Energy & Oil and Gas

Litigation for the Energy Sector

The Texas energy industry operates on contracts worth tens of millions of dollars, complex regulatory frameworks, and relationships that can turn adversarial overnight. When disputes arise—over pipeline easements, royalty calculations, joint operating agreements, or midstream service contracts—the stakes are substantial and the margin for error is zero.

Preminger PLLC represents energy companies, mineral owners, and executives in disputes across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Dov Preminger developed deep energy litigation experience at Norton Rose Fulbright, where he handled disputes for Fortune 500 energy companies involving property rights, tax obligations, and complex contractual arrangements. That experience informs every energy case the firm handles today.

What We Handle

Our energy practice covers disputes arising at every stage of the value chain:

• Pipeline and Midstream Disputes. Gathering agreements, transportation contracts, processing arrangements, and dedication clauses generate some of the most contentious disputes in the energy sector. We litigate claims involving minimum volume commitments, acreage dedications, shut-in rights, and interconnection obligations.
• Exploration and Production Disputes. From farmout agreements and area of mutual interest provisions to drilling obligations and well completion disputes, we handle the litigation that arises when E&P operations go sideways.
• Royalty and Mineral Rights Disputes. Mineral owners and royalty interest holders rely on accurate payment calculations and honest dealing from operators. We represent both operators and royalty owners in disputes over underpayment, post-production cost deductions, pooling and unitization, and the interpretation of royalty clauses.
• Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) Disputes. JOAs govern the relationship between working interest owners in oil and gas operations. Disputes over operator authority, non-consent penalties, cost overruns, and accounting obligations are common and often involve substantial sums. We handle these cases from initial demand through trial or arbitration.
• Property and Mineral Rights Litigation. Title disputes, trespass claims, surface use disagreements, and condemnation proceedings all require attorneys who understand both the legal framework and the practical realities of energy operations in Texas.
• Oil and Gas Tax Disputes. Property tax valuations, severance tax assessments, and tax appraisal challenges can have a significant impact on the economics of energy operations. We represent energy companies and executives in disputes with taxing authorities.
• Energy Executive Disputes. Non-compete agreements, equity disputes, wrongful termination claims, and compensation disagreements between energy executives and their employers require discrete, strategic representation. We protect the interests of executives navigating these high-stakes situations.

Industry Knowledge Matters

Energy litigation is not generic commercial litigation with an oil derrick on the cover page. The contracts are specialized. The regulatory environment is dense. The technical issues—from drilling operations to pipeline hydraulics to reservoir engineering—require attorneys who can speak the language of the industry and cross-examine expert witnesses on technical subjects.

Preminger PLLC brings that industry knowledge to every engagement. We have handled disputes involving major pipeline operators, independent E&P companies, and individual mineral owners. We understand the difference between a gross proceeds royalty clause and a market value royalty clause, and we know why that distinction can be worth millions of dollars over the life of a well.

Representative Experience

AI-Enhanced Energy Litigation

Energy disputes often involve massive document sets—years of production records, accounting statements, correspondence, and technical reports. Preminger PLLC uses AI-powered litigation tools to process and analyze these documents faster and more thoroughly than traditional review methods. This technology allows us to identify critical evidence, spot inconsistencies in opposing party positions, and build stronger cases at a lower cost to our clients.

As the founder of LitLaw AI, Dov Preminger is not simply a consumer of legal technology—he builds it. That distinction matters when the outcome of your dispute depends on finding the one email in a million-document production that proves your case.

Why Preminger PLLC

Large energy firms bill at rates that assume every case needs a 10-lawyer team. Many smaller firms lack the experience to handle genuinely complex energy disputes. Preminger PLLC bridges that gap: deep experience in energy litigation developed at a global firm, delivered with efficiency, strategic focus, and AI-powered execution. With over 12 trials and arbitrations, a federal judicial clerkship, and years of energy sector experience, our team is prepared to take your case wherever it needs to go.