An Ounce of Prevention explores where energy, law, and real-world operations collide. Each episode pairs timely legal insight with practical conversations from operators who know the field, focusing on the decisions that actually move the industry forward.

In this episode, the spotlight is on distressed oil and gas wells, assets that are often overlooked, underfunded, or written off as companies move on to flashier plays. You’ll hear how experienced operators see opportunity in these forgotten wells, using disciplined operations, automation, and wellbore-only strategies to bring production back online.

It’s a grounded look at how value is created not through hype, but by knowing what to fix, when to act, and when a simple switch can make all the difference.

Caselaw Update:
The update covers Miko, LLC v. Targa Gas Marketing, LLC, a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

The dispute arose out of Winter Storm Uri (February 2021) and focuses on how far a natural gas seller can go in relying on a force majeure clause under a NAESB (North American Energy Standards Board) gas contract.

Time Stamps:

00:57 – Caselaw Update: Winter Storm Uri and force majeure

04:53 – “Stick to the contract” takeaway and risk mindset

05:19 – Introducing John Benevides and New Height Energy

05:59 – What “distressed” oil and gas wells really mean

06:37 – Why vertical wells get ignored as operators chase horizontals

07:28 – Wellbore-only deals explained

08:43 – Shared infrastructure and legacy asset challenges

10:19 – Turning shut-in wells back on with minimal intervention

11:15 – Automation and personnel efficiency in distressed assets

14:28 – Why aggressive bids on distressed wells often fail

15:45 – Performance bonds, plugging liability, and hidden risks

19:19 – Case study: ~2 BOPD turned into 100+ BOPD

21:06 – Growth strategy built around distressed wells

Where should you register your business, and why does it matter so much?
In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, we break down how business jurisdiction affects taxes, liability, compliance costs, and long-term growth.

Partner and Corporate Team Lead Tawnya Bell walks through the most common entity-formation choices founders make: Delaware, Texas, Wyoming, and when Series LLCs should be your first choice (and when it creates unnecessary risk). If you’re starting, restructuring, or planning an eventual exit, this conversation can save you time, money, and legal headaches.

This episode is designed for business owners, founders, and executives who want to make strategic, not trendy, decisions about corporate structure.

Time Stamps / Chapters:

00:31 – Introduction to corporate structure & jurisdiction

00:55 – Case law update: Non-compete enforceability

01:00 – Wiggins v. Southern Securities Group overview

02:55 – Mississippi Supreme Court ruling explained

04:05 – Why non-competes are often misunderstood

04:22 – Why jurisdiction matters when forming a business

05:02 – Delaware: benefits and limitations

06:18 – Texas business courts and why they matter

07:16 – Wyoming LLCs and the anonymity myth

08:17 – Series LLCs and long-term structural risks

09:39 – Practical guidance for choosing the right state

10:16 – Avoiding trend-based business decisions

11:12 – Disclaimers and closing remarks

As 2025 comes to a close, guest host Miranda Caballero explores some of the earliest and most influential decisions coming out of the newly established Texas Business Courts. Created to handle complex business disputes with greater efficiency, these courts are already shaping litigation strategy, corporate governance, and deal structuring across Texas.

In this episode, Miranda breaks down three key cases addressing claim consolidation, veil piercing under Texas law, fraud claims, and statutes of limitations—offering practical insights for business owners, executives, and legal professionals navigating high-stakes commercial disputes.

Time Stamps:

00:55 The Texas Business Courts, Creation under House Bill 19

01:27 Kassam v. Dosani caselaw update

02:48 Invincible Inc. v. RB SP One LLC caselaw update

06:32 Riverside Strategic Capital Fund I, LP v. CLG Investments LLC caselaw update

In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, host Rachel Reese opens with a critical case law update from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals examining Oklahoma’s Production Revenue Standards Act (PRSA) and the staggering financial consequences of delayed royalty payments. The discussion underscores how statutory compound interest and class action exposure can create nine-figure liability for oil and gas operators—even when payments are eventually made.

Rachel is then joined by Eric Fuller, President and CEO of Eikon-X, for an in-depth conversation on modern outsourcing, organizational agility, and career development. Eric shares insights on when outsourcing makes sense, how companies can move faster by buying outcomes instead of methodologies, and why boutique consulting firms are increasingly attractive alternatives to traditional models. The episode also explores career advice for professionals early in their journey, the importance of relationships, and how private equity–backed companies can unlock value through smarter back-office strategy.

