Roderick E. Wetsel
Top rated Energy & Natural Resources attorney in Sweetwater, Texas
Wetsel & Lederle, LLP
Practice areas: Energy & Natural Resources; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 1978
Education: The University of Texas School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2025 Call today:
325-274-7027
Wetsel & Lederle, LLP
207 Oak StreetPO Box 78
Sweetwater, TX 79556 Visit website
Roderick E. Wetsel, a founding partner at Wetsel & Lederle, LLP, in Sweetwater, Texas, serves clients nationwide. His practice encompasses energy law, including oil and gas, solar energy, wind energy and eminent domain. With a career spanning over 36 years, he is board-certified in oil, gas and mineral law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Mr. Wetsel's academic journey began at The University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with high honors in history in 1975. During his undergraduate studies, he was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa society. He continued his education at The University of Texas School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor in 1977. His commitment to the legal profession is evident through his involvement in the Texas Title Standards Joint Editorial Board since 1991. Additionally, he served on the Texas Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Council from 2003 to 2006 and is a charter member of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law and Business.
In his academic role, Mr. Wetsel is an adjunct professor at Texas Tech University School of Law, where he teaches courses on wind law and Texas mineral titles. In 2011, he co-authored the pioneering treatise on Texas wind law with notable scholars, which is updated annually and has expanded to a national scope. His contributions to the field include numerous articles on wind energy, and oil and gas law, and he is a sought-after speaker on wind energy topics across the United States.
Mr. Wetsel's legal career is distinguished by his admission to the State Bar of Texas in 1977 and subsequent admissions to various U.S. District Courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. His accolades include an AV Preeminent* peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell. His professional affiliations include the Nolan County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Texas Bar Foundation, among others. Through his teaching, writing and professional involvement, he continues to influence the field of energy law significantly.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Energy & Natural ResourcesFocus areas
Energy Law, Natural Resources Law
- 100% Energy & Natural Resources
First Admitted: 1978, Texas
Professional Webpage: https://www.wal.law/attorney/roderick-e-wetsel/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Texas, 1977
- Charter Member, Advisory Council, Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law, and Business, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014 - Present
- Member, Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Council, 2003 - 2006
- American Bar Association
- Nolan County Bar Association
- College of the State Bar of Texas, 1989
- Chairman, District 16C, 1988 - 1994
- Member, Grievance Committee, District 14C, 1985 - 1988
- Assistant Editor, Title Standards Joint Editorial Board, 1991 to Present
- American Bar Association
- Nolan County Bar Association
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1979
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1983
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1980
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1989
Pro bono / Community Service
- Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, 2019
Honors
- Ernest E. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award in Energy Law (February 2019)
Educational Background
- The University of Texas, Austin, B.A. in History with magna cum laude and With High Honors, 1975
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Selected Faculty of Graduate Inter-Disciplinary Studies (M.S. in Energy); Texas Tech University 2021
- Co-Author, “Emerging Issues in Texas Wind Energy Law: Leases, Tax Abatements, and Ownership of Wind Rights” Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Section Report, Vol. 28, No. 3, March 2004
