KMW Energy Law

M. Ryan Kirby

Licensed in Texas

Mr. Kirby attended The University of Texas at Dallas as an undergraduate, where he founded Pi Sigma Alpha and served as its President, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics in 1998. Following his graduation, Mr. Kirby, perhaps unsurprisingly, enrolled at South Texas College of Law, graduating in 2002 with a Juris Doctorate. Thereafter, Mr. Kirby worked for several litigation firms until 2006, focusing on toxic torts, products liability, personal injury, fraud, and general civil litigation. From 2006 until founding Kirby, Mathews & Walrath, PLLC, he worked as an Attorney, then Section Manager and Partner for the Eagle Ford group of a large Houston-based oil and gas firm.

Mr. Kirby has conducted title examination for a variety of conventional and unconventional plays in Texas, and has negotiated and drafted numerous contracts, purchase and sale agreements, communitization agreements, oil and gas leases, pipeline land acquisitions and surface use, and other similar documents for oil and gas operators. Mr. Kirby has continued to litigate matters for oil and gas operators at the appellate court and district court levels, and has several reported decisions.

Mr. Kirby is a frequent speaker at seminars, both with Landman’s groups and Continuing Legal Education seminars. His most recent presentation was Difficult Lease Provisions, presented to the Association of Lease and Title Analysts. Mr. Kirby is also an Adjunct Professor with South Texas College of Law, where he lectures the popular Texas Oil, Gas and Land Titles course.

Mr. Kirby is a member of the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law section of the State Bar of Texas.

Bryan L. Mathews

Licensed in Texas, Colorado and North Dakota

Mr. Mathews is a near-lifelong resident of Beaumont, Texas, and graduated from Lamar University in December 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology, and an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology. Mr. Mathews subsequently traveled to the big city and enrolled at South Texas College of Law. After graduating with his Juris Doctorate in 2002, the pull of his hometown, the mass tort capital of the world, drew him to work for Brent Coon and Associates. Following a stint with that office, Mr. Mathews began to transition to the practice of real property and oil and gas law, first with Beaumont Title as a staff attorney and subsequently with J. Mark Smith & Associates as a field landman. From 2006 until founding Kirby, Mathews & Walrath, PLLC, he worked as an Attorney, then Section Manager and Partner for the Rockies group of a large Houston-based oil and gas firm.

Mr. Mathews has conducted title examination for a variety of conventional and unconventional plays in Texas, and has supervised the generation of complex unit title opinions in Colorado and Wyoming.

Mr. Mathews is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Oil and Gas Law, a distinction achieved by less than one-half of one percent of attorneys licensed in Texas. He is also a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law sections of the State Bar of Texas.

Gerald Walrath

Licensed in Texas, North Dakota and Oklahoma

Mr. Walrath received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center in 1997 and commenced his legal career the following year. Since that time he has been in solo practice, served as Counsel and Vice President of Project Development, as well as corporate Secretary for a publicly-traded exploration and production company, and was a Partner and Section Manager for the High Plains section of a Houston-based law firm until co-founding Kirby, Mathews & Walrath in 2013.

Mr. Walrath has conducted title examination for a variety of conventional and unconventional plays in Texas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota, and has negotiated and drafted numerous contracts, purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, oil and gas leases, pipeline rights of way, surface use agreements, and other various and sundry documents for oil and gas operators. He has been involved in oil and gas projects ranging from the development of New Zealand Crown Minerals to the Louisiana Shelf and has appeared before the Railroad Commission of Texas and in various Texas district courts on behalf of oil and gas operators. Mr. Walrath has also been involved in numerous acquisitions and divestitures, conducting due diligence reviews in a wide range of projects.

Mr. Walrath has served as a Mock Trial judge for South Texas College of Law, and has also drafted problems and served as a judge in their Energy Negotiation Competition. Mr. Walrath sometimes speaks at landman’s associations and continuing legal education events, primarily on topics related to the AAPL 610 Joint Operating Agreement.

