Philip B. Jordan
Partner, Energy Practice Group Leader

Before joining the firm, I served as general counsel for a successful independent E&P company and gained a comprehensive understanding of the oil and gas business. This unique experience helps me resolve the numerous issues my clients face and close sophisticated deals in the most effective and cost-efficient way possible. 

Philip Jordan serves as Gray Reed's Energy Practice Group Leader. Upstream and midstream clients with operations across the country rely on Philip to guide them through a broad range of strategic transactions involving the exploration, development, production, marketing and transportation of crude oil and natural gas. He has successfully negotiated and closed nearly every type of oil and gas deal imaginable, from complex acquisitions, divestitures and mergers to gathering agreements, farmout agreements and various other commercial and operational transactions. Philip is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Philip’s practice involves much more than structuring complex transactions. He also leverages his previous in-house experience to help clients solve everyday problems and develop long-term strategies to expand their businesses while also minimizing risk. Philip has deep experience in the formation of numerous oil and gas entity structures and helping clients capitalize new companies and projects through both debt and equity financing. He also advises clients on a variety of operational and corporate governance matters, title questions and environmental due diligence issues.

Representative Experience

A&D Matters

  • Represented Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE: TPL) in the acquisition of Permian oil and gas mineral and royalty interests spanning across approximately 7,490 acres located primarily in the Midland Basin for $286 million in cash. 
  • Represented Seller of a family-owned upstream oil and gas company.
  • Represented Buyer in the acquisition of producing oil and gas assets in Ward County, Texas.
  • Represented Seller in the divestiture of over 15,000 net mineral acres in Yoakum County, Texas.
  • Represented Seller in the divestiture of over 20,000 net mineral acres in Roosevelt County, New Mexico.
  • Represent Midstream Operator in the negotiation of various gathering agreement related to the buildout of a complex gathering system which included crude, gas and water gathering lines.
  • Represented Midstream Operator in the negotiation of a gas gathering agreement related to the buildout of a gas gathering system in the Delaware Basin.
  • Represented Crestwood Midstream Partners in the negotiation of new commercial agreements with BlueStone Natural Resources, agreements related to BlueStone’s purchase of Quicksilver’s upstream assets out of bankruptcy.
  • Represented Operator in the farmout of over 30,000 net mineral acres in Kansas and Oklahoma.
  • Represented Seller in the divestiture of producing oil and gas properties in the SCOOP play in Oklahoma.
  • Represented Seller in the divestiture of producing and non-producing assets in the Williston Basin, North Dakota.
  • Represented Seller in the divestiture of producing oil and gas properties across four Texas counties with a deal value exceeding $100 million.
  • Represented Seller in the divestiture of both developed and undeveloped acreage in East Texas. 
  • Represented Seller in divestiture of over 20,000 net mineral acres in South Texas Eagle Ford.
  • Represented Buyer in acquisition of $15 million in producing properties in Burleson County, Texas.
  • Represented non-operating investors in acquisition of membership interests in special purpose entity owning an interest in oil and gas leases in Mason and Oceana Counties, Michigan.
  • Represented Buyer in $30 million leasehold acquisition in which consideration was both cash and membership interest in a special purpose limited liability company.
  • Represented Buyer on acquisition including over 200 producing wells in Texas and Wyoming.
  • Represented Buyer on acquisition of over 6,000 net mineral acres in South Texas Eagle Ford.
  • Represented Buyer on acquisition of over 10,000 net mineral acres in Lee County, Texas, consideration was both cash and membership interest in a special purpose limited liability company.
  • Represented Buyer on acquisition of approximately 7,000 net acres and 30 producing wells in South Texas Eagle Ford.
  • Represented Operator on numerous acreage trades/swaps in order to facilitate development of acreage.
  • Represented Operator in farmout of 2,000 net mineral acres in Brazos County, Texas.

Energy Finance Matters

  • Represented Operator in obtaining the commitment and funding of over $150 million from a private equity company.  
  • Represented Borrower in establishing $100 million reserve based credit facility. 
  • Represented Borrower in establishing $50 million senior credit facility. 
  • Represented Borrower in establishing $14 million revolving line of credit secured by commercial real estate.
  • Represented Borrower/Operator in securing Letters of Credit to back various outstanding credit facilities.

Corporate/Other Matters:

  • Represented mineral and royalty interest acquisition company focused in the Permian Basin in a $25 million recapitalization and investment by an oil and gas-focused private equity fund.
  • Represented Midstream Operator in the negotiation of equity participation agreement with an upstream operator which gave the upstream operator the right to participate in a special purpose entity set up to deliver gas gathering services in the Permian Basin.
  • Represented Crestwood Midstream in arguing that various gathering agreements with Quicksilver Resources, debtor in bankruptcy, were covenants running with the land not subject to rejection by the Delaware Bankruptcy Court.
  • Represented Operator in setting up special purpose entity with industry partners to facilitate financing of and development of over 30,000 net mineral acres.
  • Drafted Joint Development Agreement covering over 40,000 net acres in order to coordinate the leasing, acquisition and development efforts of four different E&P companies.
  • Drafted Joint Development Agreement to coordinate development activities of three E&P companies across approximately 5,000 net acres.
  • Drafted/Reviewed numerous commercial contracts including, but not limited to, MSA’s, Midstream Agreements, Seismic License Agreements, Seismic Consulting Agreements, Joint Operating Agreements, Contract Operating Agreements, etc.
Thought Leadership / News
September 18, 2024 
 Speeches and Presentations
Case Law Update in Producing States

Dallas Association of Petroleum Landmen

June 21, 2024 
 Speeches and Presentations
Case Law Update

AAPL Annual Meeting

March 20, 2024 
 Speeches and Presentations
Case Law Update

Dallas Bar Association - Energy Section

August 18, 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
Case Law Update

DBA Energy Law Section 38th Annual Review of Energy Law

Honors
  • Selected as a Best Lawyer in Dallas by D Magazine (2018)
  • "Who's Who in Energy 2015", Dallas Business Journal
Organizational Involvement
  • ADAM Energy Forum - Dallas
  • ADAM Energy Forum - East Texas
  • Texas Oil & Gas Association
  • State Bar of Texas, Oil & Gas Section 
Education
  • J.D., summa cum laude, South Texas College of Law Houston (2008)
  • B.A., Communications, Stephen F. Austin State University (2002)
Bar Admission
  • Texas
When I Feel Most At Home
  • Spending time with my wife and three children
  • Hanging out at the family ranch
  • Hunting
  • Fishing, especially fly fishing when I get the opportunity
  • Hiking and climbing in the Tetons