Time Stamps:

00:25 Case law update

05:00 Eric Fuller introduction

5:50 What Eikon-X is and what it does, serving the industry

7:11 The evolution from in-house back offices to outsourced expertise

09:38 Why companies want solutions, not methodologies

13:01 Specialists vs. generalists and corporate leadership pipelines

15:28 Career advice: increasing value early and staying open to opportunity

16:13 Long-term value of professional relationships

18:09 Fail often, fail fast: breaking things to find better solutions

21:29 Ideal Iconix clients: private equity, M&A, and growing companies

24:24 Final thoughts: supporting teams, saving money, and planning for uncertainty

24:48 Disclaimers, listener call-to-action, and contact information

In this episode, host Rachel Reece sits down with Mark Castiglione, Partner of Oil & Gas Strategy at Veriten, to unpack three decades of career pivots, leadership lessons, and strategic insight across the energy industry. From early engineering roots in Burlington Resources, to Enron, investment banking, private equity, corporate development, board seats, restructuring, and international strategy—Mark shares the real story behind navigating an ever-changing industry with resilience and purpose. He also offers practical tips for energy career transitions that professionals at any stage of their journey need to hear.

The episode also includes an important Texas corporate law update on Senate Bill 1057, breaking down what nationally listed corporations need to know before opting in.

Whether you’re early in your energy career, considering a transition, leading a team, or looking for truth in the evolving global energy landscape, this episode is full of wisdom, candor, and practical guidance.

Time Stamps:

00:41 Caselaw Update

03:35 Guest introduction: Mark Castiglione, overview of experience. Texas Tech, Burlington Resources, engineering roots

10:00 Encana, El Paso Corp., Quantum Resources, SR Energy, timing around the 2014 crash

14:56 Advisory career, Sandridge, Meridian Energy, Riverstone, Alta Mesa restructuring

23:00 Board work, Post Oak, joining EOG, international deals, Middle East exposure

34:55 International expansion, advice for career transitions, importance of relationships

37:40 Final thoughts, encouragement for young professionals, closing legal disclaimer

In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, host Rachel Reece sits down with the one and only Chuck Yates—investor, podcaster, and self-proclaimed “Galactic Viceroy of Collide”—to explore how AI is transforming the energy industry. Chuck shares the unexpected origin story of Collide, how a media venture evolved into enterprise AI software, and what Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) really means for oil & gas companies looking to modernize workflows.

From automating regulatory filings to empowering engineers, capturing tribal knowledge, and rethinking how future experts are trained, this discussion dives deep into the real-world impacts of AI—what it can do today, where it falls short, and how early adopters can win big.

Whether you’re an energy executive, engineer, attorney, or curious tech leader, this episode is packed with insight, humor, and practical takeaways for navigating AI’s rapid evolution.

Time Stamps:

00:48 - Caselaw update

04:58 - Introduction, Chuck explains how podcasting, energy tech experiments, and COVID timing led to Digital Wildcatters and eventually to Collide’s early AI tools.

12:11 – RAG, Costs, & Preventing Hallucinations

Chuck breaks down Retrieval-Augmented Generation, why it matters for accuracy, and how Collide reduces token costs and shows source citations.

15:05 – Real-World Automation: Filings, Contracts & Workflow AI

A look at how companies use Collide for tasks like W-10/G-10 automation, contract matching, exception letters, and building workflow pipelines.

20:10 – The Future: Pattern Recognition & Hidden Insights

Chuck shares how AI will uncover correlations humans never look for, from frac performance issues to vendor-related patterns.

25:03 – Tribal Knowledge, Generational Gaps & Training the Next Experts

A deeper discussion on the loss of human apprenticeship, capturing undocumented knowledge, and preventing new skill gaps in the workforce.

31:25 – Legal Thought Partnership & Closing Reflections

Rachel explains how AI helps lawyers think better (not replace them), and the two wrap up with a look toward the future.

33:31 – Outro & Disclaimers

Closing credits, firm information, and disclaimer.

In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, host Rachel Reece is joined by Maggie Caldwell, Managing Director in the Opportunities Tax Advisory Practice, to discuss an often-overlooked benefit in the energy industry: the Marginal Well Tax Credit. Together, they break down how this unique credit works, who qualifies, and how businesses can claim significant savings—even retroactively.

Before the interview, Rachel shares a case law update about Moloa‘a Farms, LLC v. Green Energy Team, LLC, a Hawaii Supreme Court case that highlights the importance of defining key terms in real estate and lease agreements.

Whether you’re in energy, real estate, or business operations, this episode offers actionable insights on how proactive legal and financial strategies can protect your bottom line—and maybe even put money back in your pocket.

Timestamps & Highlights

00:00 – 00:20 | Introduction
Rachel welcomes listeners to An Ounce of Prevention—a podcast where legal insights meet practical business advice.

00:20 – 00:42 | What to Expect
An overview of the show’s mission: helping executives build stronger businesses and sleep better at night.

