Laura H. Burney

ph: (210) 431-2264
email: lburney@stmarytx.edu

Faculty in Residence
B.A., 1980, Trinity University (San Antonio)
J.D., 1984, St. Mary's University

Highlights

Professor Burney began teaching at St. Mary's in 1985, and was the Albert and Helen Herrmann Professor of Natural Resources Law from 1993 to 2004. She has written extensively on oil and gas law issues, and is a frequent speaker at energy resources conferences and courses for attorneys and other professionals in the industry. She has served as a mediator and arbitrator in oil and gas and other disputes, and has worked as an advocate or expert in oil and gas cases in several states. She has appeared before appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Texas. Most recently, she argued Lesley v. Veterans Land Board before the Supreme Court of Texas in September 2010. Professor Burney served on the Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Council of the State Bar of Texas for nine years, completing her tenure as chair in 2005. In addition to oil and gas law, Professor Burney teaches first-year property law.

Specialties

• Oil and Gas
• Property Law

Publications

Professor Burney writes in the areas of property law, oil and gas law and family law. Her publications include:

• The Texas Supreme Court and Oil and Gas Jurisprudence: What Hath Wagner & Brown v. Sheppard Wrought? , 5 Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law 220 (2010)(University of Texas School of Law);
• Interpreting Mineral and Royalty Deeds: The Legacy of the One-Eighth Royalty and Other Stories , 33 ST. MARY’S L.J. 1 (2001);
• Hydraulic Fracturing: Trespass or Rule of Capture? ; 44 ROCKY MT. MIN. LAW INST. 19-1 (1998)(technical aspects co-author, Professor of Geology Norman J. Hyne );
• The Interaction of the Division Order and the Lease Royalty Clause , 28 St. Mary’s L. J. 353 (1997)(Sponsored by grant awarded by the Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section of the State Bar of Texas);
• A Pragmatic Approach to Decision Making in the Next Era of Oil and Gas Jurisprudence , 16 University of Utah J.N.R.L. 1 (1996);
• The Regrettable Rebirth of the Two Grant Doctrine in Texas Deed Construction , 34 South Texas Law Review 73 (1993);
• Just Compensation and Condemnation of Future Interests: Empirical Evidence of the Failure of Fair Market Value , No. 3 Brigham Young Law Review (1989);
• The Legal Implications of Express Lease Obligations: Do the Rules of Document Interpretation Provide Predictability? , 19 Eastern Mineral Law Institute 86 (1998);
• "Oil, Gas, and Other Minerals" Clauses in Texas: Who's On First? , 41 Southwestern Law Review 695 (SMU) (1987);
• Note, Constitutional Law--Presidential Immunity--The President Is Absolutely Immune From Civil Damages Liability For Acts Done Within The "Outer Perimeter" of His Official Capacity , 14 St. Mary's Law Journal 1145 (1983).

Organizations

• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation: Trustee; Faculty Member: Annual Oil and Gas Law Course for Professionals, 2004 to present; Chair: 2008-2010 Programs.