Glenn E. Johnson

Biography

As a partner in the firm’s Environmental and Administrative Law and Energy practice groups, Mr. Johnson’s representation primarily encompasses oil and gas development and pipeline regulatory work before the Railroad Commission of Texas and the General Land Office for several oil, gas and pipeline operators, and associated litigation and appellate work before all Texas courts.

The scope of Mr. Johnson’s work typically includes advice regarding appropriate development plans and prosecution of well permitting cases, field rule cases, gas proration and other allowable adjustment cases, Mineral Interest Pooling Act applications, field-wide unitization hearings, rulemaking proceedings, cases involving the ratable purchase and transportation of natural gas, curtailment cases involving pipeline and producer disputes, and environmental regulation cases under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission. Associated with this practice is the providing of advice regarding lease, unit and other oil and gas development negotiations and advising clients regarding regulatory and legislative actions by state government and lobbying organizations.

Mr. Johnson is board certified in Administrative Law and appears before several state agencies.

Mr. Johnson’s professional accomplishments have been recognized and honored by his inclusion in Best Lawyers in America since 1995. He also has been identified as a "Super Lawyer" in Administrative Law in 2004 and thereafter, as published in Texas Monthly magazine.

Outside his practice, Mr. Johnson is involved in civic and charitable activities. He serves as an officer in his church. He is on the Board of the Clark Society at Texas Christian University, which is involved in fundraising for the school.   He is a member of the Austin Regional Council of the Advancement Office of Texas Christian University and the Austin Alumni Board.  Mr. Johnson has gone on many mission trips, including three trips as a member of a United Methodist church mission team to Vologda, Russia, which provides various outreach activities for orphans in that city. Mr. Johnson and his wife, Deborah, have a daughter, son, and son-in-law. He enjoys hiking in Big Bend and fly fishing.

Education & Honors

• Texas Christian University, B.A., cum laude, 1973
• University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1975
• Board certified, Administrative Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1995
• Noted as Texas Super Lawyer in Administrative Law in 2004 and thereafter, as published in Texas Monthly magazine

Admission & Affiliations

• Texas, 1976
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1980  
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 1976
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1976
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1979
• Founding Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation 
• Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Travis County Bar Association (Member, Board of Directors, 1992-1993; Chairman, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, 1992-1993)
• Phi Delta Phi
• Hearings Examiner, Railroad Commission of Texas, 1977-1979
• Member of Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission since 1996

Significant Matters

• Successfully argued oil and gas lease termination case before Texas Supreme Court. Ridge Oil Company v. Guinn Investments, Inc., 148 S.W.3d 143 (Tex. 2004)
• Chief outside regulatory counsel for the leading oil and gas drilling company in Texas for eight years (1992-2000)
• Successfully brought applications that removed the restriction on production of approximately thirty percent (30%) of the Texas natural gas supply
• Successfully represented independent oil and gas operator in ratable taking dispute with largest gas transportation utility in the state
• Successfully overturned Railroad Commission attempt to retroactively apply Mineral Interest Pooling Act. Buttes Resources Co. v. Railroad Commission, 732 S.W.2d 675 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 1987, no writ)
• Successfully defended Mineral Interest Pooling Act Unit at Railroad Commission and in Appellate Court and clarified prerequisites for an appeal of an administrative agency decision. Helton v. Railroad Commission, 126 S.W.3d 111 (Tex. App.–Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, no writ)
• Clarified administrative agency Motion for Rehearing Practice in Texaco Inc. v. Railroad Commission, 716 S.W.2d 138 (Tex. App.–Austin 1986, writ den’d n.r.e.)
• Last presiding Hearings Examiner in Gas Utilities Docket No. 500, the largest gas utility case in Railroad Commission history

Publications & Speeches

• "Regulating Gas Gathering Lines in Texas", Texas Bar CLE, Advanced Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law Course, October and November 2009.
• "Lease Development, Preservation and Termination", University of Houston Law Foundation, Advanced Oil and Gas Short Course, February 1995, February 1996, February 1997, February 1998, January and February 1999, January and February 2000, February 2001, January and February 2002, January and February 2003, January and February 2004, January and February 2005, January and February 2006, January and February 2007, January and February 2008, February, April and June 2009.
• "Who You Don’t Notify Matters: Improper Notification of Railroad Commission Hearings Can Render an Application Ineffective," Texas Lawyer, June 1, 1998, Vol. 14, No. 12.
• "Legislative and Jurisprudence Update," American Association of Professional Landmen, 1997 Houston Landman’s Institute, September 1997.
• "The Emerging Role of The Texas Railroad Commission in the Regulation of Gas Gathering," Presentation to Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section, Houston Bar Association, March 1997.
• "Update on Issues of Open Access," Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, Travis County Bar Association, September 1996.
• "Lease Maintenance: A Refresher," South Texas College of Law, Advanced Oil Gas and Mineral Law Institute, August 1995.
• "Reflections on the Issues of Open Access," Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section, Travis County Bar Association, July 1994.
• "Current State Regulatory Development," State Bar of Texas, Advanced Oil Gas and Mineral Law Course, September 1987.
• "Pooling in Texas," Houston Association of Petroleum Landmen Workshop, 1983.