Robert C. Bledsoe
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Practice Areas
- Oil and Gas Title Examination and Transactional Work
- Oil and Gas Litigation
Biography
Bob is a founding member of the firm and has practiced law for over 50 years. He is an Of Counsel in the Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Section and is licensed to practice law in both Texas and New Mexico. Bob is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has served on the board for the Oil and Gas Specialization Examination.
AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
Oil and Gas Title Examination and Transactional Work
Bob has always devoted his practice to oil and gas law. For over 50 years, he has rendered title opinions, prepared documents relating to oil and gas exploration and production, and consulted with clients concerning a multitude of oil and gas transactions. His practice includes preparation of assignments, leases, farmout/farmin agreements, operating agreements, purchase and sale agreements, easements, gas contracts and other documents relating to the oil and gas business. Bob served as one of the early draftsmen of the Prudhoe Bay Unit Agreement and Unit Operating Agreement, and is renowned for having published numerous papers discussing various aspects of the model operating agreement.
Oil and Gas Litigation
Bob has also worked extensively in litigation concerning oil and gas issues in an advisory role at the trial court level, and has been involved in presenting motions for summary judgment and appellate arguments in certain high profile cases. He has extensive experience as an expert witness on matters of oil and gas law and has recently expanded his practice to include service as a mediator and arbitrator in oil and gas disputes.
EDUCATION
Bob graduated New Mexico Military Institute Junior College, University of Texas with a BBA in 1952 and completed law school in 1955 at the University of Texas Law School. While in Law School, Bob served on the Texas Law Review's Board of Editors.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
In addition to having served in the Air Force during the Korean War, Bob has been active in the Midland community. He served on the Midland Board of the Salvation Army, including one year as President, the United Way Board, and the Board of Casa de Amigos, serving one year as President. He has also been active in the Anglican Church for 40 years, having served in various leadership capacities.
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
- J.D.
- University of Texas
- B.B.A. - 1952
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1955
- New Mexico, 1958
Professional Associations
- Midland County Bar Association, President, 00/1974 to 00/1975
- Midland County Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Member
- Bar Association of New Mexico, Member
Honors
- Recipient of Outstanding 50 year Lawyer Award given by the Texas Bar Foundation
Classes & Seminars
- Speaker, The Operating Agreement: Matters Not Covered or Inadequately Covered, 47th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 07/18/2001 to 07/21/2001
- Speaker, Ten Unworkable Aspects of the Model Form Operating Agreement and Suggestions, 18th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Course, Houston, Texas, September, 09/21/2000 to 09/22/2000
- Speaker, 1995 COPAS Accounting procedure, or, is it a Very Hard Undertaking to Seek to Please Everybody, Dallas Bar Association, Energy Law Section, Review of Oil and Gas Law XII, Dallas, Texas, 08/21/1997 to 08/22/1997
- Speaker, A Shaky Marriage: Joinder of Form Joint Operating Agreement and Form Accounting Procedure, COPAS of Dallas Hot Topics Education Day Seminar, Dallas, Texas, 1997 to 1997
- Speaker, Trouble Spots in the Operating Agreement, Psl, Inc., Houston, Texas, 08/29/1995 to 08/29/1995
- Speaker, Litigating the Operating Agreement, 12th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, 1994 to 1994
- Speaker, Ten Most Common Defects That Impede Closings and What to do, Southwestern Legal Foundation, 43rd Annual Institute on Oil and Gas Law, Dallas Bar Association, 1992 to 1992
- Speaker, The Ten Most Regrettable Oil and Gas Decisions Ever Issued by the Texas Supreme Court, 8th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1990 to 1990
- Speaker, The Ten Most Regrettable Oil and Gas Decisions Ever Issued by the Texas Supreme Court, 8th Annual Advanced Oil, Permian Basin Landmans Association, 1991 to 1991
- Speaker, Other Provisions for Operating Agreements, AAPL Convention, 1990 to 1990
- Speaker, Current Problems Between Operators and Non-Operators in Operating Agreements, Southwestern Legal Foundation, 1989 to 1989
