Staff Counsel - Surface Land

Job Responsibilities

• Provide legal support to the Surface Land and Operations teams on matters related to surface development for oil and gas operations, joint operations, pipelines, infrastructure, midstream operations, and surface use and other property rights and obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate surface-related agreements, including:
• Surface Use Agreements
• Rights-of-Way and Easements (surface and subsurface)
• Water purchase, takeaway, and offload agreements
• Saltwater disposal agreements
• Advis[e] departments and business units on property-related transactional and commercial matters.
• Deliver timely, practical legal guidance across land, operations, and commercial activities.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
• Active admission to a state bar; ability to practice in-house in Texas
• Five (5+) years of legal experience (law firm, government, or in-house)
• Upstream and/or midstream oil & gas experience, including complex property matters and agreement negotiation
• Strong ability to advise on contractual matters related to oil and gas infrastructure, development, and operations
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaboratively

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities
• Demonstrated ability to draft and review complex legal documents and provide practical business-focused advice in a fast-paced environment