Trae Gray, Founding Partner

Originally from Ardmore, OK, Trae Gray began his career working for ClubCorp, Dell, Pitney Bowes, and ADT, developing the technological savvy and efficiency that has become a hallmark of the LandownerFirm. Trae also worked as a cowboy, a welder, and was a nationally recognized sales professional. His work ethic is relentless.

Trae holds an MBA and a law degree (J.D.) from Oklahoma City University, and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M) in natural resource law from The University of Oklahoma College of Law, with a thesis on the unique new field of law involving pore space. Trae is also a graduate of the Western Trial Advocacy Institute and Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College.

Trae has been involved in some of the most significant legal cases in Oklahoma history, in both state and federal courts:

• He successfully representing a business client in a business dispute involving more than $100 million in 2010.
• Part of a team that successfully litigated and settled a contractual dispute that exceeded $60 million in 2021.
• Landownerfirm was part of the trial team where Trae gave a closing argument resulting in a $73 million dollar verdict in 2013.
• He has handled high-stakes criminal cases, typically when the accused has been unjustly charged. He successfully defended client, Norman Ranger, in the politically charged allegations of computer crimes and conspiracy that were brought as a result of multiple multi-county grand jury indictments. After two separate week-long trials, all charges against Mr. Ranger were ordered dismissed. In addition, Trae successfully represented local cowboy, Terry Vick, who was facing a life sentence. After two days of trial and thirty minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict. 
• He is frequently retained to litigate highly contested divorce and probate matters where large recoveries are at stake.

His extensive trial court work, combined with his experience in economics, farming, ranching, and oil patch, provides a unique resume that has led to substantial results for the firm’s clients.

Trae’s primary clients are landowners, farmers, and ranchers. However, his representation of them has led him to represent several CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies (including energy companies), doctors, and other lawyers, all who hire Trae to protect their land. Trae has become known as the lawyer other lawyers call when their clients have a landowner-related issue and need help. He has been involved in thousands of cases for landowners covering numerous issues that have earned him national recognition.

One of the main reasons he practices in a rural area is because of the exposure to the many different areas of the law, which he believes makes him more effective in his representation of landowners. Also, he is a steward of his own land where he lives and works to improve the property. He holds firm to the conviction that you can always better understand something the closer you have come to experiencing it. 

Trae handles a broad variety of cases, which is evidenced by his trial record and appellate decisions. He believes strongly in utilizing the expertise of others to make sure his clients get the best possible results. He handles cases in numerous jurisdictions, many times with associate counsel. 

For over a decade, Trae served as the President of The Coal County Bar Association and the City Attorney (civil and criminal) for the City of Coalgate. He has previously served at the pleasure of both Governors Brad Henry and Mary Fallin on the Oklahoma Tourism Commission. He also served as a judge in Caney and Caddo, Oklahoma.

Trae and his family are involved in agriculture, aviation, hunting, and spending as much time as they can seeing different things (traveling) and enjoying Oklahoma lakes and the outdoors. Trae spends a lot of time in the field – many times on ranches where he had what he calls “pre-lawyer experiences.” One such experience involves a ranch where when Trae was a boy, the larger-than-life Ace Pletcher used to have a cattle drive and cook a full beef in the ground. Chuck Connor (The Rifleman) used to attend. Trae says, “That is a memory from when I was about 3 and today I’m working on a case on the same ranch!”

You can reach Trae by contacting his assistant, Amanda Stiles, at 888-HEY-GRAY.

Trae is licensed in:

• Supreme Court of the United States of America
• United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
• United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
• Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma
• Supreme Court of the State of Arkansas
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• Supreme Court of the State of Texas
• Supreme Court of the State of Colorado

Published Opinions:

• In re Estate of Kozak, 2014 OK.CIV.APP 16.
• High Sierra Energy, L.P. v. Hull, 2011 OK.CIV.APP. 3, 259 P.3d 902.
• High Sierra Energy, L.P. v. Hull, 2010 OK.CIV.APP.3, 241 P.3d 1139.