- Speaker, Current Developments in Oil and Gas Conveyancing, Review of Oil and Gas Law III, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, Dallas Bar Association, 07/28/1988 to 07/29/1988
- Speaker, Crossing The Sabine problems and Pitfalls, Oil and Gas Law: Texas and Louisiana Style, South Texas College of Law, 06/16/1988 to 06/23/1988
- Speaker, Operating Agreements From the Standpoint of the Non-Operator, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, 1985 to 1985
- Speaker, A Detailed Look at Farmout Agreements, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Institute, State Bar of Texas, 1986 to 1986
- Speaker, Liens--Types, Creation, and Perfection, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, 1983 to 1983
- Speaker, Effects of Bankruptcy Laws on Oil and Gas Liens, Advanced Bankruptcy Institute, State Bar of Texas, 1983 to 1983
- Speaker, Problem Areas in Drafting Operating Agreements some Suggested Solutions, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, 03/25/1983 to 03/25/1983
- Speaker, Problem Areas in Drafting Operating Agreements some Suggested Solutions, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, 10/15/1981 to 10/15/1981
- Speaker, Conveyance of Oil and Gas Interests, Southwestern Legal Foundation 32nd Institute On Oil and Gas Law and Tax 83, 1981 to 1981
- Speaker, Selected Creditor joint Interest Operations, Southwestern Legal Foundation 23rd Institute On Oil and Gas Law and Tax, 1972 to 1972
Pro-Bono Activities
- Past President, The United Way Board
- President, Board of Casa de Amigos
- Member, Christ Church Midland (Anglican)
Published Works
- The Operating Agreement: Matters Not Covered or Inadequately Covered, 47th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 18-21, 2001
- Ten Unworkable Aspects Of The Model Form Operating Agreement and Suggestions, 18TH Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Course, Houston, Texas, September 21-22, 2000
- 1995 COPAS Accounting procedure, or, is it A Very Hard Undertaking to Seek to Please Everybody, (Co-Author with Susan Richardson), Dallas Bar Association, Energy Law Section, Review of Oil and Gas Law XII, Dallas, Texas, August 21-22, 1997
- A Shaky Marriage: Joinder of form Joint Operating Agreement and Form Accounting Procedure, (Co-Author with Susan Richardson), COPAS of Dallas Hot Topics Education Day Seminar, Dallas, Texas, June, 1997
- Litigating The Operating Agreement, 12th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, October, 1994
- Ten Most Common Defects That Impede Closings and What to do, Southwestern Legal Foundation, 43rd Annual Institute on Oil and Gas Law, February, 1992
- Ten Most Common Defects That Impede Closings and What to do, Permian Basin Landmans Association, January, 1991
- Other Provisions for Operating Agreements, AAPL Convention, June, 1990
- Current Problems Between Operators and Non-Operators in Operating Agreements, Southwestern Legal Foundation, February, 1989
- Current Developments in Oil and Gas Conveyancing, Review of Oil and Gas Law III, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, Dallas Bar Association, July 28-29, 1988
- The Sabine problems And Pitfalls, Oil and Gas Law: Texas and Louisiana Style, (Co-Author with Tevis Herd), Texas and Louisiana Style, South Texas College of Law, June 16-23, 1988
- Operating Agreements From the Standpoint of the Non-Operator, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, October, 1985
- A Detailed Look at Farmout Agreements, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Institute, State Bar of Texas, September, 1986
- Liens--Types, Creation, and Perfection, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, October, 1983
- Effects of Bankruptcy Laws on Oil and Gas Liens, Advanced Bankruptcy Institute, State Bar of Texas, May 6, 1983
- Problem Areas in Drafting Operating Agreements some Suggested Solutions, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, March 25, 1983
- Problem Areas in Drafting Operating Agreements some Suggested Solutions, Advanced Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, State Bar of Texas, October 15, 1981
- Conveyance of Oil and Gas Interests, Southwestern Legal Foundation 32nd Institute On Oil and Gas Law and Tax 83, 1981
- Selected Creditor Joint Interest Operations, Southwestern Legal Foundation 23rd Institute On Oil and Gas Law and Tax, February, 1972
Fraternities or Sororities
- Phi Delta Phi
- Delta Tau Delta
Certified Legal Specialties
- Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Current Employment Position
- Founding Member
- Of Counsel