Andrew (Drew) R. Potts

Licensed in Texas and New Mexico

Mr. Potts graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A&M University, and received his Juris Doctorate from St. Mary's University School of Law in 2009. While attending St. Mary’s, he clerked at The Supreme Court of Texas for Justice Scott Brister, and served as a staff writer for the St. Mary’s Law Journal.

Following his licensure in Texas, Mr. Potts has devoted his practice exclusively to energy law, first working as an associate for an oil and gas firm in Floresville, Texas, and later as an associate with a large Houston-based oil and gas firm.

Mr. Potts has conducted title examination in various plays throughout Texas and in the Permian region of New Mexico, drafting Drilling Title Opinions and Division Order Title Opinions for exploration and production companies. Mr. Potts frequently presents on various land-related topics to Houston-based landman associations.

Amanda R. Davenport

Licensed in Montana, Wyoming and Texas

Ms. Davenport received her Bachelor of Sciences in Business Administration from the University of Montana in 2004. Following her graduation from UMT, she enrolled at Gonzaga University School of Law. She received her Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga in 2007, where she was a member of the Gonzaga Law Review.

Following her licensure in Montana, Ms. Davenport clerked at The State of Montana Thirteenth Judicial Branch for Judge Gregory R. Todd, where she analyzed motions, responses and reply briefs, drafted bench briefs, prepared orders, and conducted omnibus hearings. Subsequent to her clerkship, she joined a small general practice in Billings, Montana where she worked until 2010, focusing on natural resources law, real estate law, regulation, and miscellaneous business transactions. Following her relocation to the Houston area, Ms. Davenport served as an associate with a large Houston-based oil and gas firm until joining Kirby, Mathews and Walrath in 2013.

Ms. Davenport has conducted title examination in the Bakken and Three Forks plays in Montana, drafting Drilling Title Opinions and Drilling and Division Order Title Opinions for exploration and production companies.

Ms. Davenport is a member of the State Bar of Montana, State Bar of Wyoming, and the State Bar of Texas.

J. Brian Davis

Licensed in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado

Mr. Davis received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from the University of Texas at Austin in 2000. Following his graduation from UT, Mr. Davis worked in the telecommunications industry for multiple Fortune 500 companies as a business analyst and consultant. Mr. Davis subsequently enrolled at St. Mary's School of Law, where he was a staff writer for The Scholar, and received his Juris Doctorate in 2009.

Following his graduation from St. Mary's, Mr. Davis volunteered with the San Antonio Bar Association - Community Justice program, before securing employment with a small San Antonio-based oil and gas firm. Immediately prior to his employment by Kirby, Mathews and Walrath in 2013, Mr. Davis served as an associate and Assistant Team Manager with a large Houston-based oil and gas firm. Mr. Davis has conducted title examination a variety of plays in Texas and the Permian Basin region of New Mexico, drafting title opinions for exploration and production companies. He has also been involved in several large oil and gas transactions and due diligence exercises involving producing and non-producing assets, and has represented clients in mineral receivership hearings.

Mr. Davis is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, as well as a member of the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Section of the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar of Texas, and the State Bar of New Mexico.

Juan Herold

Licensed in Texas, North Dakota and Mississippi

Mr. Herold received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Houston in 1989, majoring in Business Commerce and Accounting. Mr. Herold first worked as an accountant before enrolling in law school at the University of Detroit - Mercy School of Law. Following his graduation in 1997, he relocated once again to Houston, where he took the Texas Bar Exam.

Prior to focusing his practice on oil and gas law, Mr. Herold had previously engaged in securities litigation, and privilege reviews for large, complex litigation concerning oil, gas and environmental matters and governmental affairs. Immediately prior to his employment by Kirby, Mathews and Walrath in 2013, Mr. Herold served as an associate with a large Houston-based oil and gas firm.

Mr. Herold has conducted title examination in the Bakken play in North Dakota and a variety of plays in Texas, drafting title opinions for exploration and production companies. He has also been involved in several large oil and gas transactions and due diligence exercises involving producing and non-producing assets.

