Robert “Cole” Payne

Cole Payne represents landowners and mineral owners in the negotiation and management of solar, wind, and oil and gas leases, as well as conservation easements, pipeline easements, surface use agreements, cryptocurrency mining agreements, and related land use contracts.

Cole was raised in Lorena, Texas and attended Texas A&M University where he earned his undergraduate degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. After graduating from A&M, Cole attended the Texas Tech University School of Law where he graduated magna cum laude with an emphasis in water law. While in law school, Cole served as the Chairperson for the Texas Tech School of Law Board of Barristers and as Texas Tech’s Student Representative to the State Bar of Texas.

Prior to joining the firm in August of 2021, Cole clerked at the 11^th Court of Appeals in Eastland for Chief Justice John Bailey, Justice Bruce Williams, and Justice Stacy Trotter.

Cole serves on the Board of Directors for and is an active volunteer with the Texas Brigades, a wildlife-intensive youth leadership camp for high-school aged individuals. He also enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his family and racing drag boats with the Southern Drag Boat Association.