Robert N. Sheets
Director
Robert N. Sheets is a commercial litigator, Director and one of the Firm’s founders. He represents construction and energy industry clients in a broad range of real estate, land use and business litigation matters.
Contact
Robert N. Sheets
Director
Oklahoma City
405.235.4100 Main
405.552.2409 Direct
405.235.4133 Fax
Profile
BIOGRAPHY
Robert N. Sheets, a Firm founder, is a Director in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. He represents both privately-held and public companies in a wide range of commercial litigation matters. In addition, he represents energy companies in preparation of drilling and division order title opinions.
Bob received the Outstanding Law Review Alumni Award from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2007, The Journal Record’s Leadership in Law Award in 2008 and The Alma Wilson Award from the Oklahoma Bar Association in 2011. Bob is the Chairman of the Voices of Children Committee for the Oklahoma County Bar Association. He also serves as volunteer for Heartline and serves on the Administrative Council, finance committee and is a chairperson for Wesley United Methodist Church.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, he makes his home in Northwest Oklahoma City, with his wife and children. In his free time, he enjoys being with his family, attending baseball games, traveling and volunteering at his church.
EDUCATION
- Washington University (B.A., 1976)
- Oklahoma City University (J.D., with honors, 1979)
ADMISSIONS
- 1979, Oklahoma
- 1980, U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma
- 1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- 1999, U.S. Supreme Court
- 2006, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Northern Districts of Oklahoma
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- Oklahoma County Bar Association
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Oklahoma City Society of Title Attorneys Association
- Mineral Lawyer Society of Oklahoma City
- American Bankruptcy Institute
Experience
EXPERIENCE
- Tried numerous commercial litigation cases in both state and federal courts which have included surface damage disputes, salt water spills, breach of master construction contracts, breach of oil and gas drilling contracts, disputes involving operating agreements in oil and gas, land use disputes and property ownership disputes
- Extensive Appellate Practice in both state and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals
- Represented oil and gas companies as creditors in bankruptcy court in both Oklahoma and Texas
- Issued over 100 drilling and or division order title opinions
- Extensive experience representing debtors-in-possession, creditors and trustees in Bankruptcy Court
- Oklahoma Dept. of Securities, ex. rel. Faught v. Wilcox, 691 F.3d 1171, (10th Cir. (Okla.) August 20, 2012)
- Oklahoma Dept. of Securities ex. rel. Faught v. Wilcox, 267 P.3d 106, (Okla. October 11, 2011)
- State ex rel. Edmondson v. Native Wholesale Supply, 237 P.3d 199, (Okl. July 06, 2010)
- Oklahoma Dept. of Securities ex. rel. Faught v. Mathews, 423 B.R. 684, (W.D. Okla. February 10, 2010)
- State ex. rel. Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System v. City of Spencer, 237 P.3d 125, (Okla. September 29, 2009)
- Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages, Inc. v. R.I.C. Leasing, Inc., 2009 WL 2497255, (W.D. Okla. August 17, 2009)
- Ultra Thin, Inc. v. Lane, 210 P.3d 872, (Okla.Civ.App,Div. 3 March 06, 2009)
- Oklahoma ex. rel. Edmondson v. Native Wholesale Supply, 2008 WL4619808, (W.D.Okla. October 16, 2008)
- Tal v. Hogan, 453 F.3d 1244, (10th Cir. (Okla.) June 29, 2006)
- Murphy Oil USA, Inc. v. Wood, 438 F.3d 1008, (10th Cir.(Okla.) February 16, 2006)
- State ex. rel. Tal v. City of Oklahoma City, 61 P.3d 268, (Okla. December 17, 2002)