Mr. Herold is a member of the Oil and Gas Section of the State Bar of Texas, and the West Houston Association of Professional Landmen. In addition to his admissions to practice law in Texas and North Dakota, he is admitted to practice before the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts in the Southern District of Texas

Evan Block

Licensed in Texas and West Virginia

Mr. Block received his Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2000, and his M.A. in Communication Studies from San Diego State University in 2002. Following his graduation from San Diego State, Mr. Block worked for a web marketing firm in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Block subsequently enrolled at South Texas College of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 2006.

Following his graduation from South Texas, Mr. Block worked as a Landman, conducting due diligence review and field examination. Mr. Block then worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Midland, Texas and Fort Bend County, Texas. Following his two year hiatus from energy law, Mr. Block went to work as an Associate at a large Houston based oil and gas firm and a New Orleans based firm, conducting title examination and drafting Original, Supplemental and Division Order Title Opinions. He has also been involved in several large scale acquisitions, involving both offshore and onshore assets, on behalf of sellers and purchasers. Mr. Block is currently licensed in Texas and West Virginia.

Mr. Block is a member of the Oil and Gas Section of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association and the Houston Association of Professional Landmen.

James A. Smith

Licensed in Texas

Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts in Business from Southwestern University in 2004. Following his graduation from Southwestern, Mr. Smith subsequently enrolled at the University of Texas School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate with Honors in 2008.

Following his graduation from the University of Texas, Mr. Smith focused his practice on oil and gas law. He has experience as a field landman, conducting due diligence review and field examination, and spent eight years as an Associate at a small Houston-based oil and gas firm until joining Kirby, Mathews and Walrath in 2017. Mr. Smith has conducted title examination in various plays throughout Texas, drafting Original, Supplemental, and Division Order Title Opinions for exploration and production companies. He has also been involved in several large oil and gas transactions and due diligence exercises involving producing and non-producing assets.

Mr. Smith is currently licensed in Texas and is a member of the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law section of the State Bar of Texas.

Sara Bluemel

Licensed in Texas, Montana, and North Dakota

Ms. Bluemel received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas A&M, Corpus Christi in 2002. She subsequently then enrolled in the University of Houston Law Center, earning her with her Juris Doctorate in 2010.

Immediately after earning her Juris Doctorate, Ms. Bluemel began law career at a Houston-area broker as a petroleum landman, determining mineral ownership and verifying acreage boundaries. She then worked at two Houston-area law firms for several years, where she rendered title opinions on Texas oil and gas properties. Immediately prior to joining Kirby, Mathews & Walrath, worked as a Division Order Analyst for a large Houston-based multinational oil company through a staffing service, coordinating with departments and outside operators to resolve ownership discrepancies and ensure accurate records, and as a landman with a Houston-based exploration and production company, analyzing title documents and communicating with land and leasehold owners to ensure proper and fair payment.

Ms. Bluemel is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar of Montana, and the State Bar of North Dakota.

Ellen Wardrop

Licensed in Texas, New York, and North Dakota

Ms. Wardrop graduated cum laude from University of Oklahoma in 2009 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology before attending Pace University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate and certificates in Environmental and International Law in 2012. During her time at Pace, Ms. Wardrop was a student editor for the Journal of Court Innovation and an articles editor for the Pace International Law Review. Ms. Wardrop subsequently relocated to Houston and earned her Legum Magister in Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources in 2013 from the University of Houston Law Center.

After graduating from Pace, Ms. Wardrop clerked at a law firm in White Plains, NY, where she drafted motions regarding matrimonial, visitation, child support, and real estate matters. In 2014, she began her own law practice, advising clients on oil and gas leases, real estate transactions, and estate planning. She then worked as a contract attorney, providing support for an environmental litigation case. From 2015 to 2017, Ms. Wardrop was an associate attorney at a small Houston law firm, reviewing title opinions and performing mineral title research. Additionally, she has worked as a field landman for a Houston-area broker, performing extensive mineral title research.

Ms. Wardrop is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar of North Dakota, and the State Bar of New York.

Josiah D. McLeod

Licensed in Texas and Colorado

Mr. McLeod graduated magna cum laude from Texas Christian University with his Bachelor of Science in Economics in 2004. He then enrolled in the University of Houston Law Center, graduating cum laude and receiving his Juris Doctor in 2008.

