Michelle Scheffler

Royalty Disputes

• In the United States District Court for the Western District of North Dakota, represented producer client in putative class action alleging royalty underpayment on oil royalties in North Dakota, negotiating dismissal. 
• In the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, representing producer client in putative class action alleging gas royalty underpayment on leasehold in Oklahoma, negotiating favorable settlement
• In the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, representing producer client in putative class action alleging gas royalty underpayment on leasehold in Oklahoma, negotiating favorable settlement. 
• In the Supreme Court of North Dakota and the District Court of McKenzie County, North Dakota, representing producer client in alleged royalty underpayment claims by the State of North Dakota.
• In the 96th Judicial District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, representing producer client in multi-district litigation by plaintiffs alleging royalty underpayment. 

Joint-Interest Disputes

• In the 112th Judicial District of Upton County, Texas, representing operator against non-operating working interest owner for breach of Joint Operating Agreement and defending against various tort claims by non-operator.
• In the 441st District Court of Midland County, Texas, defended non-operating working interest owner against operator for negligence in operation of well that allegedly caused salt water migration and damage to adjacent wells, negotiating a favorable settlement.
• In the 236th Judicial District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, represented producer client in dispute with municipality over drilling commitment.
• In the 96th Judicial District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, represented producer client in joint development dispute, negotiating a favorable settlement. 
• In the District Court of Dallas County, Texas, represented non-operating working interest owner in partner dispute under Participation Agreement, negotiating favorable settlement.
• In the District Court of Robertson County, Texas, defense of international oil and gas company in area of mutual interest claim.
• In the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, obtained summary judgment for oil and gas clients on area of mutual interest claim, summary judgment was affirmed by the 10th Circuit.
• In the District Court of Harris County, Texas, defense of international oil and gas company in dispute over alleged farmout brokerage agreement. 

Other Energy Disputes

• In the 295th District Court of Harris County, Texas, representing major oil and gas company in mass-action personal injury case resulting from plant explosion. 
• In the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware, representation of midstream company in adversary trial to uphold its gas gathering agreements with bankrupt producer. 
• In 118th Judicial District of Howard County, Texas, represented independent oil and gas company against retail electric provider in recovering under-usage credits as a result of Winter Storm Uri, negotiating a favorable settlement. 
• Representing multiple energy generator and producer clients against personal injury and property damage claims arising out of Winter Storm Uri in the Winter Storm Uri Multi-District Litigation. 
• In the Second Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, obtained summary judgment for international oil and gas company in complex title case affirming client’s title to mineral interests in Tyler, County West Virginia. Summary judgment was then affirmed by the Supreme Court of West Virginia. 
• In the District Court for Arapahoe County, Colorado, defense of producer in lease termination dispute. 

• The Institute for Energy Law, Executive Committee Member
• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Women's Energy Network
• Former Texas Diversity Council, Board of Directors
• Texas Young Lawyers Association, Board of Directors, 2014-2016

• Recognized in Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, for Oil and Gas Litigation (USA - Nationwide), 2021-2023
• Recognized by The US Legal 500, Legalese, as a key lawyer in Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas, 2022
• Recognized in Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2020-2023
• Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer, 2023 (as designated by the 2023 Thompson Reuters Lists of Stand-out Lawyers)
• Honored by Law360 as one of the nation’s top energy attorneys under 40 for 2021
• Recognized on the “Under 40 Hot List," Benchmark Litigation, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, 2017-2022
• Recognized on the “Future Star” List, Benchmark Litigation, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, 2021
• Named one of 2020’s Top 50 Women in Oil and Gas by the National Diversity Council

• "The Texas Third Court of Appeals Weighs in on Production Sharing Agreement Wells,” author, Haynes Boone client alert, July 10, 2023.
• "To Have or Have Not—Oil and Gas Operations with and without an Operating Agreement," presenter and author, Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law’s 68th Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute, Vail, Colorado, July 2022.
• “Reasonable Prudent Operator – The Continuously Evolving Standard,” presenter and author, Institute for Energy Law Annual Oil and Gas Law Conference, April 22, 2021.
• “Distressed Oil and Gas Finance,” presenter, Denver Petroleum Club, April 23, 2020.
• “Hot Topics in Oil & Gas Litigation - Multi-State,” speaker, 50th Annual - HAPL Technical Workshop, Houston, Texas, April 23, 2019.
• “Energy, Oil and Gas Update,” speaker, TexasBarCLE’s Advanced Civil Trial Course 2018, Houston, Texas, October 24, 2018.
• “When the Top May Not be the Best: The Evolving Law of Oil and Gas Lease Termination,” presenter, 12th Annual Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law Symposium, February 10, 2017.