Jeffrey R. Taylor
Senior Partner
jeff.taylor@learlaw.com - 801-538-5009
Jeff has broad experience analyzing documents affecting the allocation of costs and production for oil and gas development, with a focus on preparing precise title opinions.
Jeff helps clients assess title risks as they acquire and develop oil and gas properties in New Mexico and Texas. He guides clients through challenging interpretational issues as they navigate the interface between legacy production and the evolving era of horizontal drilling.
Jeff possesses extensive experience examining title and performing due diligence reviews of private, fee, and state lands, and rendering drilling and division order title opinions. Given the location of client activity, he is frequently asked to evaluate the impact of existing operating agreements within gross working interest units and beneficial working interest units, as well as state and federal exploratory unit agreements upon public lands. He also advises clients upon the intricacies of modern fee leases prepared by sophisticated landowners, as well as unique issues raised by royalty deeds.
Practice Areas
Title Work
Drilling & Division Order Title Opinions
Acquisition Opinions
Financing Opinions
Supplemental Title Opinions
Curative Title Work
Transactional & Due Diligence
Purchase & Sale Agreements
Environmental Due Diligence
Acquisition & Divestiture
Due Diligence
Title
Contract Issues
Deal Structuring
Transfer of Title
Indemnification
Confidentiality
Lien Priority
Third-Party Consents and Waiver
Consents to Assign
Waiver of Preferential Purchase Rights
Curative Title Documents
Dispute Resolution/ Litigation
Surface & Title Disputes
Operational Disputes
Contract/JOA Disputes
Vendor & Subcontractor Disputes
Rights-of-Way Disputes
Lis Pendens
Quiet Title Actions
Interior Board of Land Appeals Actions
Natural Resources
Acquisitions of Mineral Interests on Federal, State & Private Lands
Due Diligence
Transactions
Public Leasing & Permitting
Mineral Development
Surface Use & Conservation Easements
Water Law
Admissions
State Bar Admissions
Utah, New Mexico, Texas
Court Admissions
Jeff is admitted to practice before the Utah, New Mexico, and Texas Courts, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Utah
Professional & Civic Organizations
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
Utah Association of Professional Landmen
Education
University of Utah (J.D., 2006)
Brigham Young University (B.S., 2002) (Wildlife and Range Resources)
Recognitions
Jeffrey R. Taylor and David B. Hubbell, “Snapshot” vs. “Rolling” Analysis in Retained Acreage Clauses, Tulsa Oklahoma Lunch and Lear (February 2020)
Jeffrey R. Taylor and Stephanie Barber-Renteria, Probate and Other Related Issues in New Mexico and Texas, PBDOA Spring Seminar, Permian Basin Division Order Analysts, Midland, Texas (March 2015)
Jeffrey R. Taylor and Stephanie Barber-Renteria, Capacity Issues Affecting Title Transfers and other Considerations in Texas and New Mexico, PBDOA Spring Seminar, Permian Basin Division Order Analysts, Midland, Texas (March 2015)
Publications
Jeffrey R. Taylor and Liana E. Jones, Practical Aspects of Examining Title, Preparing Worksheets, Chains of Title, and Document Interpretation, 2019 No. 4 RMMLF-Inst 3