- Co-Author with Laura M. Bowen, “The Sun Ariseth: A Guide to Drafting Solar Leases” (submitted to the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law, University of Texas School of Law August 2020)
- Author, “Experience is a Dear Teacher – The Texas Wind Decommissioning Statute” (published in Volume 6, Page 245, Texas A&M Journal of Property Law, 2021)
- Co-Author with Laura M. Bowen, “Avoid Voidance: How to Draft Oil and Gas Legal Descriptions in Compliance with the Texas Statute of Frauds” (published in Volume 53, Fall 2020, Number 1, Texas Tech Law Review)
- Co-Author with Becky H. Diffen, Lexis Practice Advisor Series – Texas Business & Commercial Fundamentals of Wind Leasing Transactions (published by LexisNexis Matthew Bender 2015)
- Co-Author with Ernest Smith, Becky H. Diffen and Melissa Powers, Wind Law (published by LexisNexis Matthew Bender 2015)
- Co-Author with Steven K. DeWolf, “Ride Like the Wind: Selected Issues in Multi-Party Wind Lease Negotiations,” 1 Texas A&M Journal of Real Property Law 447-464 (2014)
- K.K. DiVivier and Roderick E. Wetsel, "Jousting at Windmills: When Wind Power Development Collides with Oil, Gas and Mineral Development," 55 Rocky Mt. Min. L. Inst. 9-1 (2009)
- Speaker/Author, 21st Annual Permian Basin Oil & Gas Law – 2019, “Receivership Leasing,” March 1, 2019, Midland, Texas
- Speaker/Author, LLM Master Course in Wind Law, “Negotiating and Drafting a Wind Energy Lease and New Legislative Developments in Wind,” The University of Texas School of Law, February 22, 2019, Austin, Texas
- Interview for Netflix series, “Our Planet,” on wind energy, November 2018, by Silverback Productions
- Speaker/Author, LLM Master Course in Wind Law, “Global Perspective,” The University of Texas School of Law, October 26, 2018, Austin, Texas
- Speaker/Author, Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Course, “Receiverships Redux” October 20-21, 2018, Houston, Texas
- Speaker/Co-Author, 12th Annual John Huffaker Course in Agricultural Law, “A Place in the Sun: Solar Leases in Texas,” Texas Tech University School of Law, May 24, 2018, Lubbock, Texas
- Speaker, University of St. Gallens, “Preview of Wind Law,” The University of Texas School of Law, October 24, 2017, Austin, Texas
- Lecture to U. S. Department of State, “Advanced Energy Course,” The University of Texas, September, 2017, Austin, Texas
- Speaker/Co-Author, 2017 Renewable Energy Law Course, “Anatomy of a Solar Lease: The Landowner Perspective,” The University of Texas School of Law, January 31, 2017, Austin, Texas
- Speaker, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Advanced Estate Planning Conference, “Ride Like the Wind: Selected Issues in Wind Law for the Estate Planner,” August 24, 2012, San Antonio, Texas
- Speaker, Halfmoon Seminars, HalfMoon, LLC, July 12, 2012, Midland, Texas, “Conflicts between Wind Developers and Oil and Gas Companies”
- Speaker/Co-Author, 29th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Course, October 6-7, 2011, Houston, Texas, “Basics of Wind Energy”
- Speaker/Author, 37th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Institute, Houston, Texas, April 8, 2011, “Mineral Receiverships and Beyond”
- Speaker/Panelist, University of Texas 2011 Wind, Solar and Renewables Institute, February 22-24, 2011, AT&T Conference Center, Austin, Texas
- Speaker/Co-Author, 32nd Annual Advanced Real Estate Law Course, July 8-10, 2010, JW Marriot Hill Country Resort & Spa, “Current Issues in Wind Energy Law 2010: Conflicts Between Wind Development and Oil and Gas Development”
- Speaker/Co-Author, Permian Area Lease and Title Analysts Spring Seminar, April 8, 2010, Petroleum Club, Midland, Texas, “Conflicts Between Wind Leases and Oil, Gas and Mineral Development”
- Speaker/Co-Author, Permian Basin Oil & Gas Law-2010, February 19, 2010, Midland Center, Midland, Texas, “Conflicts Between Wind Leases and Oil, Gas and Mineral Development”
- Speaker/Co-Author, 2010 Wind, Solar and Renewables Institute, February 2-4, 2010, Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas, “Special Legal Issues When Renewables and Oil and Gas Projects are Jointly Developed” and “Legal Issues Related to Wind, Solar and Geothermal Development”
- K.K. DiVivier and Roderick E. Wetsel, "Jousting at Windmills: When Wind Power Development Collides with Oil, Gas and Mineral Development," 55 Rocky Mt. Min. L. Inst. 9-1 (2009)
