eCourses

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day! This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Deep in the Heart of the Texas Business Courts: What Attorneys Need to Know (Replay) Hear the ins and outs of the new Texas Business Court, including its jurisdiction, its judges, and its unique procedures. Mitch Ackal, Gray Reed - Houston, TX Brock Niezgoda, Gray Reed - Houston, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Developing an AI Governance Program (Replay) Practical guidance and considerations in developing and implementing governance around the internal use of AI. Emily Westridge Black, Shearman & Sterling LLP - Austin, TX Steven Gyeszly, Houston, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Avoiding Burnout (Replay) Delve into the crucial importance of wellness and burnout prevention in the legal profession. Discover why safeguarding your well-being is essential for sustaining a successful and fulfilling legal career. Kiele Linroth Pace, Pacefirm Consulting, LLC - Austin, TX Michelle Fontenot, Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Session 1: The Aftermath of Recent Strikes - The contract updates and legal issues that resulted from the WGA and SAG AFTRA strikes. Session 2: Update on Conflicts of Interest - An overview and analysis of the rules, case law and ethics opinions regarding conflicts of interest rules including simultaneous representation of potentially adverse clients, positional conflicts, conflicts involving the lawyer’s personal interest, imputed disqualification, conflicts involving insurance, conflicts regarding former or prospective clients, and conflicts arising from pre-retention contacts. Session 3: When Lawyers Make the News: It’s Not About You. It’s About Your Client. - With the guidance provided by the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, and existing ethics opinions, this presentation focuses on ethical considerations lawyers often face when handling cases that make the news and will offer practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls that arise when your case makes the spotlight. Consider lessons learned from stories and examples of lawyers who themselves made headlines and faced legal trouble for ethical lapses in the scope of client representation.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: Case Law Update: Part One - Review recent decisions dealing with oil and gas leases, royalties, mineral conveyances, joint operating agreements, state regulation, and related topics. Session 02: Case Law Update: Part Two - Review recent decisions dealing with oil and gas leases, royalties, mineral conveyances, joint operating agreements, state regulation, and related topics.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Hear about recent developments in state and federal regulation of the rapidly evolving carbon capture industry in Texas and recent trends in negotiating pore space agreements. 

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: The Meaning of ‘Other Minerals’ and Other Incidents of Mineral Ownership - A reexamination of the granting clause and the meaning of “other minerals” as they pertain to other incidents of the mineral estate, including produced water, lithium, and porous space. Session 02: Recent Developments in Deed Interpretation Issues in Mineral Conveyancing - A presentation with a focus on recent developments in deed interpretation issues common to mineral conveyancing, including the “four corners” doctrine and “surrounding circumstances,” and an examination of recent case law implicating such interpretive issues. Session 03: Leasing and Development of State Lands and Minerals - Broad-ranging discussion regarding the leasing of approximately 13 million acres of state land in Texas managed by the General Land Office. Topics include oil and gas leasing, pooling, allocation wells, and lease audits, as well as brine mining, geothermal leasing, and leasing for carbon sequestration. Session 04: Accommodating Concurrent Real Estate and Mineral Development in Urban Areas and Beyond - Revisiting surface use agreements and Chapter 92 of the Texas Natural Resources Code. Session 05: Mineral Interest Pooling Act - A short history of the MIPA and discussion of its current application and use.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

THIS MONTH: Anti-SLAPP Case Study: Dealing with Defamation, Business Disparagement, and Social Media  • ​Your Hearing/Deposition Will Be “Remote” But You Can’t Be “Distant” • RWI Update and Negotiating an RWI Policy for Your Deal • Oil & Gas in Estate Planning and Probate • Artificial Intelligence as a Core Competency: An Ethics Lens

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Review some of the more common varieties of oil and gas lease termination claims, and discuss practical considerations for continued development of disputed properties in the midst of pending litigation.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Learn about ownership rights in Texas of subsurface pore spaces.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Our legal system is being exploited to generate unreasonable jury verdicts and unjust settlements that are inconsistent with fairness, efficiency, and the rule of law.  What are the root causes of this crisis and what strategies are available to counteract these abuses and promote fairness and predictability?

