Tiffany Means represents clients in the energy, oil and gas, power, technology, and renewable sectors with a practice focused on complex commercial disputes involving upstream exploration and production matters across multi-basin portfolios, midstream and downstream operations focused on evolving global energy markets, and environmental issues such as emissions, groundwater, and disposal of byproducts entrained in the production stream. Tiffany has handled a broad range of litigation working closely with operators, service companies, project developers, electric cooperatives, and property interest owners across the value chain.
With a practical knowledge of the energy industry, Tiffany has counseled domestic and international companies concerning mineral leases, royalty obligations, post-production costs, gas purchase contracts, the supply chain, force majeure, power agreements, renewable energy developments, title disputes, surface use including pore space, pipeline easements, subsurface use for horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations, environmental concerns, subsurface trespass, nuisance, property damage, contamination, pollutants, regulatory standards, joint operating agreements, master service agreements, assignments, water use, carbon sequestration, produced water, injection wells, and indemnity obligations.
Tiffany Means presently serves on the Energy Law Section Council for the Houston Bar Association. In 2023, the President of the State Bar of Texas appointed Tiffany to a three-year term on the Pattern Jury Charge - Oil and Gas Committee. Tiffany also serves as an officer for the Institute for Energy Law's Oilfield and Energy Services Practice Committee. Tiffany has previously served on the planning committee for the State Bar of Texas Annual Advanced Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law Course.
Thomson Reuters has recognized Tiffany as a "Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star" in 2024. Tiffany served as Past President of the Midland Bar Association. Before joining the firm, Tiffany clerked for the Honorable Robert Junell and the Honorable David Counts of the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, Midland/Odessa and Pecos Divisions.
Related Experience
- International operator – represented renewable subsidiary of foreign energy company in $768 million acquisition of portfolio including onshore wind, solar, and battery assets with 20 gigawatts of aggregated capacity across the United States.
- Oil and gas companies – represented major E&P operators in claims relating to property damage purportedly resulting from oil and gas production and alleged contamination of groundwater.
- Offshore drilling company – advised relating to contractual dispute.
- Electric cooperative – counseled regarding contractual obligations.
- Energy companies – advised multiple clients launching innovative carbon capture projects.
- Royalty interest owner – secured dismissal of all claims in Harris County concerning disputed mineral interest.
- Global manufacturer – counseled regarding purchase of subsidiary industrial energy company.
- Wind farm developer – advised relating to executive rights, mineral waivers, and property acquisition.
- International operator – drafted agreements from wellhead to sales point in diverse domestic and overseas LNG-export markets.
- Domestic energy company – represented independent operator in disputes related to the EPA, Clean Air Act, emissions standards, including New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration (NSR/PSD), regulatory compliance strategies, and installation of air emissions control technology.
- 15 oil and gas companies – secured summary judgment on claims for trespass to try title, suit to quiet title, and rescission of mineral deeds in Howard County, which was affirmed on appeal.
- National operator – secured complete dismissal of all claims in Midland County relating to a master services agreement.
- Global operator – secured summary judgment in dispute pertaining to leasing rights under an overriding royalty interest assignment in New Mexico.
- Multiple solar developers – advised relating to surface use of lands with mineral development, setting aside drilling islands, and horizontal drilling corridors.
- Mineral lessee – secured summary judgment in Martin County concerning executive rights ownership.
- National operator – counseled regarding construction of gas purchase contracts.
- National operator – litigation involving a subcontractor claim on a drilling well site.
- Global operator – suit involving contractors’ liens against oil and gas wells.
- National operator – suit involving proceeds of production due to working interest owners under joint operating agreement.
- National operator – dispute regarding defective drilling operations.
- National operator – dispute regarding fees deductible from gas payable under a gas processing agreement.
- Trademark holder – authored successful motion for preliminary injunction and obtained permanent injunction in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas for trademark infringement.
- Oil and gas company – authored appellate brief on authority of a trustee to convey minerals and prevailed on appeal.
- Mineral interest owner – secured summary judgment in Martin County on construction of a will provision devising a fee determinable interest.
- Trust – secured summary judgment on the validity of a royalty reservation.
- Mineral interest owner - secured summary judgment on the validity of a correction deed reserving certain mineral rights.
Awards & Community
Appointed to the Texas State Bar Pattern Jury Charge Committee for Oil and Gas
Elected to the Energy Law Section Council for the Houston Bar Association
Appointed to the Oilfield and Energy Services Practice Committee by the Institute for Energy Law
Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer-Rising Star (Thomson Reuters), 2024
Education
J.D., Baylor Law School 2013cum laudeExecutive Editor, Baylor Law Review
Order of the Barristers
B.B.A., Real Estate, Baylor University 2010magna cum laudeBeta Gamma Sigma
Business Honors Society
Admission & Affiliations
State Bar of Texas
Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
Houston Bar Association
HBA Energy Law Section, Council Member
Midland Bar Association, Past President