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JAMES T. THOMPSON
Partner

James Thompson was born and raised in Houston and completed both his undergraduate and legal education at the University of Texas at Austin (B.A. Plan II Honors, 1997; J.D. with honors, 2001).  Prior to joining WattBeckworth in October of 2003, Mr. Thompson worked as an associate in the Austin office of Vinson & Elkins LLP.  Mr. Thompson's practice focuses on oil and gas and business litigation.

In 2008 and 2011, Mr. Thompson was recognized through voting by his peers as a Texas Rising Star for energy and natural resources and business litigation by Thomson Reuters (published in Texas Monthly).

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

  • 2001 - J.D., with honors, The University of Texas School of Law
  • 1997 - B.A., Plan II Honors, University of Texas at Austin

PROFESSIONAL HONORS & ACTIVITIES

  • 2008 Texas Rising Star for energy and natural resources and business litigation (recognized by Thomson Reuters, published in Texas Monthly)
  • 2011 Texas Rising Star for energy and natural resources and business litigation (recognized by Thomson Reuters, published in Texas Monthly)

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Business Litigation

  • Represented an oil and gas company in a dispute regarding alleged misappropriation of trade secret data.
  • Represented an oilfield services company in an insurance coverage dispute.
  • Represented a valve servicing company in an insurance coverage dispute.
  • Represented a valve servicing company in a dispute regarding a fire at a plant.
  • Represented an oil and gas company in a suit regarding well log intellectual property.

Oil and Gas

  • Represented an oil and gas company owning mineral interests in Pecos County, Texas in a suit for breach of contract (joint operating agreement drilling obligation) and fraud against operator, and in which over $120 million dollars in damages was sought
  • Represented an oil and gas company in a suit for fraud, bad faith pooling and unpaid royalty for mineral acreage in Brazoria County, Texas, and obtained dismissal of case in company’s favor
  • Represented mineral owner in suit for declaratory judgment regarding executive mineral rights in Brooks County, Texas, and obtained summary judgment in owner’s favor
  • Represented mineral owners in a suit for drainage against their oil and gas lessee in Chambers County, Texas
  • Represented a working interest owner in a suit for breach of contract (AMI obligation), breach of fiduciary duty and fraud against another working interest owner
  • Represented oil and gas company in a suit for breach of contract regarding an AMI obligation to convey overriding royalty interests
  • Represented various mineral owners and oil and gas companies in title disputes 
  • Represented various oil and gas companies regarding JOA, exploration, participation and farmout agreement disputes
  • Represented various mineral owners in disputes regarding royalties, shut-in royalties, and other lease issues
  • Represented an oilfield services company in dispute regarding a cement job in Oklahoma
  • Represented a wind energy company regarding the sale of its wind energy interests
  • Represented a Japanese energy company regarding the purchase of offshore oil and gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Represented mineral owners in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania regarding the negotiation of oil and gas leases
  • Represented various mineral owners and oil and gas companies regarding seismic-related issues
  • Represented oil and gas operator in dispute with non-operating working interest owners regarding payment of operating expenses
  • Represented oil and gas professionals in disputes regarding entitlement to overriding royalty interests
  • Represented various oil and gas companies, mineral and landowners regarding surface issues, royalty issues, pipeline easements, lease negotiations and other oil and gas lease issues

SPEECHES & ARTICLES

  • Speaker: 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: Preferential Rights. Oil and Gas Investor. October, 2006.
  • Panel speaker on preferential rights. Hart Energy Publishing and IPAA Land and Royalties Conference. Denver, Colorado, November, 2006.
  • Co-author: The Production of Seismic Data: E-Discovery, Trade Secrets, Confidentiality & Other Selected Issues. State Bar of Texas, 25th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law. October, 2007.
  • Co-author: The Legal Principles Affecting Contractual Liabilities When Oil & Gas Properties Are Assigned; Does Seagull Energy E&P, Inc. v. Eland Energy, Inc. Reflect the Common Law? State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section Report. Volume 32, September, 2007.
  • Co-author: Discovery of Seismic & Geophyiscal Data: Issues and Opportunities. State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section Report, Volume 35, March, 2011.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

  • The Arbor School, Board Member
  • Bayou Breakfast Club, Founding Member
  • Houston Producers' Forum, Member
  • Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association, Member
  • Texas Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas

James T. Thompson
jathompson@wattbeckworth.com
D: +1 713.333.9125

1800 Pennzoil Place
South Tower
711 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002
T: +1 713.650.8100
F: +1 713.650.8141

Practice Areas
Oil & Gas
Business Litigation