Joe F. Flack
Practice Areas
Experience
- Energy Acquisition & Disposition
- Energy Finance
- Pipeline & Midstream
- Produced Water
- Shale & Unconventional Resources
- Upstream Oil & Gas
Biography
Joe Flack is an attorney in the energy group of Jackson Walker’s Houston office with a practice focused on oil and gas transactions. His substantial upstream representations include sellers and buyers in acquisitions and divestitures, borrowers and lenders in reserve-based lending transactions, and grantors and grantees in conveyancing transactions. He also has led various diligence examinations with regards to property and title issues.
Additionally, Joe has represented a number of different parties in midstream matters, including gatherers and producers/shippers in gathering agreements, and processors and producers in processing agreements.
Joe has broad experience in other energy transactions as well, including exploration and development agreements, farmout agreements, participation agreements, joint operating agreements, gas gathering agreements, processing agreements, and oil and gas leases.
Education
B.A., University of Texas at Austin
- Plan II Honors
J.D., The University of Texas School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Represented a private company in a $1.3 billion divestiture of upstream oil and gas assets in West Texas to a public company.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an acquisition by one of its portfolio companies in acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets in Northeast Texas valued at over $1 billion from a public company.
- Represented a private company in connection with an initial public offering and contribution transaction with multiple private companies covering multiple asset packages collectively valued at over $1 billion.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with a joint acquisition with a private company of midstream and upstream oil and gas assets in Ohio valued at $800 million.
- Represented a private equity portfolio company in multiple acquisitions of upstream oil and gas assets in West Texas valued at $600 million from multiple private companies.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with a joint acquisition by one of its portfolio companies in acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets valued at $580 million in Northeast Texas from a private company.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with a partial equity divestiture in one of its portfolio companies owning primarily upstream oil and gas assets in Northeast Texas valued at $500 million with a private company.
- Represented a private company in connection with an equity acquisition in multiple oil and gas companies owning primarily upstream oil and gas assets in Texas valued at $300 million.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an acquisition by one of its portfolio companies acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets in Wyoming (Green River Basin) valued at $200 million from a private company.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an acquisition by one of its portfolio companies in acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets in Northeast Texas valued at $200 million from a bankrupt entity.
- Represented a portfolio company of a private equity fund in a joint development transaction with a public company, covering assets in West Texas valued at $180 million.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an acquisition by one of its portfolio companies in acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets in Northeast Texas valued at $180 million from a private company.
- Represented a private company in an acquisition and joint venture transaction with a public company covering upstream oil and gas assets in Ohio and Pennsylvania valued at $175 million.
- Represented a private equity fund in the acquisition by one of its portfolio companies, Fairway Resources, in acquiring upstream oil and gas assets in Western Oklahoma and Northwest Texas for $150 million from a bankrupt entity.
- Represented a public company in a divestiture of upstream oil and gas assets in Oklahoma valued at $150 million to a private company.
- Represented a private company in connection with a joint development transaction covering upstream and midstream oil and gas assets in Western Colorado valued at $130 million with a private company.
- Represented a portfolio company of a private equity fund in a $100 million joint acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in multiple counties in West Texas from a private company.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an equity acquisition of an oil and gas company owning primarily upstream oil and gas assets in Texas valued at $100 million.
- Represented a private equity portfolio company in an acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in multiple counties in West Texas valued at $100 million from a public company.
- Represented a private company in connection with an acquisition by one of its subsidiary companies of upstream assets in southern Louisiana valued at $100 million from a public company.
- Represented a private company in connection with an acquisition of oil and gas assets in central Louisiana valued at $80 million from a private company.
- Represented a portfolio company of a private equity fund in an acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in West Texas valued at $80 million from a public company.
- Represented a private equity portfolio company in an acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in multiple counties in West Texas valued at $80 million from a public company.
- Represented a private company in a financing transaction with multiple public companies covering upstream oil and gas assets in Ohio and Pennsylvania valued at $60 million.
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) (USA – Nationwide), 2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Oil and Gas Law, 2018-2023
- “The Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers,” Energy Finance, 2024-2025
- “Title/Environmental Due Diligence and Related Issues in Oil and Gas Acquisitions,” Presentation for the 47th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute (2021)
- “The Application of the Statute of Frauds in Oil and Gas Transactions,” Presentation for 2014 Fundamentals Course at the 40th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute (March 2014), Presentation to Finance and Corporate Attorneys (2013)
- “Anatomy of a Title Opinion,” Presentation to the Nation Association of Division Order Analysts, Savannah, GA (2011), Presentation to Houston Association of Division Order Analysts (2010) and Presentation to XXIV Annual Review of Oil and Gas Law put on by the Dallas Bar Association’s Energy Section (2009)
June 5, 2025
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2025 USA Guide Featuring 79 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 28 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 79 attorneys and 28 departments for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 29 departments, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 9 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 12 recognized for the first time.
February 24, 2025
Attorney News
Lawdragon Names 15 Jackson Walker Partners Among Leading Energy Lawyers of 2025
According to Lawdragon, the Energy 500 list “reflects the historic strength of a handful of firms in this area, as well as the incursions the global powerhouses have made establishing Energy as a mainstay of their practices.”
