of the University of Texas School of Law
“Texas Super Lawyer,” Energy & Natural Resources Law and Business Litigation Law, 2004-2019 as recognized by Thomson Reuters and published in Texas Monthly
Selected as one of five finalists for the 2012 Texas Lawyer Go-To Guide in Energy Law
Former Co-Chair, Texas Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section Pattern Jury Charge Project, and currently member of State Bar of Texas Oil & Gas Pattern Jury Charge Committee
2011 Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyer for Business, focusing on both general civil litigation and oil & gas litigation
The Best Lawyers in America, selected by peers as one of Texas Best Lawyers in Natural Resources Law and Oil & Gas Law, as published by U.S. News and World Report, 2008-2019
The Best Lawyers in America, voted “Houston Natural Resources Lawyer of the Year,” as published by U.S. News and World Report, 2010
Chair of the State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section for 2007-2008
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating – The Highest Possible Rating from Martindale-Hubbell 1983-2019

Memberships

Texas Bar Association
Houston Bar Association
American Bar Association

Publications

Author: Oil and Water – Do They Mix On the Surface?
Author: Commentary on Jones v. Killingsworth by Dick Watt.
Author/Speaker: Royalty Issues and Decisions
Author/Panelists: Panel Discussion: Recent Developments Involving the Conflicting Rights of Mineral Owners and Surface Owners
Author/Speaker: Mediating Oil and Gas Disputes in Texas for the State Bar of Texas
Author/Speaker: Flashpoints in Joint Operating Agreements, Institute for Energy Law, The Center for American and International Law, 9th Annual Energy Litigation Conference, October 12, 2010
Co-Author: The Legal Principles Affecting Contractual Liabilities When Oil & Gas Properties Are Assigned, 20th Annual Energy Law Institute, South Texas College of Law, November 8, 2007
Author/Speaker: Beyond the Standard Lease Form Selected Oil & Gas Lease Issues for the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, November 4-5, 2004
Co-Author/Speaker: Royalty Litigation in 2004 An Update and a Look Ahead for the University of Texas School of Law Civil Litigation Conference, October 28-29, 2004
Co-Author: A Litigation Perspective: Selected Thoughts on the Express Negligence Doctrine, Exculpatory Clauses, and Indemnity in Joint Operating Agreements. State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section Report. Volume 26, Number 1. September 2001
Author/Speaker: Application of Discovery Rule In Oil and Gas Litigation: 1995 Update — The Plaintiffs’ Perspective for State Bar of Texas, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Course, September 21, 1995
Co-Author/Speaker: Drainage From A to Z for State Bar of Texas, 12th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, October 6-7, 1994
Author/Speaker: Judicial Process for Evaluating Producing and Non-Producing Oil and Gas Properties for the Austin Geological Society and Travis County Bar Association and endorsed by the State Bar of Texas, Environmental Law Section, October 8, 1994
Author/Speaker: Marketing and Implied Covenant Litigation for the State Bar of Texas, 11th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Course, October 14, 1993
Author/Speaker: Application of Discovery Rule in Oil and Gas Litigation for the South Texas College of Law, 6th Annual Advanced Oil & Gas Institute, July 22, 1993
Co-Author/Speaker: To Share or Not To Share – Royalty Obligations Arising Out of Take-or-Pay or Similar Gas Contract Litigation for the Southwestern Legal Foundation 42nd Annual Institute on Oil and Gas Law and Taxation, February 21, 1991
Author/Speaker: Sun v. Jackson: An Analysis of a Lessee’s Obligations In Texas Under the Implied Covenant of Reasonable Development in 1990 for Houston Bar Association, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, April 24, 1990

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

Education

J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1972
B.A., The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 1969