© 2012 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook
Decker, Jones, McMackin, McClane, Hall & Bates has hired four new oil and gas and real estate lawyers, expanding this historic Fort Worth business law-oriented firm to a 24-attorney team.
Real estate lawyer Frank Newman and oil and gas lawyer Tim Malone join Decker Jones as shareholders. The other two attorneys are Eric Camp and Sarah Powers, who also have an expertise in oil and gas. Camp joins the firm as an of counsel, while Powers joins as an associate.
Newman comes to Decker Jones from Newman Law Firm, where he spent almost 33 years as the name partner. His practice focuses on residential and commercial construction, real estate, general civil litigation, creditor’s rights, business/corporate transactions, estate, probate and mediation.
Malone, who specializes in oil and gas exploration and production, was most recently a partner at Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz. His oil and gas practice expertise includes mineral title examination and negotiating and drafting transactional documents. He also served as the municipal judge for the City of Watauga from 1992 to 1998.
Malone and Camp worked together at Whitaker Chalk as well as Heroux & Helton – the firm Camp most recently worked at as a partner.
Camp’s oil and gas and real estate practice focuses on handling transactions, litigation, regulatory matters and title examinations. He said that he decided to join Decker Jones because it provides a unique
opportunity to grow his oil and gas practice at one of Fort Worth’s oldest and most distinguished firms.
Powers has an expertise in oil and gas as well but also focuses her practice in an array of other areas, including water law, commercial litigation, bankruptcy and general business transactions. Her oil and gas and water law practice involves representing service companies, operators, mineral owners and surface owners in transactional, permitting and regulatory matters.
Her corporate practice focuses on providing ongoing general business advice and counseling, preparing organizational and corporate documents, contract drafting, negotiation and review. She comes to Decker Jones from Brown Pruitt Peterson & Wambsganss, where she was an associate.