Byron Keeling is Of Counsel at GableGotwals, where his practice focuses on litigation and appeals, including oil and gas, contract, and business disputes.
He has more than 30 years of experience, having served as lead appellate counsel in more than 150 appeals. In addition, Byron has argued cases in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Texas, and most of the Texas courts of appeals.
Byron has been lead counsel in major oil and gas litigation and appeals, and has represented parties on all sides of oil and gas disputes, including lessees and royalty owners, majority and minority working interest owners, and buyers and sellers in contract disputes. His experience includes advising clients on disputes regarding royalty issues, lease terminations, surface rights damages, Joint Operating Agreements, COPAS, gas purchasing and gas processing agreements, and implied covenant disputes.
He has extensive experience litigating oil and gas royalty issues and has published several articles that the Texas Supreme Court has cited in several key royalty cases, including Devon Energy Prod. Co. v. Sheppard, 668 S.W.3d 332 (Tex. 2023), Nettye Engler Energy, LP v. BlueStone Nat. Res. II, LLC, 639 S.W.3d 682 (Tex. 2022), and BlueStone Nat. Res. II, LLC v. Randle, 620 S.W.3d 380 (Tex. 2021).
In addition, the highest courts in several other states have also cited his articles: Kentucky: Baker v. Magnum Hunter Prod., Inc., 473 S.W.3d 588 (Ky. 2015); North Dakota: Blasi v. Petro-Hunt, L.L.C., 768 N.W.2d 496 (N.D. 2009); Ohio: Chesapeake Expl., L.L.C. v. Buell, 144 Ohio St. 3d 490, 45 N.E.3d 185 (2015); and West Virginia: Kaess v. BB Land, LLC, 251 W.Va. 855, 916 S.E.2d 697 (2025).
Byron is also a commercial arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association (AAA).
He previously served as law clerk to the Honorable Sam D. Johnson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.