Published Writings:

• Trae Gray, University of Oklahoma College of Law, A 2015 Analysis and Update on U.S. Pore Space Law – The Necessity of Proceeding Cautiously with Respect to the “Stick” Known as Pore Space (2015)
• Don’t Give Away the Farm Negotiating Surface Damage Cases, Oil and Gas and Other Energy Resources, The Oklahoma Bar Journal, Vol. 80 – No. 13 – May 9, 2009.
• Don’t Space Out: Protecting That Empty Space for Your Next Natural Resource Client 

Education:

• LL.M. Natural Resources from The University of Oklahoma College of Law – 2015, Thesis (Pore Space)
• Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law – 2006
• Masters in Business Administration Degree from The Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University – 2006
• Bachelor of Science Degree from Oklahoma State University in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (Agricultural Economics) – 1998

Articles, speaking engagements, and other significant events:

• Natural Resource Negotiations, National Land Conference, Charlotte, NC – April 1, 2017
• Co-Chairman of “Eminent Domain: Essential Skills & Critical Issues for Attorneys & Appraisers,” Oklahoma City, OK – February 23, 2017
• Analysis and Update on U.S. Pore Space Law – The Necessity of Proceeding Cautiosly with Respect to the “Stick” Known as Pore Space, Oklahoma Corporation Commission 2016 Oil and Gas Institute, Tulsa, OK – October 21, 2016
• Natural Resource Legal Update, 12th Annual 2016 OCAPL Weekend Take Off, Broken Bow, OK – September 23-25, 2016
• Ethics in Water Law, National Business Institute, Tulsa, OK – June 16, 2016
• Pore Space and Surface Owner Rights, Laverne, OK – October 3, 2015
• Water Law and Pore Space, 11th Annual 2015 OCAPL Weekend Take Off, Broken Bow, OK – September 25-26, 2015
• Natural Resource Issues, Woods County Mineral Association Banquet, Alva, OK – June 26, 2015
• Harvard Negotiation Institute – The Harvard Negotiation Intensive: A two-day Workshop, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA – June 4-5, 2015
• Ethics in Water Law, National Business Institute, Tulsa, OK – June 2, 2015
• Mineral Management 102 Series, 2015 OK NARO Convention, Tulsa, OK – May 7, 2015
• Plains and Eastern Cleanline – Condemnation Law in Arkansas and Common Issues in Power Line Cases, Dover High School Fine Arts Building, Dover, Arkansas – October 30, 2014
• Common Issues of Concern for Landowners when Negotiating with Energy Companies, 10th Annual 2014 OCAPL Weekend Take Off, Broken Bow, OK – September 19-20, 2014
• Ethics in Energy Law, National Business Institute, Tulsa, OK – July 25, 2014
• Basics of Surface Issues and Common Traps for Landowners When Negotiating with Energy Companies, 2014 Oklahoma NARO Convention, Norman, OK – April 18, 2014
• Common Traps for Landowners when Negotiating with Energy Companies, 2014 OSU Extension Early Spring Roundup, Ardmore, OK – January 27, 2014
• Application of Drilling Mud to Agricultural Land (Landowner Legal Considerations), The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK – May 2013
• Oklahoma Condemnation Law (What your rights are as a Landowner when a company tries to condemn your property), Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Idabel, OK – May 2013
• TG named to 2013 class of 40 under 40 by Oklahoma Magazine
• Seismic Exploration Regulation Act, Carter County Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting, Wilson, OK – November 2012
• Common Pipeline ROW Issues, Fairview, OK – October 2012
• Highlight and update on Landowner issues in the natural resource arena, 2012 60th Annual Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show, Midwest City, OK
• The Surface Use Agreement, Oklahoma Landowners Association Annual Meeting, Bartlesville, OK – 2011
• Oklahoma Condemnation Law (Transmission Lines), Choctaw Cultural Center, Hugo, OK – March 2011
• The Practice of Law in a Rural Setting, The Verdict, Cox Channel 3 Oklahoma City, OK – June 2010
• Oklahoma Condemnation Law (Transmission Lines), Kiamichi Technology Center, Durant, OK – February 2010
• How what you sign can haunt you or maximize landowner return (utility easements and surface damages) © 2010 The Landowner Series – Multiple locations
• Mineral Auctions (The benefits received by mineral owners coming together) Train Depot, Ardmore, OK – February 2010
• Don’t Give Away the Farm, Oklahoma Landowners Association Annual Meeting, Bartlesville, OK – December 2009
• Don’t Give Away the Farm Negotiating Surface Damage Cases, Oil and Gas and Other Energy Resources, The Oklahoma Bar Journal, Vol. 80 – No. 13 – May 9, 2009.
• Your rights as a Landowner, Oklahoma Landowners Association Annual Meeting, Bartlesville, OK – December 2008
• Named KHKC’s Best Lawyer by local listeners in Woodford Shale Play – May 2007

(L) Trae’s grandpa Carmack, flying with Dwight Eisenhower in Alaska, (C) Trae & family, and (R) Trae in a ranch rodeo at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in his hometown of Ardmore.