Clark H. Rucker

BIOGRAPHY

Clark H. Rucker is a partner in the Oil & Gas/Energy division of the firm, where he specializes in litigation and transactions related to the oil, gas, and energy industries. His clientele includes a variety of entities such as oil and gas exploration firms, midstream companies, propane and liquefiable fuel companies, mineral funds and companies, and large landowners. Additionally, Mr. Rucker extends his legal expertise to non-energy litigation, real estate transactions, intellectual property disputes, and local zoning issues.

Mr. Rucker’s exceptional legal skills have earned him recognition as a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, and as a Top Lawyer by Fort Worth Magazine and 360 West. Apart from his legal pursuits, he is committed to community service and sits on the Board of Directors for CASA of Tarrant County and The First Tee of Fort Worth. Furthermore, he holds the position of Recruiting Director, where he oversees the recruitment efforts of the firm.

EXPERIENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS

Represented clients in oil, gas and energy-related litigation, including the successful defense of large exploration companies in several multimillion-dollar lawsuits, including:

• Successful defense of a publicly traded oil and gas company in a series of trespass, nuisance and negligence lawsuits concerning urban drilling and padsites
• Successful defense of a publicly traded oil and gas company in trespass matters involving seismic operations
• Defense of private oil and gas company in trespass matters in East Texas
• Obtained favorable trial court damages award for private oil and gas company in Central Texas
• Represented publicly traded oil and gas exploration company in over a dozen Texas state court and federal court appeals
• Successful defense of a publicly traded midstream company in several landowner lawsuits and compressor nuisance lawsuits
• Represented publicly traded oil and gas company in over three dozen lawsuits involving claims of royalty underpayment
• Represented publicly traded and private oil and gas companies in the acquisitions and divestitures of oil and gas properties, including:$64 million acquisition of Permian Basin oil and gas assets
• $35 million divestiture of Permian Basin overriding royalty interests
• $13 million divestiture of Delaware Basin mineral and royalty interests
• $7.75 million divestiture of Permian Basin oil and gas assets
• $14.2 million divestiture of Delaware Basin oil and gas assets
• $5.5 million acquisition of Delaware Basin overriding royalty interests
• $2.4 million acquisition of Delaware Basin oil and gas assets
• $15.5 million acquisition of Delaware Basin oil and gas asset
• $127 million acquisition of Permian Basin oil and gas asset
• $10.3 million acquisition of Permian Basin oil and gas asset
• $9.7 million acquisition of Permian Basin oil and gas asset
• $126 million divestiture of Barnett Shale oil and gas asset
• $30 million divestiture of Permian Basin royalty asset
• $6.6 billion divestiture of Permian Basin producing properties
• Represented clients in the negotiation and preparation of joint operating agreements, oil and gas leases, surface use agreements, master services agreements, mineral lien workouts, gas processing and treating agreements, natural gas sales agreements, farm-outs, seismic permits, pipeline easements and rights-of-way
• Represented owners of a large ranch in pipeline condemnation matters
• Represented publicly traded oil and gas company in over a dozen condemnation matters in the North Texas area
• Represented private equity client in acquisition of private oil and gas exploration company and subsequent mineral acquisitions
• Represented several real estate developers and oil and gas exploration companies in mineral and surface use transactions
• Represented royalty owners in obtaining millions of dollars in unpaid royalties from large exploration company
• Successfully represented real estate developers in local zoning matters
• Represented client in purchase and leasing of historic downtown Fort Worth office building
• Represented ranch owners in the negotiation and preparation of wind leases, grazing leases, rock leases, agricultural exemptions, and tax appraisal challenges
• Represented client in intellectual property litigation in federal court in Louisiana; obtained favorable judgment
• Represented clients in the preparation and negotiation of commercial leases

AFFILIATIONS

• Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2016-Present
• Institute for Energy Law, Young Energy Professional, Advisory Board Member, 2017-2021
• State Bar of Texas; Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section
• Young Professionals Program, Executive Committee of Fort Worth Chapter
• Tarrant County Bar Association, Energy Section
  • Chair, 2013-2015
  • Vice-Chair, 2012-2013
  • Secretary, 2011-2012
  • Treasurer, 2010-2011
• Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association
  • Board of Directors, 2014-2019
  • Treasurer, 2017, 2018
• CASA of Tarrant County, Board of Directors, 2013-Present
  • President, 2018
  • President-Elect, 2017
  • Treasurer, 2016
  • Secretary, 2015
• The First Tee of Fort Worth, Board of Directors, 2012-Present
• The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, 2013-Present
• Leadership Fort Worth, Leading Edge, Class of 2012
• Texas Young Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association
• National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame’s Young Guns
• TCU Junior Clark Society, 2009-Present
• TCU Frog Club, 2008-Present
• TCU Fort Worth Young Alumni Board, 2008-2014

HONORS

• Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News & World Report, 2024, 2025
  • Energy Law
  • Oil & Gas Law
• Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2023-2024
  • Energy & Resources
• Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, 2021-2022
  • Energy & Resources
• Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, 2017-2022
  • Energy & Resources
• Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 2015-2024
  • Oil & Gas Law
• Top Attorney, 360 West magazine, 2017-2024
  • Oil & Gas Law
• 40 Under 40 Honoree, Fort Worth Business Press, 2021
• The 400 Most Influential by Fort Worth Inc., 2018-2020
• Top Attorney less than five years in practice, Fort Worth Magazine, 2011-2014
  • Oil & Gas Law

EDUCATION

• The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., with honors, 2008
• Texas Christian University, B.B.A. Marketing, B.B.A. Finance, magna cum laude, 2005

ADMISSIONS

• State Bar of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

SPEECHES & PUBLICATIONS

• Speaker, From the Oil Patch to the Courtroom: 2024 Case Law Update, Whitley Penn Energy Conference, September 2024
• Speaker, From the Oil Patch to the Courtroom: 2024 Case Law Update, Whitley Penn Energy Conference Midland, August 2024
• Speaker, 2023 Energy Case Law Update, Whitley Penn Energy Conference, September 2022
• Speaker, “Order in the Courts? 2021 Energy Case Law Update,” Whitley Penn Energy Conference, 2021
• Speaker, “Texas Oil and Gas Case Law,” Whitley Penn Energy Conference, 2020