News
A New Order Under the New Administration: The DOI Seeks to Streamline the Federal Leasing Process
On July 6, 2017, Department of the Interior (“DOI”) Secretary Ryan Zinke signed Secretarial Order No. 3354, “Supporting and Improving the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program and Federal Solid Mineral Leasing Program.” In an accompanying press release,...
Welborn Attorneys Named Among the Best in America for 2018
Additionally, 10 Welborn attorneys in 15 Practice Areas were selected for inclusion by their peers in the Best Lawyers in America® 2018. Congratulations to Brian Tooley, Carolyn Burr, Ed Blieszner, Hampton O'Neill, John Masterson, Keith Tooley, Ken Barbe, Ken Jones,...
What Contract? Unsigned Email Satisfies Signature Requirement under Texas Statute of Frauds
The Statute of Frauds is an age-old law requiring certain agreements be in writing and signed by the parties to be a binding contract. If you are thinking calligraphy, feathered pens, and beautiful cursive signatures, think again. A Texas Court of Appeals recently...
Extension of Federal Oil and Gas Leases
Operators who do not regularly operate on federal lands may be surprised to discover that, unlike the typical private lands oil and gas lease, a federal lease does not contain a drilling operations clause that would extend the lease beyond the expiration of its...
Special Needs Trusts for Individuals with Disabilities
Special needs trusts are a helpful planning tool if a client has a disability or has family members or friends who are disabled. These kinds of trusts are designed to preserve a disabled person’s eligibility for government benefits. Monthly income and the value of...
Welcome Mallory Hasbrook
Welborn is pleased to announce that Mallory Hasbrook has joined the firm as an associate in our Denver office. Mallory's practice will focus on oil and gas title matters. Read our Press Release here.
Don’t Slay the Drones – New FAA Guidance for Recreational and Commercial use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Lately, it seems like drones are everywhere. From flying over crowds at concerts to monitoring pipelines for leaks, drones are here to stay. As popular as drones have become, however, there is little consistent regulation from state to state, causing confusion and...
Colorado Legislature Protects Existing Recreational Water Rights
On May 25, 2017, the Colorado legislature passed House Bill 17-1990 addressing the 2015 Colorado Supreme Court decision of St. Jude’s Co. v. Roaring Fork Club LLC denying a private club’s ability to obtain an instream water right. Colorado, as a prior appropriation...
The Complicated Consequences of a Simple Change
Colorado water law provides a simplified procedure to change a water right when the only change is in the point of diversion of a surface water right where there are no intervening diversions or inflows between the old and new locations. C.R.S. § 37-92-305(3.5). This...
Colorado Supreme Court upholds retroactive tax assessment against oil and gas lessee
On June 19, 2017, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against the petition of Kinder Morgan CO2 Co., LP -- the operator of oil and gas leaseholds -- disputing the Montezuma County Assessor's 2009 corrective tax assessment on leaseholds for the prior tax year which...
Welcome Geoffrey Storm
Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley is pleased to announce the addition of Geoffrey W. Storm as an associate in our Denver office. Geoff’s practice will focus on regulatory matters before the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission. Read our Press...
Colorado Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Condominium Developers in Construction Defects Cases
On June 5, 2017, the Colorado Supreme Court issued a decision in Vallagio at Inverness Residential Condo. Ass’n v. Metro Homes, Inc., 2017 CO 69, June 5, 2017 (“Vallagio”) that will likely benefit condominium developers in Colorado by helping to alleviate litigation...