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Learn about recent developments and trends in purchase and sale transactions in the energy sector.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

A summary of decisions and emerging issues in royalty-related disputes.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

A view from the Business Court & Fifteenth Court of Appeals - Rules, Procedures, Cases & Know-How

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Unlike traditional leasehold co-tenancy, modern leasehold co-tenancy in horizontal wells presents unique challenges. Following the holding in Apache v. Devon, where the court determined that an operator not in privity with another leasehold owner has no duty or obligation to pay the royalties on that leasehold owner’s leases, practical questions have emerged over the payment of royalty to the non-participating leasehold co-tenant’s lessors and mineral owners, which questions include: Who has the obligation to pay the royalty? When does the obligation to pay royalty accrue?  What happens if a well doesn’t pay out?  What is the statute of limitations and how is it measured? How are royalties calculated in absence of production and price information?

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

After 40 years, the Chevron doctrine has been overruled, fundamentally changing how the oil and gas industry navigates federal regulations as federal courts stand ready to play a more active role in interpreting regulatory statutes. Explore the impacts of this shift in power on the industry as a whole.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

New and amended disciplinary rules took effect in October 2024, adding a number of clarifications and additional provisions. Hear a summary of rule changes relevant to an oil and gas practitioner.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Understanding the basics of how AI works, the dangers and pitfalls with current AI technology, and ways AI can (or should not) be used in litigation.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

An overview of what you need to know for your next water deal supporting oil and gas operations. Specifically, we will explore water law in the oil patch, acquiring water rights or the right to drill water wells, and structuring water transactions for oil and gas operations.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: Vendor Risk Management - A discussion with industry leaders on cybersecurity issues arising in vendor relationships. The panel discusses third party auditing, cyber incident notification, the recently adopted Reg S-P amendments, and vendor use of AI. Session 02: Current Compliance Issues and Trends - This panel discusses select current issues impacting compliance programs including recent DOJ and SEC guidance and evolving risks. Session 03: RWI Update and Negotiating an RWI Policy for Your Deal - RWI continues to be ubiquitous and ever evolving, with significant changes highlighted by decreasing rates, increased capacity, and new/hungrier underwriting approaches. In addition to an in-depth market trends update, this panel will drill down with the latest cutting edge thinking on how to effectively implement an RWI deal, including negotiating the RWI policy (what to look for and try to get best terms on) and resulting drafting considerations in the purchase agreement. Session 04: Retaliation: Still the Most Attractive Claim for Plaintiffs and Most Complicated for Defendants - Don’t get mad. Get even. Retaliation is in a league all its own, but almost always included with other claims. How is it different, and how does that impact the guidance we give our clients?

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day! This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Your Emergency Grievance Toolkit For many lawyers, the grievance process can be upsetting, confusing, frightening, and anger-producing. Learn the most effective techniques for dealing with a grievance from the immediate past-Committee Chair of the District 4 grievance committee. Scott Rothenberg, Law Offices of Scott Rothenberg - Bellaire, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) ChatGPT Ethics (Replay) Topic description generated by ChatGPT: Using ChatGPT for legal purposes promises efficient information processing, yet raises ethical concerns including client confidentiality and the risk of providing inaccurate advice. It is paramount that attorneys ensure adequate supervision, maintain professional discretion, and stay vigilant about the tool's limitations to uphold their ethical obligations. Henson Adams, Haynes Boone, LLP - San Antonio, TX Adam Sencenbaugh, Haynes Boone, LLP - Austin, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Deal Ethics (Replay) A discussion on a number of ethical issues that come up in an M&A practice, including whether the same firm can represent two bidders for the same target, other conflicts of interest, the no-contact rule, managing the lawyer’s duty for truthfulness and protecting the client’s privilege. David I. Albin, Finn Dixon & Herling LLP - Stamford, CT Nathaniel L. Doliner, Carlton Fields - Tampa, FL Robert R. Kibby, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. - Dallas, TX

Includes: Video Audio Slides

For many lawyers, the grievance process can be upsetting, confusing, frightening, and anger-producing. Learn the most effective techniques for dealing with a grievance from the immediate past-Committee Chair of the District 4 grievance committee.

Includes: Video Slides