Robert S. Ballentine

Professional Experience

After earning his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Brown University and his Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law, Bob Ballentine began his legal career with a small Houston firm, concentrating on oil and gas law, litigation, and natural gas price regulation. He later moved his regulatory and litigation practice in-house with a major interstate gas transmission company. Bob subsequently joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in its Houston and San Antonio offices as a litigation associate, with a particular emphasis on energy and insurance litigation. He later moved to Fulbright & Jaworski, where he served as litigation counsel for ten years. During his time at Fulbright & Jaworski, Bob earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources Law from the University of Houston Law Center. He was later honored to serve as an adjunct professor of energy law at the Law Center. Following ten years as a partner at Burleson LLP and one of its spin-off firms, Barry Conge Harris, Bob founded Ballentine Law PLLC in July 2020, focusing on commercial litigation and business law. In March 2021, he joined Grable Martin, where he continues his practice of commercial litigation, energy and oil and gas law, and insurance law as a member of the well-established Texas-based firm.

Community Engagement and Associations

• State Bar of Texas 
  • Litigation Section
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section
  • Public Utility Law Section
  • Antitrust and Business Litigation Section
• Oklahoma Bar Association 
  • Energy and Natural Resources Law Section
  • Litigation Section

• Houston Bar Association
  • Litigation Section
  • Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section
• Montgomery County Bar Association

• The Woodlands Bar Association
  • Energy Resources Section
• Energy Bar Association
  • Natural Gas Committee
  • Compliance and Enforcement Committee

• Houston Gas Processors Association
• Gulf Coast Power Association
• Regional alumni interviewer for Brown University’s Alumni Schools Committee
• Adjunct Faculty, Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Center, University of Houston Law Center
• Texas Bar College
• International Arbitration Certificate Program, University of Houston Law Center (2026)

Presentations and Publications

• “Recent Supreme Court Developments in Deed Construction Issues,” presenter, American Association of Professional Landmen’s (AAPL) Texas Land Institute, Houston, September 24, 2018.
• “Negotiating Essential Terms of Midstream Contracts,” author, 35 Natural Gas & Electricity 1 (Wiley Periodicals, Inc., a Wiley company, August 2018).
• “Ethics in Environmental Regulatory Compliance – Conflicts Arising in a Transitional World,” author, 58 S. Tex. L. Rev. 491 (2017).
• “Ethics in Environmental Regulatory Compliance,” presenter, South Texas College of Law 23rd Annual Symposium: Ethics in Environmental & Energy Law, Houston, Texas, February 24, 2017.
• “Interpretation of Mineral and Royalty Deeds,” presenter, Oil, Gas and Mineral Title Examination Course sponsored by the State Bar of Texas and the Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section, Houston, June 25-26, 2015.
• “Latest Developments in Commercial Arbitration: What’s New for In-House Counsel,” presenter, Association of Corporate Counsel – The Woodlands Chapter, The Woodlands, March 17, 2015, and ACC – Houston Chapter, Houston, March 10, 2015.
• “Midstream Oil & Gas Contracts: Effective Negotiation, Drafting, and Dispute Resolution,” presenter, Electric Utility Consultants, Inc. (EUCI), Denver, January 22 & 23, 2015.