J. Byron (Trace) Burton, III

Partner

A South Texas native, Mr. Burton grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. His practice focuses on the representation of land and mineral interest owners in the negotiation of oil and gas leases, uranium leases, wind leases, seismic survey permits, surface use agreements, pipeline easements and mineral conveyances.

Phone

210 829 1660
Email

[email protected]
Website

www.uhlfitsimons.com
Address

4040 Broadway, Suite 430

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Biography

Mr. Burton has represented landowners in matters involving pipelines, surface use, the underpayment of royalties, and general mineral lease disputes in venues throughout South Texas, including in the state district courts of Webb, Zapata, Dimmit, Maverick and LaSalle Counties.

Mr. Burton serves on the management committee as managing member of Uhl, Fitzsimons, Burton, Wolff & Rangel, PLLC.

Professional Qualifications

Admitted to bar: Texas, 2001; United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, 2002.

Intern to: The Honorable Samuel Cummings, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, 2001; The Honorable Tony Garza, Railroad Commission of Texas, 2000; and The Honorable J. Bonner Dorsey, Justice for the Thirteenth Appellate District for the State of Texas, 1999.

Education: Texas Tech University (J.D., 2001). During law school at Texas Tech, Mr. Burton was a contributing writer to the Texas Bank Lawyer and received the Jurisprudence Award for Superior Academic Achievement in Texas Pre-Trial Litigation. University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1998). During college at UT, Mr. Burton was a Thomas O. Hicks Scholar.

Board Certified, Oil, Gas and Mineral Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2012

Representative Experience

Representation of mineral owners in Oil and Gas Lease amendment negotiations on 95,000 acres in Webb and Dimmit Counties.
Representation of trustees in Oil and Gas Lease and Pipeline Easement negotiations on over 100,000 acres in Crockett County.
Representation of mineral owners in Oil and Gas Lease matters on over 100,000 acres in Pecos County.
Representation of mineral owners in Oil and Gas Lease negotiations on over 38,000 acres in Dimmit and La Salle Counties.
Representation of family mineral trust in the negotiation of Geophysical Survey Agreement, Option and Right of First Refusal Agreement, Surface Use Agreements, and Oil and Gas Leases (based on horizontally severed mineral estate) on over 53,000 acres in Dimmit and Maverick Counties.
Representation of family-owned mineral company in Oil and Gas Leases on over 270,000 acres throughout the United States.
Representation of mineral owners on Oil and Gas Lease negotiations on over 31,000 acres Webb and La Salle Counties.
Representation of trustee in matters pertaining to Oil and Gas Lease and related agreements on over 105,000 acres in Dimmit, La Salle and Webb Counties.
Representation of mineral owners in successful lease termination claim on over 150,000 acres in Maverick, Zavala and Dimmit Counties.
Representation of mineral and surface owners in dispute with lessee on over 41,000 acres in Dimmit, Maverick and Webb Counties.
Representation of mineral and surface owners in matters pertaining to Oil and Gas Lease and Surface Use Agreement on over 33,000 acres in Maverick County.
Representation of family mineral trusts in negotiation of Oil and Gas Leases on over 26,000 acres in Dimmit and La Salle Counties.
Representation of family mineral trusts and surface owners in negotiation of Oil and Gas Leases and Surface Use Agreements on over 11,000 acres in Wilson and Karnes Counties.
Representation of mineral owners and surface owners in royalty audit and litigation on over 24,000 mineral acres in Maverick County, resulting in settlement favorable to the clients.
Representation of mineral owners in royalty dispute involving close to 60,000 mineral acres in Oldham County.
Representation of foundation in mineral and surface matters on over 215,000 acres in four South Texas counties.
Representation of family limited partnership in Pipeline Easement and related surface matters on over 40,000 acres in McMullen and La Salle Counties.
Representation of family trusts and partnerships in Pipeline Easement and related surface matters on over 30,000 acres in Hidalgo and Starr Counties.
Representation of mineral owners on over 25,000 acres in Atascosa County.
Representation of fiduciaries and agents in mineral and surface related matters, including Oil and Gas Leases and Surface Use Agreements
Representation of surface owners in solar lease negotiations

