Austermuehle, Patrick Doyle

Chris is a shareholder in the firm's Litigation Section and six times, most recently in 2011, was named a "Rising Star" in Business Litigation and Energy Law by Texas Monthly and Texas Lawyer Magazines. He served as President of the Midland County Young Lawyers Association during the 1999-2000 term. In 1997, 1998 and 2002, Chris received the Young Lawyers' Pro Bono Award from West Texas Legal Services. He is licensed to practice before all Texas state courts, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal and Fifth Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Western Districts of Texas. Chris is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.  He has served as an adjunct professor in the Midland College Legal Assistant training program and often speaks at various professional continuing education seminars. Chris is a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, an Eagle Scout, and a licensed pilot.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

Oil and Gas Litigation

Chris devotes a substantial portion of his practice to representing clients involved in oil and gas related disputes. On behalf corporate and individual clients, he both prosecutes and defends suits involving operating agreements, COPAS provisions, area of mutual interest contracts, right-of-way acquisition, surface use issues, leasing issues, and royalty payment disputes. On behalf of the mineral owners, Chris successfully argued the Lesley case before the Texas Supreme Court. Lesley v. Veterans Land Board, 325 S.W.3d 479 (Tex. 2011). Other cases concerning oil and gas related issues which he argued or briefed include: In re: Mark Hardwick, 2012 WL 3132670 (Tex. App. - Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, orig. proceeding); In re: Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 2010 WL 308305 (Tex. App. - El Paso 2010, orig. proceeding); Warren v. Warren Equipment Co., 189 S.W.3d 324 (Tex. App. - Eastland 2006, no pet.); Tri-Star Petro. Co. v. Tipperary Corp., 101 S.W.3d 583 (Tex. App. - El Paso 2003, pet. denied); and Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Mobil Producing, 281 F.3d 1249 (Fed. Cir. 2002).

General Commercial Litigation/Arbitration

In addition to his focus on oil and gas litigation, Chris handles litigation involving all manner of commercial disputes. He has an active and successful trial, arbitration, and appellate practice and has successfully resolved lawsuits (both through trial, summary judgment, and voluntary settlement) for individuals, corporations, and governmental entities on cases involving contract disputes, condemnation, intellectual property, and professional malpractice.