- Oklahoma ex rel. Office of State Finance v. U.S., 292 F.3d 1261, (10th Cir. (Okla.) June 12 2002)
- Oklahoma ex. rel. Tal v. City of Oklahoma City, 19 P.3d 268, (Okla. September 26, 2000)
- In re Initiative Petition No. 365 State Question No. 687, 9 P.3d 78, (Okla. June 20, 2000)
- City of Oklahoma City v. Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, 988 P.2d 901, (Okla. August 30, 1999)
- Liberty Bank & Trust Co. of Oklahoma City, N.A. v. Perimeter Center Ltd. Partnership, 958 P.2d 814,(Okla.Civ.App. Div 3 March 24, 1998)
- In re Crisp, 215 B.R. 476, (BankrW.D.Okla.December 10, 1997)
- Emerald Enterprises, Ltd. v. City of Oklahoma City, 939 P.2d 27 (Okla.Civ.App. Div. 3 January 14, 1997)
- Tinker Inv. & Mortg. Corp v. City of Midwest City, 873 P.2d 1029, (Okla. April 19, 2004)
- In re Robinson Bros. Drilling Inc., 9 F.3d 871, (10th Cir.(Okla.) November 05, 1993)
- Cummings & Associates, Inc. v. City of Oklahoma City ex rel. Oklahoma City Police Dept., 849 P.2d 1087, (Okla. March 30, 1993)
- Robinson Bros. Drilling, Inc. v. Mfrs. Hanover Leasing Corp., 1992 WL 535954, (W.D. Okla. December 10, 1992)
- Oklahoma Pub. Co. v. Kansas City Fire and Marine Ins. Co., 805 F.Supp. 905, (W.D. Okla. October 21, 1992)
- U.S. v. Real Property located at 2471 Venus Drive, Los Angeles, Cal., 949 F.2d 374, (10th Cir.(Okla.) November 19, 1991)
- Oklahoma Pub. Co. v. Continental Ins. Co., 1991 WL 323804, (W.D. Okla. November 05, 1991)
EXPERTISE
- Represented companies and individuals as creditors, debtors-in-possession and trustees in bankruptcy court
- Commercial litigation
- Title opinions
Recognition
RECOGNITION
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™
- Best Lawyers®: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2019-present)
- Best Lawyers®: Litigation - Bankruptcy (2019-present)
- Best Lawyers®: Litigation - Real Estate (2013-present)
- Best Lawyers®: Commercial Litigation (2012-present)
- Best Lawyers®: Litigation - Land Use and Zoning (2012-present)
- Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters: Business Litigation, Energy & Natural Resources and Land Use/Zoning (2006)
Publications
- Phillips Murrah announces 48 attorneys named to 2020 Best Lawyers list
- Sheets presents on issues related to title opinions, examination
- Phillips Murrah announces 44 attorneys named to 2019 Best Lawyers list
- Director presents on issues related to real estate closings, ethics
- Phillips Murrah announces 37 attorneys named to 2018 Best Lawyers list
- Firm hosts Halloween Party to raise money for Harvest Food Drive
- Phillips Murrah announces 35 attorneys named to 2017 Best Lawyers list
- Director presents on real estate surveying skills
- Phillips Murrah announces 35 attorneys named to 2016 Best Lawyers list
- Director Bob Sheets featured in article about nursing home arbitration
- Phillips Murrah celebrates Grand Opening of OCU Law School
- SCOTUS order to stay executions doesn’t change anything
- From the President: Emulate The Reading Man
- In the wake of Ferguson
- PM Director Bob Sheets discusses fracking ban on NPR
- 29 Attorneys Selected for 2014 Edition of Best Lawyers
- Gavel to Gavel: Hard lessons to learn
- State Chamber releases Supreme Court judicial evaluations
- ODVA software deal ended in litigation
- Sheets elected 2015 Director of Oklahoma County Bar Assoc
- Attorney: Stream adjudication lawsuit move not a surprise
- MidTown housing development wins approval from design committee
- OBA presents awards
- City court could face backlash
- State Question 752 would add two laypeople to the Judicial Nominating Commission
- Seven vie for Oklahoma Supreme Court seat
- Sheets discusses Supreme Court ruling
- Hasenfratz, Maule and Sheets named leaders in law
- Leadership in Law profile: Robert Sheets
