In this episode of Ounce of Prevention, attorneys Miranda and Rachel take listeners behind the scenes of one of the most critical—but often overlooked—parts of any transaction: the closing. Whether you're acquiring an asset, negotiating a sale, or advising clients through the process, knowing how to manage a closing effectively can mean the difference between a smooth handoff and a major headache.

The conversation begins with a clear explanation of what a “closing” really entails—breaking down not just the moment the deal is signed, but the full scope of ancillary documents, logistics, and moving parts. From there, Miranda walks through what a strong closing checklist looks like, including who needs to see it, how early to circulate it, and why it should be tailored to different types of transactions.

Rachel and Miranda also explore when a closing should be handled in person versus virtually—and the real-world consequences of getting it wrong. They share hard-won insights and even a few cautionary tales about closings that went off the rails, followed by a timely caselaw update to keep you in the know.

If you’re a business owner, dealmaker, or legal professional, this episode offers practical advice to help you navigate closings with clarity and confidence—and avoid the most common (and costly) missteps.

🎃 Bonus: Be sure to catch the announcement about the upcoming Halloween Dealmakers Haunted Hall Gala—a spooky-good networking opportunity!

[0:00] Introduction and teaser: topic of discussing transactions

[1:45] Miranda explains what closings of a transaction and ancillary documents are

[4:59] Rachel asks Miranda what a closing checklists should look like for closing on different assets.

[6:00] Who should be seeing the closing checklist?

[6:39] Ad break - Halloween Dealmakers Haunted Hall Gala announcement

[8:04] How to know when a closing should be in person

[9:58] What can happen when a closing goes wrong

[17:08] Caselaw update

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to discuss how RR&A’s Outsourced Legal Department can help your company, visit the R. Reese & Associates Website: https://rreeselaw.com/

Want more ways to stay up to date on the latest industry-specific news? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://rreeselaw.com/insights/an-ounce-of-prevention-by-rra/

In this episode, the host breaks down Force Majeure—a legal concept commonly found in contracts; including when to use it and when it cannot be used. The term, French for "superior force," is discussed in the context of natural disasters, wars, pandemics, and other unforeseen events. The podcast explains when the clause can be triggered, what kinds of events typically qualify, and why simply being difficult or expensive to perform a contract doesn’t usually count.

Real-world examples are used, like how businesses invoked force majeure during the COVID-19 pandemic to cancel events or delay deliveries. The episode also touches on how courts interpret these clauses and why exact wording matters.

For more detailed show notes, navigate using the time stamps below:

[0:00] Introduction

[1:05] Halloween Dealmakers Haunted Hall Gala announcement

[2:06] When to use force majeure and when you can’t

[3:57] Caselaw update

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to discuss how RR&A’s Outsourced Legal Department can help your company, visit the R. Reese & Associates Website: https://rreeselaw.com/

Want more ways to stay up to date on the latest industry-specific news? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://rreeselaw.com/insights/an-ounce-of-prevention-by-rra/

How do you go from sale to signing? In today’s episode of An Ounce of Prevention, host Rachel Reese speaks with Robert Ward, the Vice President of Business Development at Kuva Systems, on the tension between making a sale and getting the contract signed. They discuss Kuva’s role in methane mitigation, the sales cycle, the move from a verbal agreement to a contract, and the common points of contention in the contracting process.

As always, we end with our Case Law segment, which will discuss the implications of ConocoPhillips Company v. Kenneth Hahn for Non-Participating Royalty Interest.

For more detailed show notes, navigate using the time stamps below:

[0:00] Introduction

[1:28] Today’s episode will focus on the tension between making the sale and getting the contract signed. Our guest is Robert Ward, the Vice President of Business Development at Kuva Systems.

[1:47] Robert has been in the oil and gas space for thirty years. Six years ago, he was introduced to Kuva’s work on methane mitigation.

[6:20] Following the verbal agreement on a sale, what happens? There are a lot of variables at play, and some MSAs have preexisting conditions that can affect your deals.

[9:41] Following the Kuva team’s responsibilities, they hand things off to RR&A. They have tuned their guardrails over time to accommodate broad MSAs.

[13:17] Robert likes to educate his clients on the nuances of his product as early in the sales process as possible to prepare for common pitfalls in MSAs and labor understandings.

[14:30] Kuva is proactively trying to make things easier on the customer, both in the sales cycle and beyond.

[17:13] The methane space is complicated, and there are fears on the part of many customers. Methane regulation is not a moneymaker for these teams, but it can be addressed at scale cost-effectively.

[18:30] Today’s case is ConocoPhillips Company v. Kenneth Hahn, a recent ruling by the Texas Supreme Court that provides guidance on whether a Non-Participating Royalty Interest can later be converted into a floating royalty.

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to discuss how RR&A’s Outsourced Legal Department can help your company, visit the R. Reese & Associates Website: https://rreeselaw.com/

Want more ways to stay up to date on the latest industry-specific news? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://rreeselaw.com/insights/an-ounce-of-prevention-by-rra/