Tony Barger entered the part-time program at the University of Houston Law Center in the Fall of 2021, having established a career as a petroleum landman almost 10 years previous. Beginning as a field landman, running title for a seismic survey in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, California, Tony was requested by the upstream E&P behind the survey to serve as landowner contact while the survey was being conducted. He parlayed that role into an in-house, contract position once the survey concluded, then joined Bakersfield office of Linn Energy in June, 2014. After Linn emerged from bankruptcy in 2017, Tony was transferred to Houston, where he continued to work for Linn and its successor, Riviera Resources, until that company shut its doors at the end of 2020. In that time, Tony worked as land lead on company assets in California, Utah, and Oklahoma before coming to Catena Resources, running a rig in the New Mexico Permian.

Throughout his time as a landman, Tony continued to hone his skills and experience in title research and contract drafting, skills that will continue to serve him well in his new role in the legal profession. Tony will graduate in May 2027 with JDs from UHLC and the University of Calgary with the goal of someday working in the international energy space.  

Outside of the office, Tony splits his time between school and the nascent club volleyball careers of the two daughters he shares with his wife, Alison.