- Speaker/Co-Author, 36th Annual NADOA Institute, Washington D.C., Wardman Park Marriott, September 23-25th 2009, “Current Issues In Wind Energy Law 2009"
- Speaker/Co-Author, 55th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, San Francisco, California, July 23-25, 2009, “Jousting at Windmills: When Wind Power Development Collides with Oil, Gas, and Mineral Development” (2009)
- Speaker/Co-Author, AAPL Annual Meeting, Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort, Clearwater, Florida, June 17-20, 2009, “Current Issues in Wind Energy Law 2009"
- Speaker, Lone Star Solar Summit, Sweetwater, Texas, April 21, 2009, “Solar Energy–Toward a Unified Energy Land Lease”
- Co-Speaker, (with Steven K. DeWolf, Bellinger & DeWolf, Dallas, Texas), Texas Bar CLE Live Webcast, April 9, 2009, “Wind Energy Law Update”
- Speaker/Co-Author, 20th Annual Advanced Real Estate Drafting Course–Texas Bar CLE (Houston, Texas, March 5-6, 2009) “Current Issues in Wind Energy Law 2009"
- Speaker/Co-Author, 2009 Wind Energy Institute, The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, January 20-22, 2009, “Current Issues in Wind Energy Law 2009"
- Speaker/Co-Author, AAPL Santa Fe Land Institute (Santa Fe, New Mexico, September 15, 2008) “Current Issues in Wind Energy 2008"
- Speaker/Co-Author, University of Houston Law Foundation Oil, Gas and Energy Law (Houston, May 1-2, 2008; Dallas, May 8-9, 2008; Austin Video, June 26-27, 2008), “Current Issues in Texas Wind Energy Law 2008"
- Co-Author/Speaker, PBLA Spring Education Seminar, Midland, Texas, April 16, 2008, “Current Issues in Texas Wind Energy Law 2008"
- Co-Author/Speaker, Wind Energy Institute 2008, The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, February 19 & 20, 2008, “Current Issues in Texas Wind Energy Law 2008"
- Joe Wertz, "Oklahoma Wind Power Companies Run Into Headwinds," NPR telephone interview on August 4, 2014 (Published August 19, 2014)
- Co-Author/Speaker, Texas Bar CLE Live Webcast, sponsored by the State Bar of Texas, Austin, Texas, January 31, 2008
- Co-Author/Speaker, 9th Annual West Texas “Fall” Seminar, sponsored by the Ector County and Midland County Bar Associations, January 25, 2008
- Co-Author/Speaker, 29th Annual Advanced Real Estate Law Course, State Bar of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, July 12-14, 2007, “Current Issues in Texas Wind Energy Law 2007: Leases, Ownership of Wind Rights and Litigation”
- Co-Author/Speaker, 2007 Wind Energy Institute, The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, February 26, 2007, “Current Issues in Texas Wind Energy Law 2007: Leases, Ownership of Wind Rights and Litigation”
- Co-Author/Speaker, Midland County Bar Meeting, Midland, Texas, Nov. 16, 2006, “Current Issues in Texas Wind Energy Law”
- Co-Author/Speaker, Ector County Bar Meeting, Odessa, Texas, September 14, 2006, “Current Issues in Texas Wind Energy Law”
- Author/Speaker, 2006 Agricultural Law Seminar, Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas, April 7, 2006
- Program Director, 32nd Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Institute, Houston, Texas, 2006, sponsored by The University of Texas School of Law
- Author/Speaker, 2005 Southwest Land Institute, Dallas, Texas, April 7, 2005, “Wind Leases and Ownership of Wind Rights in Texas”
- Author/Speaker, Dallas Bar Association, Energy Law Section, October 20, 2004, “Wind Leases and Ownership of Wind Rights in Texas”
- Author/Speaker for the 2004 Agricultural Law Seminar, Texas Tech School of Law, sponsored by the State Bar of Texas, “Wind Leases in Texas”
- Author/Speaker for the 2004 Oil, Gas and Wind - Leases and Disputes Seminar, Midland, Texas, sponsored by St. Mary’s University School of Law, “Wind Leases in Texas”
- Author/Speaker for the 2003 Advanced Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Course, “Anatomy of a Wind Energy Lease”
- Author/Speaker for the 2002 Advanced Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Course, "Receiverships Revisited"
- Author/Speaker for the 1995 Advanced Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Course, “How to Obtain a Receivership Oil and Gas Lease"
Office location for Roderick E. Wetsel
207 Oak Street
PO Box 78
Sweetwater, TX 79556
Phone: 325-274-7027
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2025