Professional Affiliations and Awards, Community Involvement

Council Member, The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section, State Bar of Texas (2017-present)(Treasurer 2020-2021, Secretary 2021-2022, Vice-Chair 2022-2023)
Member, San Antonio Bar Association (Natural Resources Section)
Fellow, San Antonio Bar Foundation (2003-)
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (2015-)
Member of the Vestry, Christ Episcopal Church (2016-2019)
40 Under 40 Award Recipient, San Antonio Business Journal (2015)
Advisory Board, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas (2014- )
Graduate, Leadership San Antonio, Class XXXII
Board of Directors, Christ Episcopal Church Endowment, Inc. (2012-2018) (Chairman, 2014-2018)
Board of Directors, American Red Cross, San Antonio Area Chapter (2004-2006)
Member, Texas Land & Mineral Owners Association
Member, Texas Wildlife Association
Texas Monthly Magazine, Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” 2014, Super Lawyers 2022
Scene in S.A. Magazine, “Rising Stars” 2009
In 2013, Mr. Burton was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Unclaimed Mineral Proceeds Commission to study unclaimed land grant mineral proceeds in order to determine, among other information, efficient and effective procedures under which the State of Texas may be required to determine the owners of the proceeds, notify the owners of the proceeds, and distribute such proceeds to the rightful owners
In 2016, Mr. Burton was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Nueces River Authority Board of Directors. The Nueces River Authority administers the control, employment, and conservation of the waters of the Nueces River Basin, forestation and reforestation, groundwater, storm water, floodwater, water quality control, solid waste, and parks and recreational facilities.

Publications and Speeches

Planning Committee, State Bar of Texas’s Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Course (September 7-8, 2023, Houston, Texas).
Planning Committee, State Bar of Texas’s Oil and Gas Disputes Course, (January 19-20, 2023, Houston, Texas).
Planning Committee, State Bar of Texas’s Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Course (October 12-13, 2022, Houston, Texas).
Planning Committee, University of Texas School of Law’s 45th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute (March 28, 2019, Houston, Texas).
Course Director, State Bar of Texas’s Oil and Gas Disputes Course, (January 10-11, 2019, Houston, Texas).
Planning Committee, University of Texas School of Law’s 44th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute (April 20, 2018, Houston, Texas).
“Texas Oil and Gas Legal Update”, presented at the Texas Bankers’ Association’s 2017 Intermediate Trust and Estate Administration Seminar (May 4, 2017, Dallas, Texas).
“Conducting the Mineral Owner’s Lease Audit”, presented at the Texas Bankers Association’s Real Estate, Oil and Gas Conference (March 24, 2016, San Antonio, Texas).
“Interpreting Royalty Reservations”, presented at the State Bar of Texas’ 33rd Annual Advanced Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Course (October 2, 2015, Houston, Texas).
“Texas Oil and Gas Legal Update”, presented at the Texas Bankers’ Association’s Real Estate, Oil and Gas Conference (March 27, 2014, San Antonio, Texas).
“Supreme Court of Texas and Texas Legislature Update for 2013”, presented at the Annual Convention of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (March 24, 2013, Fort Worth, Texas).
“Pipeline Easements and Legal Cases”, presented at the Bi-Annual Meeting of the Texas Land and Mineral Owners Association (October 18, 2012, San Antonio, Texas).
“Recent Developments in Real Estate, Estate Planning and Wealth Management”, presented along with Alejandro Sostre-Odio and Arthur Uhl, at the Texas Bankers’ Association’s Real Estate, Oil and Gas Conference (March 8, 2012, San Antonio, Texas).
“Reconciling Mineral Rights and Conservation Easements”, contributing author, along with Blair Fitzsimons and Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons, published in Volume 11, Number 1, of the Texas Land and Mineral Owners Official Newsletter, 1st Quarter 2011.
“The Oil and Gas Lease, Part IV: Other Clauses”, presented at the University of Texas School of Law’s 37th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Institute (April 7, 2011, Houston, Texas).
“Conducting the Royalty Owner’s Lease Audit”, presented at the Texas Bankers Association’s Real Estate, Oil and Gas Conference (April 1, 2011, San Antonio, Texas).
“Leasing in the Eagle Ford Shale from the Land and Mineral Owner’s Perspective”, presented with Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons at the Bi-Annual Meeting of the Texas Land and Mineral Owners Association (October 21, 2010, San Antonio, Texas).
“Going Nuclear: A Primer on Uranium Mining”, published in Volume 9, Number 2, of the Energy Litigation Journal by the Energy Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section, Winter 2010.
“Uranium Leasing Update”, presented at the State Bar of Texas’ 27th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Course (October 9, 2009, Houston, Texas).
“Uranium Leasing – Issues Facing Land and Mineral Owners”, published in Volume 33, Number 2, of the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section Report for the State Bar of Texas, December 2008.
“Uranium Leasing – Issues Facing Land and Mineral Owners” presented for the Natural Resources Section of the San Antonio Bar Association (November 12, 2008, San Antonio, Texas).
“The Ten Top Issues Land and Mineral Owners Should Include In Their Oil And Gas Lease” – presented with Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons for The Trust Company, N.A. (October 1, 2008, San Antonio, Texas).

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