00:42 – 00:47 | Case Law Segment Intro
Rachel introduces the latest legal update and its implications for business owners.

00:47 – 04:42 | Case Law Update: Moloa‘a Farms, LLC v. Green Energy Team, LLC
A breakdown of the Hawaii Supreme Court’s decision on whether a lease option was enforceable.

• Why missing “essential terms” can invalidate agreements.
• Lessons on intent, timing, and price provisions.
• Key takeaway: without clear terms, contracts may not hold up in court.

04:42 – 04:50 | Introducing Guest Expert
Rachel welcomes Maggie Caldwell, Managing Director and federal tax expert specializing in energy clients.

04:50 – 05:27 | Meet Maggie Caldwell
Overview of Maggie’s experience with mergers, IPOs, and tax strategy for the energy sector.

05:27 – 06:02 | What Is the Marginal Well Tax Credit?
Maggie explains this often-missed credit for low-producing (marginal) oil and gas wells.

06:02 – 06:28 | The 2024 and 2025 Tax Years
Why 2024 and 2025 are key years when the credit phases in—and what taxpayers need to know.

06:28 – 07:04 | How the Credit Phases In
How the IRS determines eligibility based on low pricing environments and gas/oil price thresholds.

07:04 – 07:29 | Who Qualifies?
Only working interest owners—not royalty owners—can claim the credit, whether operating or non-operating.

07:29 – 08:31 | Filing and Claiming the Credit
How individuals and partnerships can claim the credit on their federal income tax returns.

08:31 – 09:28 | Why This Credit Is Often Missed
Up to 70–80% of eligible taxpayers are unaware of this opportunity—here’s why.

09:28 – 10:15 | Real-World Example
A recent client reclaimed $4.5 million in tax credits through amending past returns.

10:15 – 10:57 | Lease Aggregation Rule
How wells that don’t individually qualify can still be eligible through lease aggregation.

10:57 – 11:25 | How to Amend and Claim
What data is needed (API numbers and working interest percentages) and how the amendment process works.

11:25 – 11:56 | Low-Maintenance, High-Impact Credit
Why the process is simple and worthwhile for qualifying operators and investors.

11:56 – 12:05 | Contact & Closing Remarks
How listeners can reach out with questions or to be featured on the show.

12:05 – 12:46 | Legal Disclaimer
Standard disclosure: this podcast is for informational purposes only and not legal advice.

12:46 – 13:01 | Outro
Rachel wraps up with contact info and encourages listeners to subscribe, rate, and follow An Ounce of Prevention on major platforms.

In this episode of An Ounce of Prevention, guest host Miranda Caballero, Senior Associate from R. Reese & Associates, delivers an insightful double feature for business owners and investors.

First, she breaks down a recent Fifth Circuit case — WorldVue Connect Global LLC v. Szuch — highlighting lessons about non-compete clauses, confidential information, and injunctions. Then, Miranda explores the ins and outs of Section 1031 exchanges and how oil and gas investors can leverage them to defer capital gains taxes and strategically reposition assets.

Whether you’re a business executive, investor, or legal professional, this episode provides practical takeaways on risk management, deal structure, and smart legal strategy.

Timestamps & Highlights

00:00 – 00:20 | Introduction
Welcome to An Ounce of Prevention. Learn how R. Reese & Associates helps clients prevent legal risks while supporting business growth.

00:20 – 00:40 | Case Law Update

Before Miranda gets into the topic, Rachel breaks down a new caselaw update and then an in-depth look at 1031 exchanges.

00:40 – 05:50 | Case Law Update: Worldview Connect Global LLC v. Zouch

Overview of the dispute involving non-compete and non-solicitation provisions.

05:50 – 06:09 | Closing the Case Segment
Lessons learned: distinguish between personal knowledge and proprietary company information to prevent disputes.

06:09 – 10:41 | Deep Dive: Understanding 1031 Exchanges

What Section 1031 allows and how it benefits oil and gas investors

10:41 – 11:04 | Case Example & Final Takeaways
A client case study: how a 1031 exchange transformed a small working interest sale into long-term passive income.

11:04 – 12:41 | Event Announcement: The Dealmakers Haunted Hall Gala
Join R. Reese & Associates on October 23rd in Houston for a night of networking, poker, karaoke, and costume contests. Learn how to secure tickets and sponsorship opportunities.

12:41 – 13:25 | Legal Disclaimer
A reminder that all podcast content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

13:25 – 14:02 | Closing & Contact Info
Subscribe and follow An Ounce of Prevention for future episodes, case law updates, and industry insights.

Contact: podcast@rreese.law.com | (832) 831-2289