After graduating from the University of Houston Law Center, Mr. McLeod began working as an lease analyst for a large multinational oil and gas corporation, identifying leased acreage at risk of expiration and advising land staff regarding the actions required to maintain leases, and participating in large-scale leasing and field-wide unitization projects in East Texas. From the end of 2011 until 2015, he then worked at a small Houston-based oil and gas title firm, drafting original title opinions, supplemental title opinions, and drilling and division order title opinions.

From 2015 until joining Kirby, Mathews & Walrath, Mr. McLeod worked in Colorado for a small law firm practicing oil and gas law, researching legal issues, writing briefs, preparing motions and drafting memorandums, as well as negotiating leases, surface use agreements and purchase and sale agreements. He also worked in real estate law handling title issues, boundary line disputes, claims of adverse possession, representing landlords and tenants in residential and commercial lease disputes, and preparing due diligence title work for acquisitions and divestitures of residential and commercial properties.

Mr. McLeod is a Life Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Mr. McLeod is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the State Bar of Colorado.

Chris Sigler

Licensed in Texas

Mr. Sigler received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 2010 from the University of Houston and subsequently received his Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law in 2013.

After graduating from law school, Mr. Sigler focused his practice on drafting title opinions and title curative materials, real estate, and general business matters, as well as spending several years conducting due diligence on the acquisition and disposition of producing and non-producing assets. Leading up to his graduation from South Texas College of Law, Mr. Sigler spent his time serving in the U. S. Army and as a Texas Real Estate Broker.

Mr. Sigler is currently licensed in Texas and is a member of the Oil and Gas section and the Real Estate section of the State Bar of Texas as well as the Oil, Gas and Mineral Section of the Houston Bar Association.

Heather McAnally

Licensed in Texas

Ms. McAnally graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2003 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology before attending South Texas College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 2007.

After graduating from South Texas, Ms. McAnally worked as in-house counsel for a residential mortgage company where she focused on regulations, research, compliance, licensing and litigation. She then managed the Houston office of a residential foreclosure firm where she acted as a substitute trustee, dealt with title issues, drafted motions, and managed the day-to-day activities of the Houston office. From 2018 to 2021, Ms. McAnally was an associate attorney at a mid-sized Houston law firm, conducting title examination and drafting Original, Supplemental, and Division Order Title Opinions. Additionally, she has worked as a field landman for a Houston-area broker, performing extensive mineral title research.

Ms. McAnally is a member of the Oil and Gas Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Bobbie Burkland

Licensed in Texas

Ms. Burkland earned her Juris Doctorate in 2008 from the South Texas College of Law, where she wrote for the Currents International Trade Journal. She is also an alumnus of Baylor University, having graduated with a Bachelor of Business Admission degree in 2005.

Ms. Burkland has worked as a Commercial Negotiator with major and mini-major oil companies, supporting assets in the Rockies, Gulf Coast, West Texas and North Louisiana regions. During her tenure as a Commercial Negotiator, Ms. Burkland supported acquisitions and divestitures of producing and non-producing properties, some exceeding $100 million in value. She has also worked as a Commercial Litigation Associate Attorney.

In addition to her Texas law license, Ms. Burkland is a Certified Professional Landman. She is a member of the Renewable Energy Alliance Houston and Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy.

Taylor Hamilton

Licensed in Texas

Mr. Hamilton earned his Juris Doctorate in 2008 from St. Mary’s University School of Law, where he wrote for the St. Mary’s Law Journal. He is also an alumnus of Texas A&M University, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2005.

Mr. Hamilton has worked extensively as a title attorney, for several Houston-area firms, drafting original title opinions and division order title opinions, and has advised clients on pooling and unitization issues, lease interpretation and maintenance. He is also a former Assistant County Attorney for Kendall County, and has worked for the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

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Kirby, Mathews & Walrath, PLLC
Esperson Building
808 Travis St., Suite 1625
Houston, TX 77002

Phone: (713) 489-4620
FAX: (713) 489-4619

M. Ryan Kirby

rkirby@kmwenergylaw.com

Bryan L. Mathews

bmathews@kmwenergylaw.com

Gerald Walrath

jwalrath@kmwenergylaw.com