Philip C. Mani Partner

Phil’s work with clients for thirty years covering a wide range of services.  He counsels oil and gas explorationists and developers of all sizes and in all producing areas of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and, previously, in Pennsylvania.  He advises in day-to-day problem-solving associated with, but not limited to, title examination, title curative, legal research and litigation, including the complex issues involving horizontal drilling, forming pooled units, retaining acreage, and retaining depths/geologic formations.  Phil’s work often begins at inception of projects by developing lease forms, leasing, title examination, acquisitions and divestitures, and working with the regulatory agencies involved with writing and/or interpreting the regulations in new and developing trends.  His experience is extensive and he has been involved with horizontal drilling, title examination, the formation and reformation of pooled units covers rural areas, suburban, urban and industrial areas throughout Texas since 1990, throughout Pennsylvania since 2009, throughout Colorado since 2012, and throughout New Mexico since 2016.  Phil has also successfully tried cases concerning the construction and interpretation of deeds, oil and gas leases, and other conveyances and wills involving mineral/royalty ownership.

As founder and a Partner of ML, Phil has been engaged in the practice of law for the oil and gas industry since 1990, offering clients his extensive experience in oil and gas transactions and oil and gas exploration and development projects.  Phil’s career in the oil and gas industry began in 1980 as a Petroleum Geologist, and later as a Professional Landman before becoming an Oil and Gas Attorney in 1990 working with horizontal drilling in the Austin Chalk trend.  His legal, land and geological experience in all geologic basins in Texas and in its surrounding states, coupled with his extensive work in the Austin Chalk, Barnett Shale, Eagle Ford, Spraberry, Wolfcamp, Bone Spring, Marcellus, Woodbine and Permian Basin trends from inception, provides him with special insight into the many needs of our clients.

He is a native Texan, from San Antonio, and has solid connections throughout the industry.  He is also well-connected in Pennsylvania and to Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry through his grandfather’s oil transportation business in Warren, Pennsylvania.

He enjoys traveling with his wife, Ann, hunting and fishing in his free time, and is very active in the fields of Geology and Meteoritics, the study of meteorites.

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn.