Jim Strawn brings over three decades of oil and gas legal experience to R. Reese & Associates, where he serves clients under the firm’s innovative in-house model. He began his legal career as an oil and gas administrative judge immediately after law school, presiding over hundreds of technical hearings on geology, engineering, land use, well design, Class II permitting, well operations, and environmental issues.

He then spent the next twenty years as an in-house attorney for Conoco and Pennzoil’s E&P company, where he benefited from invaluable mentorship by seasoned industry professionals. Following Devon Energy’s acquisition of Pennzoil, Jim played a key role in building Devon’s legal department as Associate General Counsel, supporting the company’s rapid tenfold growth and working closely with executive leadership.

After his in-house tenure, Jim moved into Big Law, where he handled complex oil, gas, and renewables transactions—including carbon sequestration, solar, and deep well geothermal projects. His career spans nearly every oil- and gas-producing state in the U.S., as well as international jurisdictions, and he is well-versed in all phases of the energy business, from prospect identification to the burner tip.

Jim is known for combining legal precision with hands-on industry knowledge—there aren’t many attorneys who can interpret well logs or explain a Darcy, key seat, or salt scrape. His passion for the energy industry extends to the classroom, where he regularly teaches and presents to land professionals and legal audiences. He has authored articles in bar journals and has served as an expert witness in oil and gas transactional matters.

Outside the office, Jim enjoys competitive ice hockey, composing music at the piano, carpentry, remodeling homes, and creating custom furniture. Most of all, he treasures time spent with his grandchildren.