Leader of the firm’s U.S. oil & gas practice.
Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Practice focuses on oil & gas matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other energy, finance and project development matters across the entire value chain.

Stephen is the leader of the firm’s U.S. oil & gas practice. He advises a broad range of public and private companies and investment funds, including developers, exploration and production (E&P) companies, midstream companies, private equity funds, purchasers and sellers on all aspects of energy transactions and agreements, including:

Upstream and midstream asset acquisitions and divestitures
Asset construction, development, operational and commercial matters
Mergers and acquisitions
Farmouts, farmins, joint ventures and other investments
Oil & gas marketing arrangements
Financings
Litigation and disputes.

Prior to entering the legal field, Stephen worked for a major engineering and construction firm in its petrochemical projects area, including on-site at one of the largest oil refineries in the United States.

Representative Work

Represented a private equity-backed company in the negotiation of a “drillco” partnership with outside capital, including the acquisition of related upstream oil and gas assets.
Assisted a public oil & gas company in the sale of saltwater disposal assets.
Represented a private upstream company in the negotiation of a broad joint development and area of mutual interest arrangement.
Counseled a private equity-backed company in the negotiation of gas gathering, processing and sale agreements.
Represented a private equity-backed company in the negotiation of various surface, midstream, disposal and other commercial arrangements in advance of sale.

Counseled a private equity manager in the acquisition of strategic nonoperated oil and gas assets and related finance matters.
Represented a private equity-backed midstream company in negotiating various construction and installation contracts.
Represented Diamondback Energy Inc. and Rattler Midstream LP in the sale of multiple gas gathering systems and related subsidiaries.
Assisted a midstream company with comprehensive settlement and negotiation of amended crude, gas and water gathering, transportation and processing agreements in the midst of counterparty’s restructuring.
Advised a company on the acquisition of a development site for a commercial project.
Represented a private equity-backed company with its wellbore acquisition program from a global E&P company.
Represented a private equity-backed upstream company with the negotiation of gathering and midstream arrangements.
Assisted on various complex upstream and midstream reorganizations and restructurings, including acquisition and divestiture, commercial, operational and litigation support.
Assisted a private equity fund with its dissolution and negotiated distributions and related upstream oil & gas matters.
Advised Diamondback Energy Inc. in connection with its $620 million “drillco” transaction with an affiliate of The Carlyle Group.
Represented a private equity fund sponsor in the sale of a domestic wind farm company.
Advised Sanchez Energy Corporation with the restructuring of a midstream natural gas joint venture with Targa Resources, advising on commercial, processing, dedication and other critical upstream and midstream issues.
Advised Diamondback Energy Inc. in connection with its $9.2 billion all-stock merger with Energen Corporation.
Represented Sanchez Energy Corporation in a joint development agreement with Blackstone Group LP in connection with a $2.3 billion acquisition of Eagle Ford Shale assets from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
Advised Diamondback Energy Inc. in a $212.5 million acquisition in the Permian Basin from ExL Petroleum Management, LLC, et al.
Counseled Diamondback Energy, Inc. in a $2.43 billion acquisition of Delaware Basin assets from Brigham Resources Operating, LLC and Brigham Resources Midstream, LLC.
Advised a large, publicly traded midstream master limited partnership (MLP) in negotiating a joint venture transaction.
Acted for a publicly traded oil & gas company in various mineral interest acquisitions.
Advised a publicly traded midstream MLP with operational matters.
Represented a private equity company in connection with the acquisition of operated upstream properties.

Counseled a private equity manager in the acquisition of strategic nonoperated oil and gas assets and related finance matters.
Represented a private equity-backed midstream company in negotiating various construction and installation contracts.
Represented Diamondback Energy Inc. and Rattler Midstream LP in the sale of multiple gas gathering systems and related subsidiaries.
Assisted a midstream company with comprehensive settlement and negotiation of amended crude, gas and water gathering, transportation and processing agreements in the midst of counterparty’s restructuring.
Advised a company on the acquisition of a development site for a commercial project.
Represented a private equity-backed company with its wellbore acquisition program from a global E&P company.
Represented a private equity-backed upstream company with the negotiation of gathering and midstream arrangements.
Assisted on various complex upstream and midstream reorganizations and restructurings, including acquisition and divestiture, commercial, operational and litigation support.
Assisted a private equity fund with its dissolution and negotiated distributions and related upstream oil & gas matters.
Advised Diamondback Energy Inc. in connection with its $620 million “drillco” transaction with an affiliate of The Carlyle Group.
Represented a private equity fund sponsor in the sale of a domestic wind farm company.
Advised Sanchez Energy Corporation with the restructuring of a midstream natural gas joint venture with Targa Resources, advising on commercial, processing, dedication and other critical upstream and midstream issues.
Advised Diamondback Energy Inc. in connection with its $9.2 billion all-stock merger with Energen Corporation.
Represented Sanchez Energy Corporation in a joint development agreement with Blackstone Group LP in connection with a $2.3 billion acquisition of Eagle Ford Shale assets from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
Advised Diamondback Energy Inc. in a $212.5 million acquisition in the Permian Basin from ExL Petroleum Management, LLC, et al.
Counseled Diamondback Energy, Inc. in a $2.43 billion acquisition of Delaware Basin assets from Brigham Resources Operating, LLC and Brigham Resources Midstream, LLC.
Advised a large, publicly traded midstream master limited partnership (MLP) in negotiating a joint venture transaction.
Acted for a publicly traded oil & gas company in various mineral interest acquisitions.
Advised a publicly traded midstream MLP with operational matters.
Represented a private equity company in connection with the acquisition of operated upstream properties.

Education
J.D., Baylor University School of Law, cum laude, 2010
B.B.A., Saint Edward's University, summa cum laude, 2006

Bar Admissions
Texas

Recognitions

The Legal 500 US, Energy Transactions: oil and gas, 2023.
Euromoney Expert Guides: Rising Stars 2020, United States – Energy and natural resources, 2020.
Recognized as a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers, 2017-2020.

Affiliations and Public Service