October 22, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 11 Attorneys Named to 2025 ‘Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America’ List
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 11 attorneys to Lawdragon’s list of the “500 Leading Dealmakers in America.”
February 16, 2024
Attorney News
Lawdragon Names 12 Jackson Walker Partners Among Leading Energy Lawyers of 2024
According to Lawdragon, the Energy 500 list “reflects the historic strength of a handful of firms in this area, as well as the incursions the global powerhouses have made establishing Energy as a mainstay of their practices.”
June 14, 2023
Mentions
Family Offices Step Up to Fund Oil, Gas | Hart Energy
Following the acquisition of Wyoming natural gas producer PureWest Energy by the PW Consortium investor group, Jackson Walker partner Joe F. Flack spoke with Hart Energy about his representation of Wincoram Asset Management in the deal and how the consortium exemplifies family offices’ greater interest in oil and gas investing.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
August 19, 2021
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
March 24, 2021
Speaking Engagements
Joe Flack to Present at the Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute
During the 47th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute, Joe F. Flack will present on title and environmental due diligence in oil and gas acquisitions.
Practice Experience
- Represented a private company in a $1.3 billion divestiture of upstream oil and gas assets in West Texas to a public company.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an acquisition by one of its portfolio companies in acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets in Northeast Texas valued at over $1 billion from a public company.
- Represented a private company in connection with an initial public offering and contribution transaction with multiple private companies covering multiple asset packages collectively valued at over $1 billion.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with a joint acquisition with a private company of midstream and upstream oil and gas assets in Ohio valued at $800 million.
- Represented a private equity portfolio company in multiple acquisitions of upstream oil and gas assets in West Texas valued at $600 million from multiple private companies.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with a joint acquisition by one of its portfolio companies in acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets valued at $580 million in Northeast Texas from a private company.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with a partial equity divestiture in one of its portfolio companies owning primarily upstream oil and gas assets in Northeast Texas valued at $500 million with a private company.
- Represented a private company in connection with an equity acquisition in multiple oil and gas companies owning primarily upstream oil and gas assets in Texas valued at $300 million.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an acquisition by one of its portfolio companies acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets in Wyoming (Green River Basin) valued at $200 million from a private company.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an acquisition by one of its portfolio companies in acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets in Northeast Texas valued at $200 million from a bankrupt entity.
- Represented a portfolio company of a private equity fund in a joint development transaction with a public company, covering assets in West Texas valued at $180 million.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an acquisition by one of its portfolio companies in acquiring interests in upstream oil and gas assets in Northeast Texas valued at $180 million from a private company.
- Represented a private company in an acquisition and joint venture transaction with a public company covering upstream oil and gas assets in Ohio and Pennsylvania valued at $175 million.
- Represented a private equity fund in the acquisition by one of its portfolio companies, Fairway Resources, in acquiring upstream oil and gas assets in Western Oklahoma and Northwest Texas for $150 million from a bankrupt entity.
- Represented a public company in a divestiture of upstream oil and gas assets in Oklahoma valued at $150 million to a private company.
- Represented a private company in connection with a joint development transaction covering upstream and midstream oil and gas assets in Western Colorado valued at $130 million with a private company.
- Represented a portfolio company of a private equity fund in a $100 million joint acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in multiple counties in West Texas from a private company.
- Represented a private equity fund in connection with an equity acquisition of an oil and gas company owning primarily upstream oil and gas assets in Texas valued at $100 million.
- Represented a private equity portfolio company in an acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in multiple counties in West Texas valued at $100 million from a public company.
- Represented a private company in connection with an acquisition by one of its subsidiary companies of upstream assets in southern Louisiana valued at $100 million from a public company.
- Represented a private company in connection with an acquisition of oil and gas assets in central Louisiana valued at $80 million from a private company.
- Represented a portfolio company of a private equity fund in an acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in West Texas valued at $80 million from a public company.
- Represented a private equity portfolio company in an acquisition of upstream oil and gas assets in multiple counties in West Texas valued at $80 million from a public company.
- Represented a private company in a financing transaction with multiple public companies covering upstream oil and gas assets in Ohio and Pennsylvania valued at $60 million.
Recognition & Accolades
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) (USA – Nationwide), 2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Oil and Gas Law, 2018-2023
- “The Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers,” Energy Finance, 2024-2025
Publications & Speeches
- “Title/Environmental Due Diligence and Related Issues in Oil and Gas Acquisitions,” Presentation for the 47th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute (2021)
- “The Application of the Statute of Frauds in Oil and Gas Transactions,” Presentation for 2014 Fundamentals Course at the 40th Annual Ernest E. Smith Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Institute (March 2014), Presentation to Finance and Corporate Attorneys (2013)
- “Anatomy of a Title Opinion,” Presentation to the Nation Association of Division Order Analysts, Savannah, GA (2011), Presentation to Houston Association of Division Order Analysts (2010) and Presentation to XXIV Annual Review of Oil and Gas Law put on by the Dallas Bar Association’s Energy Section (2009)