Shackelford, Melton & McKinley Adds Oil & Gas Litigator Martin Averill in Dallas

Online, January 24, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The law firm of Shackelford, Melton & McKinley, LLP, is bolstering the firm's courtroom expertise with the addition of noted oil and gas litigator Martin P. Averill as a partner.

"Marty brings an impressive background in all areas of litigation involving oil and gas production and operations," says John Shackelford, a founding partner of Shackelford, Melton & McKinley. "As a firm that prides itself on being a one-stop resource for our clients, we are very pleased Marty has agreed to join us and help grow this section."

Mr. Averill joins the firm from Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett & Moser, P.C. He provides extensive experience for clients involved in upstream oil and gas production, pipeline operations, litigation and transactions. He has served as lead counsel in projects ranging from the purchase and sale of oil and gas assets to the negotiation of joint development, operation and exploration agreements.

He also works with his clients on matters including borrower financings, due diligence examinations, pipeline easements and regulatory compliance, creditor adversary proceedings in bankruptcy, and business and title litigation issues. He has tried cases involving real estate, pipeline condemnation, operating issues, drilling contracts, pipeline cleaning, mineral title, and commercial contracts.

Mr. Averill earned his law degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He earned his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Gannon University.

Shackelford, Melton & McKinley is a business and entertainment law firm representing financial institutions, recording artists, real estate owners and developers, automobile dealerships, record labels, and other businesses in legal matters across the country. Learn more about the firm at http://www.shacklaw.net.