About ALLEN D. CUMMINGS

Al Cummings’ practice is focused primarily on oil and gas title and transactional matters.    Prior to practicing law, he was a Lieutenant in the US Navy, where he completed several rotations in Vietnam.  He is a 1974 graduate from Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University, where he achieved Order of the Coif.  In addition to being a lawyer, Mr. Cummings received his Master of Business Administration in 2005.  He has been board certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1987.  

Upon graduation, Mr. Cummings engaged in an extensive legal career in oil and gas. He began in 1975 as in-house counsel at Otis Engineering Corporation, then a subsidiary of Halliburton Corporation, which was his first experience in the oil and gas industry.  In 1978, he joined Texas Oil & Gas Corp. in Dallas, Texas, as an exploration and production attorney, and was subsequently appointed the resident attorney for the Texas Oil & Gas Corp. District Office in Midland, Texas.   In 1980, he joined the Cotton, Bledsoe, Tighe & Dawson law firm in Midland, where he practiced for approximately 19 years, eight of which were opening and managing the  Houston, Texas division.  In 1999, he joined the Houston office of Haynes and Boone.  In 2006, he left “big law” to focus on his clients as a solo practitioner.  In 2021, he joined the firm of Petry, Rosie & Sinex, PLLC in an Of Counsel position, where he continues to focus on oil and gas matters for his clients.

Focus Areas

His background brings extensive, unique expertise for the firm’s clients.   Specifically, he has worked in both transactional and litigation oil and gas matters involving a multitude of different matters.   These matters include:

  • Examining title for acquisitions, drilling, division order and financing purposes in oil and gas plays in all areas of Texas, including all of the major shale plays;
  • Conducting and supervising title due diligence for numerous acquisitions and financing transactions;
  • Representing landowners in their dealings with oil and gas producers;
  • Negotiating and drafting fee oil, gas and mineral and royalty deeds, oil and gas leases and assignments of oil and gas leases and overriding royalty interests;
  • Representing both lenders and borrowers in complex financing agreements, along with the ancillary deeds of trust, security agreements, financing statements, net profits agreements, production payments and special purpose entity agreements. 
  • Negotiating and drafting complex exploration and production project agreements, along with the ancillary letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, geophysical/seismic agreements, farmin and farmout agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, confidentiality and non-circumvention agreements, master service contracts, operating agreements, management agreements, exchange agreements, sand and gravel leases, and water supply agreements;
  • Representing numerous clients as a second chair in lawsuits involving oil and gas disputes;
  • Presiding as mediator or arbitrator in numerous alternative dispute resolution matters involving oil and gas disputes; and,
  • Providing expert witness testimony in over 38 oil and gas cases.

 

On a more personal note…

Activities Affiliation

In addition to the above, Mr. Cummings has stayed active within the legal community by writing articles relevant to ongoing legal matters and by assisting oil and gas organizations in educating oil and gas practitioners.   His service includes:  

  • Member, Texas Board of Legal Specialization Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Exam Commission (February 2013 - present);
  • Member, State Bar of Texas Pattern Jury Charge Oil and Gas Committee (August 2013 - present);
  • Course Director, 22nd Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, University of Texas School of Law
  • Course Director, Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Course 2001, State Bar of Texas
  • Chair, The American Association of Professional Landmen, Annual Meeting Workshop, June 2007;
  • Chair, Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section, State Bar of Texas (2001-2002)
  • Chair, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section Houston Bar Association (1996-1997)
  • Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, Houston Bar Association, as Editorial Board Section Newsletter (1996-1997), with prior service as member and officer from 1991-1996;
  • Co-Chair, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Special Institute, Development Issues and Conflicts in Modern Oil and Gas Plays, November 2004;
  • Co-Chair, Oil and Gas Section, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation 2018 Annual Institute;
  • Member, American Association of Petroleum Landmen; and,
  • Member, Houston Association of Petroleum Landmen

Mr. Cummings continues representing his clients in all areas of oil and gas and enjoys assisting both new and existing clients in navigating the intricacies of oil and gas law.